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Tuesday, March 22, 2022
MRT-3 service disruptions now 'a thing of the past’: Duterte
By Azer Parrocha
President Rodrigo R. Duterte believes that technical glitches are now “a thing of the past” following the inauguration of the newly-rehabilitated Metro Rail Transit (MRT) 3.
The MRT-3 rehabilitation project, which started in May 2019 and was completed in December 2021, aims to restore the MRT-3 to its high-grade design condition.
“I want to take this opportunity to promote the rehabilitated MRT in the commuting public and assure our kababayans (countrymen) that service disruptions are a thing of the past,” Duterte said in his speech during the MRT-3 rehabilitation completion ceremony at the MRT-3 Shaw Boulevard Station in Mandaluyong City.
Duterte said the government continues to strive to finish crucial projects like the MRT-3 rehabilitation project despite setbacks caused by Covid-19.
He described the newly-rehabilitated MRT-3 as “proof” that the government is keeping its momentum in improving connectivity and mobility, which is critical in sustaining economic growth and development.
Duterte emphasized the need for urgent response to challenges that confront Filipinos daily, noting that he is determined to keep championing programs and projects for their best interests.
He vowed that he would give “no more room for laxity and complacency” in public service.
Duterte also congratulated the Department of Transportation (DOTr) for realizing its commitment to improving service delivery, especially after the completed the comprehensive rehabilitation of the MRT-3 with the help of private partners.
“Our train system would have not returned to its original hybrid design condition without the technical competencies and professional aid of our service providers,” he said.
The MRT-3 rehabilitation project was funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) while the rehabilitation and upgrade were undertaken by its original contractor and maintenance provider, Japan’s Sumitomo Corporation and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
He welcomed the MRT-3 upgrades, particularly the trains which now operate with a speed of 60 kilometers per hour from the previous 25 kilometers per hour.
The number of trains also increased from a low of 12 to 15 operating units, now up to as high as 18 to 22 operational trains.
The waiting time between trains has also been reduced from a high of eight to 10 minutes, down to as low as 3.5 minutes.
“I extend my sincerest appreciation to the government of Japan for your assistance in the project. Your country has always been a friend, an active partner of the Philippines in our development projects,” Duterte said.
Meanwhile, Duterte announced that the public will receive free MRT-3 rides from March 28 to April 30, 2022.
Free rides were also offered to women on March 8 in line with the celebration of National Women's Day.
In his prerecorded Talk to the People aired on Tuesday, Duterte urged the public to take the MRT, Light Rail Transit (LRT), or bus to get around Metro Manila amid inflated oil prices.
“You better learn from our practice now to ride itong mga (these) MRT, LRT because that is -- that would be the single functional move -- to use to move people from one place to another, or from one point to another,” he said.
Daily Mass at the Manila Cathedral - March 22, 2022 (12:10pm)
Duterte, Tugade to inaugurate rehabilitated, upgraded MRT-3
President Duterte is expected to inaugurate on Tuesday, March 22, the newly-rehabilitated Metro Rail Transit (MRT) 3 which promises a faster and safer mass transport along EDSA.
The MRT3 Rehabilitation Project started in May 2019 and was completed in December last year, part of the improvements are the restoration of all its 72 Light Rail Vehicles (LRVs), replacement of all rail tracks, and rehabilitation and upgrade of its power supply, overhead catenary system, communications and signaling system, and stations and depot facilities and equipment.
MRT-3 passengers can now be assured of faster, safer, and more convenient travel with the completion of the MRT3 Rehabilitation Project after it underwent a comprehensive rehabilitation and upgrade,” a statement from the Department of Transportation (DOTR) read.
The inauguration is at 3 p.m. Tuesday, with DOTr Sec. Art Tugade joining the President.
The MRT-3 Rehabilitation Project was funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The rehabilitation and upgrade were undertaken by its original contractor and maintenance provider, Japan’s Sumitomo Corporation, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
“The project restored MRT-3’s high-quality design condition, after many years of poor maintenance and degradation. With its rehabilitation completed, the hundreds of unloading incidents from stalled MRT-3 trains are now a thing of the past,” the statement read.
Tugade said the operating conditions of the MRT-3 have greatly improved.
