Friday, March 31, 2023
Thursday, March 30, 2023
Wednesday, March 29, 2023
Tuesday, March 28, 2023
Monday, March 27, 2023
Sunday, March 26, 2023
Saturday, March 25, 2023
Friday, March 24, 2023
Thursday, March 23, 2023
Wednesday, March 22, 2023
Tuesday, March 21, 2023
Monday, March 20, 2023
ROW issues face NLEX extension
North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) Corp. is facing right of way (ROW) challenges in delivering a P12-billion extension project seen to benefit 45,000 motorists every day.
According to the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB), the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has started acquiring the ROW for the P11.5-billion NLEX Segment 8.2.
However, the TRB said there are differing positions regarding the entitlement of people affected by the project, an issue the DPWH is trying to resolve with local government units.
In 2020, the TRB approved NLEX Corp.’s proposal to proceed with the construction of the initial section of the extension project. Since then, however, the project was stuck in ROW acquisition.
NLEX Segment 8.2 will extend NLEX from Segment 8.1 in Mindanao Avenue up to C.P. Garcia Avenue in Quezon City. The project is made up of three segments: Section 1A, from Mindanao Avenue to Quirino Highway; Section 1B, to Regalado Avenue; and Section 1C, to Congressional Avenue.
According to the DPWH, the extension is expected to cut travel time from Mindanao Avenue to Commonwealth Avenue to just 10 minutes from 45 minutes.
Also, the project is estimated to benefit at least 45,000 motorists every day, providing them with an alternative route in reaching one of the busiest roads in Metro Manila.
On the other hand, the TRB said that NLEX Corp. has completed 87 percent of its repair works in the Candaba Viaduct as of Feb. 20 and plans to finish rehabilitation within March.
NLEX Corp., for its part, announced that it will conclude its solar power project within the year. The initiative to turn to solar panels for energy will generate monthly electricity of up to 22,762 kilowatts per hour in NLEX and 13,961 kWh in the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX).
NLEX Corp. is installing in 21 NLEX tolls and 15 SCTEX tolls monocrystalline solar panels that collect sunlight and convert them into electricity through photovoltaic cells. Prior to this, NLEX Corp. has placed solar panels in various sections of NLEX and SCTEX to kick off the shift.
NLEX Corp. president and general manager J. Luigi Bautista said the toll operator will intensify its use of sustainable energy, including in CCTV cameras and road lighting, in line with efforts to transition to renewable power.
NLEX Corp. is a unit of Metro Pacific Tollways Corp., the toll road development arm of Metro Pacific Investments Corp.
https://www.philstar.com/business/2023/03/20/2252871/row-issues-face-nlex-extension
Sunday, March 19, 2023
Saturday, March 18, 2023
SM Prime expands network with 4 new malls set to open in 2023
SM Prime Holdings Inc., the integrated property developer owned by the Sy family, is set to continue its expansion in the Philippines and China with the opening of four new malls in 2023.
With a proven track record of delivering world-class retail spaces, SM Prime Holdings is well-positioned to meet the growing demand for high-quality shopping experiences in these regions.
The new malls set to open this year include SM City Bataan, SM Center San Pedro, and SM City Sto. Tomas in the Philippines.
In addition to these, the company is also set to launch a new mall in Yangzhou, China.
Collectively, these developments will provide 0.2 million square meters of gross floor area, adding to the company’s existing portfolio of retail spaces that meet the evolving needs of its customers.
With these new developments, SM Prime will further bolster its already impressive network, which currently consists of 86 malls in the Philippines and China.
In 2022, SM Prime Holdings opened four new malls, including SM City Roxas, its first mall in Capiz Province, SM City Tanza in Cavite, SM City Sorsogon, and SM City Tuguegarao in Cagayan Province. These new developments have allowed the company to expand its reach and continue to provide exceptional retail experiences to customers across the region.
SM Prime’s residential arm SMDC is also planning to expand its operations in the provinces to help bridge the housing gap. With 18 residential developments already in key provincial cities, the company is well positioned to meet the growing demand for high-quality housing in these regions.
Friday, March 17, 2023
Thursday, March 16, 2023
Wednesday, March 15, 2023
Tuesday, March 14, 2023
Monday, March 13, 2023
Metro Pacific begins initial work on Candaba Viaduct expansion
By Justine Irish D. Tabile, Reporter
METRO PACIFIC Investments Corp.’s tollway unit said it has started preliminary work on the 5-kilometer Candaba Third Viaduct project worth P6.1 billion.
“We are already in the design stage,” Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC) President and Chief Executive Officer Rodrigo E. Franco told BusinessWorld.
The project is being implemented by MPTC’s unit, NLEX Corp., with Hong Kong-based Leighton Asia the main contractor. The additional viaduct is covered by North Luzon Expressway Concession Agreement.
The viaduct allows vehicles to traverse the Candaba Swamp, a major bottleneck to north-south travel in Central Luzon, between Pulilan, Bulacan and Apalit, Pampanga.
The third viaduct, to be built between the northbound and southbound portions, is set to be completed by the end of 2024, according to Mr. Franco.
Separately, MPTC is also targeting the completion of the entire length of the NLEX Connector Road between the Caloocan Interchange on C3 Road Dimasalang and Polytechnic University of the Philippines in Sta. Mesa, Manila by May.
The first segment of the NLEX Connector Road is set to open to the public March 27 with toll rates yet to be finalized by the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB).
“There is a tollway application about to be submitted to the TRB. We anticipate that in the next two weeks, the TRB will set the toll fees at least for the first section to be opened,” Mr. Franco said.