Metro Manila Roadway Tablet: 06/09/22

Thursday, June 9, 2022

ADB approves loan worth over 4 billion USD for railway project in Philippines

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved up to 4.3 billion USD to help finance the construction of nearly 55 km of the modern suburban railway line connecting Metro Manila with the city of Calamba in the Philippines.

Hanoi (VNA) - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved up to 4.3 billion USD to help finance the construction of nearly 55 km of the modern suburban railway line connecting Metro Manila with the city of Calamba in the Philippines.

The investment in the South Commuter Railway Project, which is part of the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) network, is ADB’s largest infrastructure financing in the Asia and Pacific region to date.

Once completed, the South Commuter Railway will offer commuters fast public transport, help to ease road traffic congestion, and contribute to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in line with the Philippines’ climate change agenda. The project follows ADB’s financing of the Malolos–Clark Railway line north of the capital, for which construction is ongoing.

“The South Commuter Railway Project will provide affordable, safe, reliable, and fast public transport for commuters,” ADB Vice-President for East Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Ahmed M. Saeed said in the bank’s a news release issued on June 9.

“This project represents ADB’s biggest infrastructure investment and reflects our commitment to helping the Philippines attain its goals of reducing poverty, improving the lives of Filipinos, and achieving green, resilient, and high economic growth.”

All infrastructure will be designed to be disaster-resilient and able to withstand typhoons and earthquakes. The project will reduce travel time between Manila and Calamba by over half, from 2.5 hours currently by road.

In 2019, the ABD committed to funding a 2.5 billion USD railway line north of the capital that is currently under construction. Once the projects are completed, the Philippines will have 1,209km of railways./.

https://en.vietnamplus.vn/adb-approves-loan-worth-over-4-billion-usd-for-railway-project-in-philippines/230916.vnp

ADB approves $4.3-billion loans for South Commuter rail project

THE Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved up to $4.3 billion in loans to finance the construction of the South Commuter Railway Project.

The railway runs for nearly 55 kilometers (km), and will connect Metro Manila with Calamba, Laguna. The project is part of the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) network, and is the ADB’s largest infrastructure financing project to date.

After its construction, the South Commuter Railway is expected to offer fast public transport, ease road congestion, and contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. It will also halve the travel time between Manila and Calamba from the 2.5 hours it would usually take by road.

“The South Commuter Railway Project will provide affordable, safe, reliable, and fast public transport for commuters,” Ahmed M. Saeed, ADB Vice-President for East Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific, said.

The project will involve the construction of 18 stations, with provisions for accessibility to the elderly, women, children, and people with disabilities.

The line will connect to the future Metro Manila Subway system.

“The South Commuter Railway Project will be financed under a multi-tranche financing facility, with the first tranche of $1.75 billion to be made available starting this year,” the ADB said.

The second and third tranche releases are expected in 2024 and 2026, respectively. The ADB will finance civil works for the railway viaduct, stations, bridges, tunnels, and depot buildings. The Japan International Cooperation Agency is also co-financing the loan, funding railway vehicles and railway systems.

The NSCR, which also includes the ongoing construction of the Malolos-Clark line, is expected to generate more than 35,500 jobs during construction while providing another 3,200 permanent jobs during its operation.

The ADB’s study on the South Commuter Railway Project found that cities and municipalities that have stations along the line will have access to more than 300,000 jobs on average, an average increase of 15.3% in the cities to the south of the capital, with the corresponding growth seen at 8.5% in Metro Manila.

“It will create a substantial growth multiplier effect in the economy through supplier contracts and new opportunities opened with better connectivity in the region,” the ADB said. — Tobias Jared Tomas

https://www.bworldonline.com/economy/2022/06/09/454031/adb-approves-4-3-billion-loans-for-south-commuter-rail-project/

HALA! TANDEM SILA DITO!, CONCRETE POURING!NLEX-SLEX CONNECTOR UPDATE(JUN...

ADB approves up to $4.3 billion loan for South Commuter Railway project

(UPDATE) - The Asian Development Bank on Thursday said it has approved up to $4.3 billion, or around P227.7 billion, to help finance the construction of the South Commuter Railway Project.

