Thursday, December 16, 2021
MRT-7 partially operational by Q4 of 2022: PRRD
By Azer Parrocha
The national government will ensure that the Metro Rail Transit Line 7 (MRT-7) will be “partially operational” by the fourth quarter of 2022, President Rodrigo Duterte said on Thursday.
Duterte made this remark during a ceremony to unveil the new MRT-7 train sets along Commonwealth Avenue in Diliman, Quezon City.
“We can proudly say that this new metric rail transit system which spans more than 24 km from North Avenue in Quezon City to San Jose del Monte in Bulacan is a world-class mode of transportation for the benefit of the people. The project is more than 60 percent complete and we are committed to making it partially operational by [the] 4th quarter of 2022,” he said in his speech.
He noted that the MRT project will provide the public with a “fast, efficient, convenient, safe, and reliable” transportation system that would result in the increased productivity of workers and businesses in Metro Manila and its nearby provinces.
Duterte said he is also pleased that the MRT-7 is expected to be a pollution-free mode of mass transit for commuters.
“It is also good to know that this new train system will help minimize air pollution as it is a greener and more energy-efficient means of transportation,” he added.
He said the MRT-7 project is proof of his administration’s commitment to delivering long-lasting infrastructure development in the country amid the prevailing health crisis.
"The arrival of the trains and the significant progress made on the MRT-7 project confirm this administration’s strong commitment to pursue critical infrastructure projects even amidst the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic,” he said.
Meanwhile, Duterte enjoined all government agencies to ensure the prompt implementation and completion of significant government projects while still upholding the transparency, integrity, and accountability in its operation.
“Let us fulfill our promise and commitment to the entire nation to accomplish sustainable projects that will continuously improve the lives of Filipinos even beyond the term of the president,” he said.
He also thanked workers of the officials and workers of the Department of Transportation (DOTr), San Miguel Corp. (SMC), and other partners for their role in making a new milestone possible.
The SMC is the concession-holder for the project and is fully-funding construction of the 24-kilometer mass transit system that links up with the existing MRT-3 and Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) via a common station in North Avenue.
The MRT 7 is a PHP77-billion project that started construction in April 2016. Currently, the project stands at a 62 percent overall progress rate.
A total number of 108 rail cars or 36 train sets were acquired from South Korea that will traverse 14 stations.
It is expected to serve around 300,000 passengers in its first year of operations and will reach up to 850,000 passengers daily on its 12th year.
The MRT-7 is a modern train system that also involves the construction of electric power systems, computer and communications systems, signaling systems, and automatic fare systems, among others.
Once completed, the MRT-7 will significantly cut travel time between North Avenue in Quezon City to San Jose del Monte, Bulacan from two to three hours to just 35 minutes and will eventually contribute to the reduction of traffic in Metro Manila.
The project also aims to decongest Metro Manila and make the commuting experience of passengers coming in and out of the Metro more convenient and comfortable.
NLEX Corp. partners with Chinese firm for second section of connector project
By Arjay L. Balinbin, Senior Reporter
NLEX Corp. on Tuesday said it recently signed an agreement with China Road and Bridges Corp. for the civil works contract of the remaining three kilometers of its connector project in Manila.
The project is between the future EspaƱa and Sta. Mesa interchanges, the second section of the eight-kilometer North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) Connector.
In an e-mailed statement, the company said construction of the remaining three kilometers of the NLEX Connector project is “now underway.”
The entire NLEX Connector “extends the expressway southward from the NLEX Harbor Link Caloocan Interchange, 5th Avenue/C3 Road passing through EspaƱa Blvd., R. Magsaysay Blvd., and eventually connecting to the Skyway Stage 3 within the vicinity of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) in Sta. Mesa, Manila.”
The first section of the project, from Caloocan Interchange to EspaƱa Boulevard, is scheduled to be completed in the second half of 2022. It is now nearly 60% done, the company said.
“We are committed to provide the necessary right-of-way for this project as we target to complete this segment by end of 2022,” Public Works Secretary Roger G. Mercado said.
The project, which is expected to accommodate around 35,000 motorists, is seen to decongest local roads, as it aims to divert cargo trucks to the elevated expressway. Without a truck ban, the route will be available 24/7, according to the company.
“Upon completion, the NLEX Connector will enable Manila Ports to have a seamless north-south connection and provide further convenience to motorists with the decongestion of major thoroughfares like EDSA and C5,” Mr. Mercado noted.
For his part, Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC) President and Chief Executive Officer Rodrigo E. Franco said: “The Metro Pacific Group actively contributes to accelerating infrastructure development in the Philippines.”
“This new elevated expressway hopes to support the country’s economic recovery by helping reduce traffic congestion in the metro and offering those with private cars and commercial vehicles ease of travel,” he added.
Mr. Franco also expects the project to enhance accessibility to international airports such as the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and Clark International Airport.
“[This will] help generate jobs, and stimulate development between Metro Manila and its surrounding provinces in the north and south,” he noted.