He said it can now operate with a speed of 60 kilometers per hour from the previous 25 kilometers per hour.
The number of trains also increased from a low of 13, now up to as high as 23 operational trains.
Headway, or the waiting time between trains, has been reduced from a high of 10 minutes, down to as low as 3.5 minutes. And as a result of all these, end-to-end travel time (from North Ave. Station to Taft Station) has been reduced from one hour 15 minutes, down to 45 minutes.
https://mb.com.ph/2022/03/22/duterte-tugade-to-inaugurate-rehabilitated-upgraded-mrt-3/
Monday, March 21, 2022
Sunday, March 20, 2022
Saturday, March 19, 2022
DOTr signs contract for 304 more North-South Commuter Railway trains
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) said Saturday it has already signed the contract for the purchase of 304 more trains for the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) project.
In a statement, the DOTr said the NSCR project “made a huge headway” with the unveiling of the eight-car Electric Multiple Unit for the PNR Clark Phase 1 (Tutuban-Malolos) and the contract signing for additional 304 trains.
According to the transportation agency, the eight-car train set measures 160 meters in length and has an operational speed of 120kph, enabling it to serve over 2,228 passengers per train set.
“To the Philippines and Filipino people, now you see the project—pray that it is completed, be happy that it has started, and I tell you, President Duterte and his ‘Build, Build, Build’ team will go all the way to make sure that the projects are completed for the comfort and convenience of the Filipino people,” Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said.
“With projects approved, financing secured, contracts awarded, and construction and deliveries already ongoing, we are not only on track, but we are also full steam ahead to realizing President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s promise of ushering in the Philippines’ Golden Age of Infrastructure and delivering a more comfortable life for every Filipino,” Transportation Undersecretary for Railways Timothy John Batan, meanwhile, added.
The NSCR has three segments, according to DOTr:
– PNR Clark Phase 1 (Tutuban – Malolos) – a 38-kilometer rail line that will connect Tutuban, Manila to Malolos, Bulacan, and will reduce travel time from one hour and 30 minutes to just 30 minutes.
– PNR Clark Phase 2 (Malolos-Clark) – a 53-kilometer rail line that will reduce travel time from Malolos City, Bulacan to Clark, Pampanga from two hours to just 30 to 35 minutes. It will also feature the first-ever Airport Railway Express Service that will connect Makati City to Clark International Airport from the current two to three hours travel time to just 55 minutes.
– PNR Calamba (Solis-Calamba) – a 56-kilometer train line and a southern line that will connect Metro Manila (Solis Street, Tondo) and Calamba, Laguna, and will speed up travel time from the current four hours to just one hour.
The NSCR project is a 147-km rail transport route, comprising 37 stations and 464 train cars. The DOTr said it stretches across 28 cities and municipalities within the regions of Central Luzon, Metro Manila, and Calabarzon, and is expected to serve over a million passengers a day once fully operational.
DOTr set to sign deals to purchase 304 train cars for North-South Commuter Railway
The Department of Transportation said Friday it is set to sign contracts on the acquisition of an additional 304 train cars for the North-South Commuter Railway System Project.
The agency on Friday unveiled the first eight of the 104 train cars, which the government earlier procured for the NSCR project.
“We will also be signing the contract for additional train cars also for the NSCR System,” Transportation Undersecretary for Railways Timothy John Batan said.
He said the DOTr and the Philippine National Railways would initially sign another contract for 56 airport express train cars for the project.
The NSCR’s train sets are designed to operate at up to 120 kilometers per hour, shortening the travel time from Clark International Airport in Pampanga to Calamba, Laguna from more than four hours to less than two hours.
“The ongoing expansion of the Philippines railway network, happening at record scale and at record speed, would not be possible without the unwavering support of our partners from the international development community and the global railway industry,” Batan said.
“We recognize and we thank our partners from the government of Japan and from the Japan International Cooperation Agency for their ‘fast and sure support’ and the 786 billion Japanese yen or P362 billion of official development assistance being extended for the NSCR project,” he said.
After decades of attempts starting in 1994, the 38-kilometer PNR Clark 1 and 53-kilometer PNR Clark 2 segments of the 147-kilometer NSCR System are now being constructed at full blast.