The loan will help build the 55 kilometers of the modern suburban railway line connecting Metro Manila with the city of Calamba which is part of the North-South Commuter Railway network, the multilateral lender said in a statement.

The project includes the construction of 18 stations, designed to be safe for all including the elderly, women, children and people with disabilities, the ADB said.

It will also be elevated to avoid flooding and avoid disruptions to communities along the route. There will also be a connecting tunnel to allow operations of direct trains from Calamba to stations on the future Metro Manila Subway system, it added.

ADB said it will make the first tranche of $1.75 billion available this year, with the release of the second and third tranches expected in 2024 and 2026, respectively.

The civil works for the railway viaduct, stations, bridges, tunnels, and depot buildings will be financed by ADB, while the Japan International Cooperation Agency will fund the rolling stock and railway systems, ADB said.

Once completed, the project will cut the travel time between Manila and Calamba by half from the current 2.5 hours.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/06/09/22/adb-oks-43-b-loan-for-south-commuter-railway-project

Cavitex C5 Link extension now 95% finished

Cavitex Infrastructure Corp. (CIC), a unit of Metro Pacific Tollways Corp., is preparing to complete and open soon the CAVITEX C5 Link Flyover extension.

CIC said the extension project or Segment 3A2 (Merville to E. Rodriguez Ave.), which is a partnership with the Philippine Reclamation Authority, has reached more than 95 percent completion to date.

The 1.6-kilometer flyover extension will connect to the operational 2.2-kilometer CAVITEX C5 Link flyover, providing convenient access for motorists bound to SLEX/C5 from Merville and vice versa.

“We are pleased to see the progress of the CAVITEX C5 Link. We look forward to it serving an estimated 15,000 motorists, helping lessen their travel time from SLEX to Pasay, Taguig and Paranaque, thereby helping decongest some of our local roads” Toll Regulatory Board executive director Alvin Carullo said.

CIC said the traffic management plan for the area once the extension opens is being discussed, including the transfer of the Merville entry and exit ramp to the front of Shell C5 Southlink for better traffic flow.

“With CAVITEX C5 Link flyover extension opening soon, we urge our motorists to have an Easytrip RFID installed and use it when traveling through our expressways, such as CAVITEX and CAVITEX C5 Link for seamless travel, and avoiding long queues at the cash lanes,” CIC president and general manager Raul Ignacio said.

Meanwhile, the construction of Segment 2 (CAVITEX R1 Expressway to Sucat Interchange), is now more than 30 percent finished.

Once this segment connects CAVITEX to its Sucat Interchange, travel time between the two areas will be reduced by as much as 30 minutes, bypassing traffic from Sucat Road and Quirino Avenue.

https://www.bilyonaryo.com/2022/06/09/cavitex-c5-link-extension-now-95-finished/

ADB to finance commuter railway project in Philippines

MANILA (Xinhua): The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Thursday (June 9) said it has approved up to US$4.3 billion to help finance the construction of nearly 55km of a modern suburban railway line connecting the Philippine capital region with Calamba City in the neighboring Laguna province.

The Manila-based bank said the investment in the South Commuter Railway Project, which is part of the North-South Commuter Railway network, is ADB's largest infrastructure financing in the Asia and Pacific region to date.

Once completed, the railway project will offer commuters fast public transport, help ease road traffic congestion, and contribute to gas emissions reduction in line with the Philippines' climate change agenda.

"The South Commuter Railway Project will provide affordable, safe, reliable, and fast public transport for commuters," ADB Vice-President for East Asia, South-East Asia, and the Pacific, Ahmed Saeed said.

The ADB said the railway, one of the country's infrastructure flagship projects and part of the government's "Build, Build, Build" infrastructure development programme, will further strengthen the economic recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic as it is expected to create more than 35,500 jobs during construction and over 3,200 permanent jobs during operation.

https://www.thestar.com.my/aseanplus/aseanplus-news/2022/06/09/adb-to-finance-commuter-railway-project-in-philippines

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ADB OKs $4.3B in financing for Manila-Calamba railway project

By TED CORDERO, GMA News

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Thursday announced it has approved up to $4.3 billion in loan financing for the southern leg of the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) project connecting Metro Manila and Calamba, Laguna.

