57% progress rate cited for LRT-1 Cavite Extension

The ₱64.9-billion Light Rail Transit (LRT)-1 Cavite Extension, which was delayed for two decades, has registered a 57 percent overall progress rate as of last month, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) today (July 20) reported.

The LRT-1 Cavite Extension was first approved by the NEDA Investment Coordination Committee approved the project on August 25, 2000 and the NEDA Board gave it the green light on January 22, 2002.

The Right of Way (ROW) acquisition started in 2007, with Congress giving budget for the project.

Based on the 4th attempt to implement the project and its 3rd NEDA Board approval in 2013, ROW acquisition for Phase 1 should have been completed in April 2015, Phase 2 in August 2015, and Phase 3 in March 2016.

However, when the Duterte Administration came in July 2016, none of the ROW was certified as “free and clear” by the project’s independent consultant.

After expediting the acquisition of ROW for Phase 1 in 2019, the DOTr, together with the Light Rail Transit Authority and the Light Rail Manila Corporation, started building the railway.

Now, it is almost 60 percent complete.

Once it operates, the rail line will reduce travel time between Baclaran and Niog, Bacoor, Cavite from one hour and 10 minutes down to 25 minutes and is projected to increase passenger capacity from 500,000 to 800,000 daily.

In addition, the project generated more than 1,600 jobs during its construction phase, with more to be created once it becomes operational.

https://mb.com.ph/2021/07/20/57-progress-rate-cited-for-lrt-1-cavite-extension/

PNR Calamba project draws 34 bidders

The ₱344.6 billion Philippine National Railways (PNR) Calamba Project, drew 34 bids from six Philippine companies and seventeen international firms, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) today (July 22) announced.

The bidders are vying for contract packages to build 40.5 kilometers of viaduct structure, including thirteen elevated stations and a 22-hectare train depot.

The government held the Bid Submission and Opening for Contract Packages S-01 and S-02, and Contract Packages S-04, S-05, S-06, and S-07 last week.

Foreign bidders included the China Construction First Group Corporation Ltd. From China) as well as Chun Wo Construction and Leighton Contractors (Asia) Limited, both from Hong Kong.

A total of seven bidders came from South Korea: DL Engineering & Construction Co. Ltd. • Dong-ah Geological Engineering Company Ltd.; GS Engineering & Construction Corp.; Hyundai Engineering & Construction Co. Ltd.; Lotte Engineering and Construction Co., Ltd.; POSCO Engineering & Construction as well as Samsung Construction & Trading Corporation.

In addition, there were three bidders from Indonesia – PT Adhi Karya (Persero) Tbk; PT PP (Persero) Tbk and PT Wijaya Karya (Persero) Tbk.

Another bidder was from Turkey, Gülermak Ağır Sanayi İnşaat ve Taahhüt A.S.; one from Spain, Acciona, S.A.; one from Thailand, Italian-Thai Development Public Company Ltd. and one from Japan, Sumitomo Mitsui Construction Co., Ltd.

Furthermore, six local construction companies joined the fray: D.M. Consunji Inc., EEI Corporation, First Balfour, Inc., Megawide Construction Corporation,Prime Metro BMD Corporation and Santa Clara International Corporation.

The “impressive turnout of bidders” for the PNR Calamba Project’s contract packages is proof of the infrastructure sector’s trust in the government’s infrastructure program, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade pointed out.

“This record-breaking turnout of bidders is yet again an indication of the trust and confidence of both the local and international infrastructure sector,” he reiterated.

Another handful of contract packages for the PNR Calamba Project are set for bidding later this year.

The opening of bids for the project’s civil works packages S-03A, S-03B, and S-03C (construction of at-grade and viaduct structures with five stations, underground tunnel works and the construction of a station to be integrated with the Metro Manila Subway Project) are expected by third quarter, 2021.

Meanwhile, the opening of bids for contract packages involving the project’s electromechanical systems and airport express train cars are also expected in 3Q 2021.

The PNR Calamba Project is part of the 147-kilometer over P600Billion North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR), which has 35 stations stretching from Calamba in Laguna to the Clark International Airport in Pampanga.

The NSCR will cut travel time from the Clark International Airport to Calamba from more than 4 hours down to just 1.5 hours.

Travelers from Makati will also be able to reach the Clark International Airport in less than one hour aboard the Airport Express train service.

The NSCR System can initially accommodate up to 1 million daily passengers.

Construction of the NSCR is supported by the Official Development Assistance (ODA) from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

It is the single largest project being financed by the ADB in its history, and is the longest commuter railway being financed by JICA.

At present, construction is at full-swing for the northern segment of the NSCR System, which involves 90 kilometers of rail line and 16 stations.

https://mb.com.ph/2021/07/22/pnr-calamba-project-draws-34-bidders/

DOTR: LRT Line 1 Cavite extension project hit 57% construction progress as of June 30

The Department of Transportation said Wednesday the P65-billion LRT-1 Cavite Extension Project is more than halfway to completion.

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said the project already had a 57-percent overall progress rate as of June 30. Upon completion, the project will reduce travel time between Baclaran and Bacoor, Cavite from one hour and 10 minutes to 25 minutes and increase passenger capacity of the LRT Line 1 from 500,000 to 800,000 daily.

“In addition, we were able to generate more than 1,600 jobs during its construction phase, and we expect more job opportunities for the Filipino people once it becomes operational,” he said.

The DOTR and Light Rail Manila Corp., the private concessionaire of LRT Line 1, were originally expecting the partial operations of the project to start before the end of 2021.

Phase 1 covers 7 kilometers of the 11-km. LRT-1 Cavite Extension, including the Redemptorist Station, MIA Station, Asiaworld Station, Ninoy Aquino Station and Dr. Santos Station. The remaining stations between Las Piñas and Niog are scheduled to become fully-operational by 2022.

LRMC won the bidding for the 11.7-km. Cavite extension project and took over the operation of LRT Line 1 on Sept. 12, 2015. LRT Line 1 runs from Baclaran in Pasay City to Roosevelt Avenue in Quezon City.

The DOTR earlier said the government would spend more than P700 billion this year until 2025 to build more mass railway projects in Luzon and Mindanao.

The programmed capital expenditure for 11 railways projects would amount to P90.75 billion this year, P278.27 billion in 2022, P222.74 billion in 2023, P104.10 billion in 2024, and P45.47 billion in 2025.

Besides LRT Line 1, the other railway projects of the government are LRT2 East Extension, LRT2 West Extension, MRT 3 Rehabilitation, MRT 4 Project, Metro Manila Subway, Common Station, North-South Commuter Railway, Subic-Clark Railway, PNR South Long Haul Project and the Mindanao Railway Project.

https://manilastandard.net/mobile/article/360331