The NSCR System, with 35 stations spanning 28 local government units from Mabalacat, Pampanga to Calamba, Laguna is expected to serve over a million passengers a day upon completion.
The project is expected to create around 50,000 direct jobs and 110,000 indirect jobs during the construction stage and an additional 8,000 jobs once the railway line starts full operations.
Friday, March 18, 2022
New PNR Clark Phase 1 train set can ferry 2,228 passengers at a time, run at 120kph
This new eight-car train set is the longest one for the NSCR project
The first rolling stock of the PNR Clark Phase 1 under the North-South Commuter Railway project arrived in the Philippines back in November. Today, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) has fully unveiled this set to the public.
The eight-car train set is supposedly the longest electric multiple unit in the country to date, spanning 160 meters long. It can ferry about 2,228 at a time and can operate at speeds of up to 120kph. LCD screens are also equipped inside the trains for passenger guidance and information, and CCTV systems will be put in place.
The DOTr says 12 more sets of these eight-car rolling stocks are set to arrive within the year. Once PNR Clark Phase 1 is completed, it is expected to reduce travel time from Tutuban in Manila City to Malolos City in Bulacan from one hour and 30 minutes to just 30 minutes. It will be part of the bigger NSCR project that stretches 147km long with 37 stations and 464 train cars in total.
https://www.topgear.com.ph/news/motoring-news/dotr-pnr-clark-phase-1-trains-unveiled-a4354-20220318
Thursday, March 17, 2022
TUGADE TO UNVEIL FIRST 8 OUT OF 104 NSCR TRAIN CARS, TO SIGN CONTRACT FOR 304 MORE TRAIN CARS
VALENZUELA, METRO MANILA - Continuing its record-breaking streak, the massive North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) System will reach two milestones on Friday, 18 March 2022, with the unveiling of the first 8 out of 104 NSCR train cars (13 8-car train sets) ordered last July 2019, and the back-to-back contract signing for an additional 304 train cars (38 8-car train sets) for the 147-kilometer NSCR System.
Led by Transportation Secretary Art Tugade, DOTr and PNR will unveil the NSCR's first 8-car train set, which was ordered from the Japan Transport Engineering Company (J-TREC) and Sumitomo Corporation, manufactured in Yokohama, Japan, and designed to comply with both Japanese and international standards.
The NSCR's train sets are designed to operate at up to 120 kilometers per hour, shortening the travel time from Clark International Airport in Pampanga to Calamba in Laguna from more than 4 hours down to less than 2 hours.
After decades of attempts starting as early as 1994, the 38 kilometer PNR Clark 1 and 53 kilometers PNR Clark 2 segments of the 147-kilometer NSCR System are finally ongoing full-blast construction.
With 35 stations spanning 28 Local Government Units (LGU) from Mabalacat, Pampanga to Calamba, Laguna, the NSCR System is expected to serve over a million passengers per day. During construction, the project is expected to create around 50,000 direct jobs and 110,000 indirect jobs, with an additional 8,000 jobs created when the railway line starts full operations.
The NSCR System is the Duterte Administration’s single largest flagship project under the Build Build Build Program, which aims to move more people, provide more comfortable travel, and boost inclusive regional growth.
More than 3,000 QC families to get better homes
A total of 3,675 families from the NIA Road (National Irrigation Administration) in Barangay Pinyahan, Quezon City will be given better and decent homes after the local government and the Nation Housing Authority (NHA) signed the Usufruct Agreement.
Mayor Joy Belmonte, Vice-mayor Gian Sotto, Representative Jesus “Bong” Suntay signed the agreement on Wednesday, March 15, with NHA General Manager Marcelino P. Escalada.
Under the Usufruct Agreement, the 20,955 square meter NIA compound, owned by the NHA, will be developed into a housing project for the families who are currently living in the area.
Different facilities like playgrounds, day care and health care centers, and multi-purpose hall that will also be built for the residents’ needs.
Councilor Irene Belmonte, Councilor Ivy Lagman, City Legal Officer Attorney Nino Casimiro, Housing Community Development and Resettlement Department (HCDRD) Chief Ramon Asprer, City Architect Lucille Chua, and Brgy. Pinahan Chairman Carl Lipnica were also present during the event.