In a statement, the Manila-based multilateral lender said the approved amount for the nearly 55-kilometer South Commuter Railway project was the ADB's “largest infrastructure financing in the Asia and Pacific region to date.”

The South Commuter Railway, or the Manila-Calamba line, forms part of the 163-kilometer NSCR as the project’s Phase 3 along with the Phase 1 Tutuban to Malolos, Bulacan line and Phase 2, the Malolos to Clark, Pampanga line.

The South Commuter Railway will run from Blumentritt Road in Manila all the way to Calamba.

The financing for the Manila-Calamba railway line exceeds that of the Malolos-Clark’s $2.75 billion, which was then the ADB’s largest infrastructure investment.

The project will be co-financed by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

In particular, the ADB will finance civil works for the railway viaduct, stations, bridges, tunnels, and depot buildings, while JICA will fund the rolling stock and railway systems.

The Manila-Calamba railway project will be financed under a multi-tranche financing scheme, with the first tranche of $1.75 billion to be made available starting this year, while the release of the second and third tranches is expected in 2024 and 2026, respectively.

The South Commuter Railway will offer commuters fast public transport, help to ease road traffic congestion, and contribute to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in line with the Philippines’ climate change agenda, according to the ADB.

The ADB said the project includes the construction of 18 stations designed to provide safe access for all, including the elderly, women, children, and people with disabilities; and a connecting tunnel to allow the operation of direct trains from Calamba to stations on the future Metro Manila Subway system.

All infrastructure will be designed to be disaster-resilient and able to withstand typhoons and earthquakes, the lender said.

The railway will be elevated to avoid flooding and reduce the impact and disruption to communities along the railway route.

The Manila-Calamba railway is also seen to reduce travel time between Manila and Calamba by over half, from 2.5 hours currently by road.

Meanwhile, the overall NSCR project is seen to further strengthen the Philippines’ economic recovery from the adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic as it is expected to create more than 35,500 jobs during construction and over 3,200 permanent jobs during operation, the lender said.

The project will also create a substantial growth multiplier effect in the economy through supplier contracts and new opportunities opened with better connectivity in the region.

It will improve access to an average of more than 300,000 jobs within a one-hour commute for residents along the project.

The NSCR is among the Duterte administration’s infrastructure flagship projects under the "Build, Build, Build" initiative. —VBL, GMA News

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/money/companies/834431/adb-oks-4-3b-in-financing-for-manila-calamba-railway-project/story/

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ADB approves up to $4.3 billion loan for Philippine railway project

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) said on Thursday it has approved a loan of up to $4.3 billion for a railway project in the Philippines, a much-needed boost for its aging rail infrastructure.

From more than 1,100 kilometers (683.5 miles) prior to World War II, the country had only 77 km of the operational railway as of 2016, well behind other urban centers across Asia, government data shows.

The 55-kilometer South Commuter Railway project is ADB’s largest infrastructure financing in the Asia and Pacific region to date, the bank’s vice president Ahmed Saeed said in a statement.

The project will halve the travel time between Manila and Calamba City in Laguna province, from the current 2.5 hours. The Japan International Cooperation Agency is funding the rolling stock and railway systems.

All ADB-financed infrastructure like civil works for the railway viaduct, 18 stations, bridges, tunnels, and depot buildings will be designed to be disaster-resilient and able to withstand typhoons and earthquakes, according to the statement.

In 2019, the Manila-based lender committed to funding a $2.5 billion railway line north of the capital that is currently under construction.

Two railway projects were completed under President Rodrigo Duterte while six are underway and six more have yet to start construction. Upon completion, the Philippines will have 1,209 km of railways.

