MMDA to open 30 ferry terminals

The Metro Manila Development Authority is planning to open 30 Pasig River Ferry terminals to accommodate more passengers in the eastern part of Metro Manila and in the provinces of Rizal and Laguna.

Of the 30, seven terminals will be constructed around the Marikina River, Laguna Lake and in the City of Calamba, said MMDA deputy chairman Frisco San Juan.

“This will be built in the coming years,” San Juan said.

The MMDA made the announcement during the launching of two new fiber glass ferries at the Guadalupe Station in Makati City on Monday.

The arrival of new boats, capable of carrying at least 15 passengers, including crew, brings to 16 the total number of operational ferries.

“Our main objective really is to help the people find an alternative mode of transportation and to ease traffic in Metro Manila,” said MMDA officer-in-charge Thomas Orbos.

“Hopefully, we are looking to go beyond Metro Manila. In Taytay, you can imagine it will take you two hours from Taytay to Makati and we are talking 30 to 45 minutes,” he added.

Orbos said he will be having a meeting with Department of Transportation Secretary Arturo Tugade and officials of the Laguna Lake Development Authority soon to discuss the opening of new terminals.

“The role of the government is to open up the routes. Hopefully when it becomes successful, the private sector should come in already,” Orbos said.

Aside from Rizal and Laguna, the MMDA will also open soon the new terminals in the areas of Eastwood in Quezon City and Riverbank in Marikina City.

“We are encouraging the people to try our ferry system. We can help in the environment and at the same time our travel will be faster, like from here to Manila it will take you less than an hour. So, please help us, the more that we use it, the more that we’ll become viable,” said Orbos.

MMDA records showed that the total ridership of the ferry system has reached more than 150,000 as of December last year.

The MMDA revived the Pasig River system in 2014 as a means to decongest Metro Manila’s major roads.

chaplet of divine mercy, apostolate of family consecration

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.



You died Jesus but the source of life gush forth for souls, and the ocean of mercy opened up for the whole world.



O Fountain of Life, unfathomable Divine Mercy, cover the whole world and empty Yourself out upon us.



O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fountain of Mercy for us, I trust in You! (3x)



Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, Amen.



Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen.



I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord: who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven; sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.



Eternal Father, I offer you the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your Dearly Beloved Son, Our Lord, Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.



For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.



Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.



Eternal God, in whom mercy is endless and the treasury of compassion — inexhaustible, look kindly upon us and increase your mercy in us, that in difficult moments we might not despair nor become despondent, but with great confidence submit ourselves to your holy will, which is Love and Mercy itself. Amen.



A Prayer for the Divine Mercy

O greatly Merciful God, Infinite Goodness, today all mankind calls out from the abyss of its misery to your mercy---to your compassion, O God; and it is with its mighty voice of misery that it cries out. Gracious God do not reject the prayer of this earth's exiles! O Lord, Goodness beyond our understanding, Who are acquainted with our misery through and through, and know that by our own power we cannot ascend to You, we implore You; anticipate us with Your Grace and keep on increasing Your mercy in us, that we may faithfully do Your holy will all through our life and at death's hour. Let the omnipotence of your mercy shield us from the darts of our salvation's enemies, that we may with confidence, as your children await your final coming - that day known to you alone. And we expect to obtain everything promised us by Jesus in spite of all our wretchedness. For Jesus is our Hope: Through His merciful Heart as through an open gate we pass through to heaven.

Gov’t to extend LRT-2 to Pier 4 as public-private partnership project

The Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center on Monday said it has changed the scope of the Light Rail Transit Line 2 (LRT-2) by including a 3.9-kilometer extension from Recto Avenue to Pier 4 in Manila.

“Before, the project scope was only O&M (operations and maintenance). So now, the DOTr (Department of Transportation) is looking at a component to build an extension, so there’s a construction component,” Frances Yani P. Domingo, officer-in-charge of the PPP Center told GMA News Online at the sidelines of the launching of the Development of Foreign Investment Framework Project.

With the project parameters of LRT-2 revised, the original O&M will be infused with private sector efficiencies together with line operations to raise the level of service.

The extension comprises three stations: Tutuban located next to the Cluster Mall, Divisoria at the intersection of Recto Avenue and Asuncion Street, and Pier 4 some 50 meters north of Zaragoza Street.

The current terms call for the private partner to undertake the O&M aspects of the existing LRT Line 2, the 4.14-kilometer East Extension, and any other extensions. The P1.17-billion LRT Line 2 East (Masinag) Extension – which is not a PPP project – involves the design and construction of the Emerald Station in Cainta, Rizal, and the Masinag Station at the Masinag Junction of Antipolo City.