The local government said that since July 2019, a total of 17,907 residents have become beneficiaries of various housing programs in the city.
https://mb.com.ph/2022/03/17/more-than-3000-qc-families-to-get-better-homes/
Wednesday, March 16, 2022
LRT-1 Cavite extension gears up for 2024 start of operations
Elevated railway operator Light Rail Manila Corp. (LRMC) expects to start operating the 11.7-kilometer Cavite extension of the Light Railway Transit-1 (LRT-1) by 2024, benefiting suburban residents who commute daily to work in Metro Manila.
“We are about almost 70-percent complete now,” LRMC president Juan Alfonso said at a press briefing last week when parent conglomerate Metro Pacific Investments Corp. announced its 2021 financial results.
With the completion of the viaduct, LRMC is now starting the electromechanical upgrade of the railway and the installation of new rails. Civil works on the Cavite extension program broke ground in September 2019.
“We hope that we will be done sooner than later. We’re pushing for a 2024 start [of operations] and we look forward to that,” Alfonso said. One of the recent accomplishments of LRMC was the upgrading of the signaling system of the railway, a P7-billion undertaking to replace the 30-year-old signaling system of the country’s oldest elevated railway, Alfonso said.
“The new Alstom system allows for trains to be safer and also the headways to be reduced from three and a half minutes to two and a half minutes, so [it will allow] faster and safer journeys,” he added.
LRMC has received a total of 16 new generation train sets to date, each with a total capacity of around 1,400 passengers. The new fleet will still need to undergo complete safety checks, inspections and required test run before deployment in mid-2022.
The railway operator also expects the Roosevelt station in the old alignment to be reopened between the third and fourth quarters of this year. It was closed to pave the way for signaling upgrade.
LRT-1 is being extended starting from its existing Baclaran station to the future Niyog Station in Bacoor, Cavite. The project will stretch the integrated LRT-1 system to a total of 32.4 km and will be operated and maintained by the private sector proponent.
The LRT-1 extension and upgrade program is estimated to cost P64.91 billion, inclusive of the P19.83-billion official development assistance component.
LRMC has also proposed to implement more contactless payment options for the railway system. A proposal has been submitted to the Department of Transportation to put in place a quick response code payment system for consumers.
Meanwhile, Alfonso said the common station, a transportation hub at the tip of Trinoma mall complex in Quezon City that will connect Metro Manila’s existing railway systems, may be completed by next year. INQ
Tuesday, March 15, 2022
Monday, March 14, 2022
Sunday, March 13, 2022
Saturday, March 12, 2022
Friday, March 11, 2022
Thursday, March 10, 2022
Wednesday, March 9, 2022
Tuesday, March 8, 2022
Monday, March 7, 2022
Sunday, March 6, 2022
NAvenue Common Station features intermodal system
THE North Avenue Common Station structure linking four major railway systems in Quezon City is slated to be completed by end of March this year, the Department of Transportation (DoTr) announced yesterday.
The DoTr said an intermodal integrated system is also set to be established at the station so that all commuters leaving the Common Station can leave by public transportation.
Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade inspected the Common Station on Thursday, accompanied by the Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Kazuhiko Koshikawa, Japan International Cooperation Agency Chief Representative Eigo Azukizawa, BF Corp. Chief Executive Officer Marides Fernando, and private sector partners.
The March target of completion of the Station's building structure has been achieved without disrupting the flow of Edsa traffic or realigning the operations of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT)-3, the DoTr secretary said.
The inspection consisted of a walkthrough of the Common Station, which saw significant and fast-paced improvements since the last inspection in December 2021.
To date, the Common Station Building of Area A is now connected to Area B or the Atrium, which is now 100 percent complete.
The 13,700-square meter concourse area will interconnect four major railway lines: Light Rail Transit (LRT)-1, MRT-3, MRT-7 and soon, the Metro Manila Subway Project.
As the project's contractor, BF Corp. vowed to meet the set timeline by working non-stop to complete the project.
At present, the concreting of the platform level, where the MRT-3 and LRT-1 lines are set to merge, is now ongoing, according to Fernando.
Koshikawa, who earlier rode the MRT-3 from the Ayala Station going to the inspection site at North Avenue, lauded the efforts of the DoTr to improve mobility and connectivity in the country.