— Reporting by Neil Jerome Morales; Editing by Kanupriya Kapoor

https://interaksyon.philstar.com/trends-spotlights/2022/06/09/219234/adb-approves-billion-loan-philippine-railway-project/

NLEX-SLEX CONNECTOR ROAD PROJECT BLUMENTRITT MANILA UPDATE | June 09,2022

ADB Approves Project Financing for South Commuter Railway Project in the Philippines

MANILA, PHILIPPINES (9 June 2022) — The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved up to $4.3 billion to help finance the construction of nearly 55 kilometers (km) of the modern suburban railway line connecting Metro Manila with the city of Calamba in the Philippines. The investment in the South Commuter Railway Project, which is part of the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) network, is ADB’s largest infrastructure financing in the Asia and Pacific region to date.

“The South Commuter Railway Project will provide affordable, safe, reliable, and fast public transport for commuters,” said ADB Vice-President for East Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Ahmed M. Saeed. “This project represents ADB’s biggest infrastructure investment and reflects our commitment to helping the Philippines attain its goals of reducing poverty, improving the lives of Filipinos, and achieving green, resilient, and high economic growth.”

The project includes the construction of 18 stations designed to provide safe access for all, including the elderly, women, children, and people with disabilities; and a connecting tunnel to allow the operation of direct trains from Calamba to stations in the future Metro Manila Subway system. All infrastructure will be designed to be disaster-resilient and able to withstand typhoons and earthquakes. The project will reduce travel time between Manila and Calamba by over half, from 2.5 hours currently by road.

The NSCR will further strengthen the Philippines’ economic recovery from the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic as it is expected to create more than 35,500 jobs during construction and over 3,200 permanent jobs during operation. It will create a substantial growth multiplier effect in the economy through supplier contracts and new opportunities opened with better connectivity in the region. It will improve access to an average of more than 300,000 jobs within any 1-hour commute for residents along with the project, according to an ADB study.

ADB’s Infrastructure Preparation and Innovation Facility supported the Department of Transportation (DOTr) in preparing the project. The loan will further support the capacity development and institutional strengthening of DOTr, the implementing agency. The railway will be elevated to avoid flooding and reduce the impact and disruption to communities along the railway route. A technical assistance grant will support affected communities.

The South Commuter Railway Project will be financed under a multi-tranche financing facility, with the first tranche of $1.75 billion to be made available starting this year. The release of the second and third tranches is expected in 2024 and 2026, respectively. ADB will finance civil works for the railway viaduct, stations, bridges, tunnels, and depot buildings. The Japan International Cooperation Agency is funding the rolling stock and railway systems.

The project is one of the Philippines’ infrastructure flagship projects (IFP) and is part of the government’s “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure development program. Other IFPs financed by ADB include the Metro Manila Bridges Project in 2021, the EDSA Greenways Project in 2020, the Angat Water Transmission Improvement Project in 2016, and additional financing in 2020, the Malolos Clark Railway Project in 2019 and the Improving Growth Corridors in Mindanao Road Sector Project in 2017.

ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. Established in 1966, it is owned by 68 members—49 from the region.

https://www.adb.org/news/adb-approves-project-financing-south-commuter-railway-project-philippines

ADB approves $4.3-B financing for South Commuter Railway Project

The Philippine government secured a new financing from the Asian Development Bank amounting to $4.3 billion (P227.5 billion) to partly fund the construction of South Commuter Railway project.

ADB’s investment in the project — which involves the construction of nearly 55 kilometers of modern suburban railway line connecting Metro Manila with the city of Calamba, south of the capital — is the multilateral lender’s largest infrastructure financing in the Asia and Pacific region to date.

The project is part of the bigger North–South Commuter Railway (NSCR) network, which is expected to create more than 35,500 jobs during construction and over 3,200 permanent jobs during operation.

The ADB said the South Commuter Railway Project will be financed under a multi-tranche financing facility, with the first tranche to be made available starting this year. The first round of financing will comprise of a regular loan of $1.75 billion with an annual interest rate determined in accordance with ADB’s Flexible Loan Product. The loan is payable in 28 years, including a grace period of 9 years.

The release of the second and third tranches is expected in 2024 and 2026, respectively.

ADB will finance civil works for the railway viaduct, stations, bridges, tunnels, and depot buildings of the South Commuter Railway. The Japan International Cooperation Agency is funding the rolling stock and railway systems.

https://www.philstar.com/business/2022/06/09/2187229/adb-approves-43-b-financing-south-commuter-railway-project