"So, in the near future, I can change from the MRT-3 to the LRT-1 and MRT-7 or Metro Manila Subway via this Common Station. And I can go anywhere in a short time period. Needless to say, railway connectivity is indispensable for efficient transport. That's why the opening of this Common Station will offer a significant level of comfort to use these railways," he said.
Saturday, March 5, 2022
North Avenue Common Station for LRT, MRT, subway project to be completed end of March
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) announced on Saturday, March 5, that the construction of the North Avenue Common Station in Quezon City will be completed by the end of this month in line with its efforts to improve the country’s connectivity and mobility.
In a statement, DOTr Sec. Arthur Tugade said the completion of the project took more than 15 years since the approval of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Investment Coordination Committee was only done in December 2006.
“Notwithstanding the fact that I did not close EDSA to traffic, notwithstanding the fact that I did not suspend or realign the operations of the MRT-3, the construction of the Common Station’s building structure will be completed by end of March,” Tugade said during the site inspection of the Common Station on March 3.
He said that the inspection consisted of a walkthrough of the Common Station, which improved since its last inspection in December 2021. The Station Building of Area A is now connected to Area B or the Atrium, which is now 100 percent complete.
He added that the 13,700 square meter concourse area would interconnect four major railway lines: LRT-1, MRT-3, MRT-7, and the Metro Manila Subway Project.
Tugade said the agency targets starting the Common Station’s operations before July 2022 “without sacrificing the quality of work and reasonability of cost.”
Once operational, it is expected to accommodate almost 500,000 passengers daily.
Friday, March 4, 2022
Thursday, March 3, 2022
MRT-LRT Grand Central Station targeted to open in July 2022
(CNN Philippines, March 3) – The Department of Transportation aims to start the operations of the MRT-LRT Grand Central Station by July this year.
Transportation Secretary Art Tugade said on Thursday that with the imposition of the more relaxed Alert Level 1 status in Metro Manila, the construction of the transport hub is expected to be completed by end of March.
"Today, I am very happy with the changes and developments that I have seen when I inspected the Unified Grand Central Station. I see the project with hope and optimism that when I come back before the end of March, I will have the full realization that this Common Station is fully completed physically and structurally," Tugade said.
Tugade also expects the station's electro-mechanical system to be completely installed by July to kick off its concourse area operations.
The MRT-LRT Grand Central Station located in North Triangle, Quezon City will connect the LRT-1, MRT-3, MRT-7, and the Metro Manila Subway.
The project was approved by the National Economic Development Authority on November 21, 2013 during the administration of the late former President Benigno Aquino III, but faced construction delays when malls in the area raised location issues.
The construction of the MRT-LRT Common Station started on September 29. 2017 during the current Duterte administration, after stakeholders, signed a memorandum of agreement on January 18 of that year.
Wednesday, March 2, 2022
DOTr: MRT-3 rehab complete
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has completed the massive rehabilitation of the MRT-3 and is preparing to complete construction works for the Common Station by the end of the month.
Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said in a presentation during President Duterte’s “Talk to the People” aired on Monday night that the MRT-3 rehabilitation project undertaken by Japan’s Sumitomo Corp.-Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) was completed two months in advance.
“We can inaugurate anytime now,” he said.
Tugade said the MRT-3 increased its operational trains from a low of six to 22 and its operating speed to 60 kilometers per hour from 25 kph.
Headway or train interval was reduced to 3.5 minutes from nine minutes, while ridership capacity was expanded from 200,000 to 600,000 passengers per day.
The MRT-3 rehabilitation project started in April 2019 with the aim of fixing and restoring the MRT-3 to its original, high-grade design.
The DOTr re-engaged the services of Sumitomo-MHI, which is the original designer, builder, and maintenance provider of MRT-3 during its first 12 years of operations.
As for the Common Station, Tugade said its construction is scheduled to be finished by the end of the month. The station would be operational when its electromechanical system is installed in July, he added.
Located at the north end of EDSA, the Common Station marks the intersection of four railway lines – Light Railway Transit Line 1, MRT-3, MRT-7, and the Metro Manila Subway – to provide a seamless transfer of passengers from one rail line to another.
It is expected to benefit around 500,000 passengers daily.
https://www.philstar.com/nation/2022/03/02/2164288/dotr-mrt-3-rehab-complete