With the planned amendments, the project may require a separate approval from the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and as result may push back the timeframe, Domingo noted, but did not elaborate.

“The LRT will change scope so it might go back to the approval stage,” she said. Since it encompasses a construction component, the project would require bidders capable of putting up P12.5 billion in capital expenditure (CAPEX), she noted.

Nine companies have signified interest in the project – Light Rail Manila Consortium (LRMC), San Miguel Corp. (SMC), GT Capital Holdings Inc., Marubeni Philippines Corp., D.M Consunji Inc., RATP Development, APT Global Inc., Globalvia, and Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc.

However, only four submitted prequalification documents– the consortiums of the Aboitiz Equity Ventures and SMRT Transport Solutions, D.M Consunji Inc. and Tokyo Metro Co. Ltd., Light Rail Manila Holdings 2 Inc., and San Miguel Holdings Corp. and Korea Railroad Corp.

According to the PPP Center, 10 other projects are currently under procurement: the LRT Line 6 Project (P65.09 billion); the Regional Prison Facilities (P50.20 billion); the New Centennial Water Source (NCWS)-Kaliwa Dam Project (P18.72 billion); the Road Transport Information Technology Infrastructure Project (P298 million); the Davao Sasa Port Modernization Project (P18.99 billion); and the O&M of five regional airports (P108.19 billion). — VDS, GMA News

Emma Cordero now a beauty queen too by Crispina Martinez - Belen September 28, 2016 Read more at http://www.mb.com.ph/emma-cordero-now-a-beauty-queen-too/#Ps5sW6EmVBBFxM8G.99

Singer Emma Cordero, who is also a civic leader, philanthropist, and educator, won the Mrs. Southwest Asia title recently at the Mrs. Universe 2016 competition in China. When she celebrated the event with the local media, Emma held a mini concert, singing the songs we also love among them Andy Williams’ “Love Is A Many Splendored Thing.”

On Nov. 7, Emma and other prominent members of the Filipino community as well as esteemed Japanese personalities will hold a red carpet event in recognition of leaders who’ve accomplished much for their people and society. This will be held at Hotel New Otani Hakata in Fukuoka.

The event will be spearheaded by the World Class Excellence Japan Awards (WECJA), which Emma founded in 2015 with the vision to inspire people to achieve excellence in the performance of their crafts. Herself the recipient of many awards and recognition like “Asia’s Princess of Songs” given by the Asia Pacific Awards Council, and “Most Outstanding International Performer” from the 2015 Gawad Amerika Awards, Emma’s latest song is “Ai Wo Agetai (I Wanna Give Love),” which she wrote. The earnings from the song are allotted for the scholars of Our Lady of Fatima de San Pedro in Laguna.

Emma also has scholars (taking up voice lessons) under her Emcor VOAA Music International and VOAA Music Studio in Fukuoka.

As civic leader, Emma was president of the Manila Sunrise Lions Club for about a decade. She is currently an associate member of different international Lions Club in Japan.

• • •

Going for gold

Some 36 gay men (described as gorgeous and statuesque) are vying for the title Mr. Gay World Philippines 2016, for which the new Philippine National Director, Wilbert Tolentino, is very proud of.

The finalists were presented to the media at the Club 690 while the pre-pageant was held at the Trinity University of Asia.

The coronation night is on Oct. 2 at the University of the Philippines Diliman, for telecast Oct. 8, 10:30 p.m. on ABC 5. ABC 5 is a channel of TV5 Network, Inc., owned by MediaQuest Holdings, Inc. a wholly owned subsidiary of the PLDT. ABC-5 is seen on Channel 21 Cebu, Channel 2 Davao, Channel 12 General Santos

• • •

Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings today, Sept. 29, go to Eggie Apostol, Mozzy Ravena, Hans Sy, Ng Tam Meng, Lally Aldeguer, Boysie Villavicencio, Richard Ching, Melissa Cuevas, Debbie Enriquez, Philip Tan, Rosalinda Ramos, Maribel Fernandez, Marie Dimapilis,Villa Granada-de Guia, Ginger Manansala, Michelle Reyes, Jenna Rose Salosa, Miguel Martin, Angie Arboleda, Ambeth Soria, Raymond Sy, Lolo Perez, Melissa Manus, Cipirano Sardoncillo, Cloti Cabanero, Kent Brian Calderon, Miguela Labrada, Tilda Cabanero, and Mike Enriquez… Sept. 30: former Sen. Leticia Shahani, Gemma Cruz, Thelma Sioson, Fr. Mario Sobrejuanite, Gerry Contreras, Virgilio Gonzales, Arthur Lingad, Leonida Andrade, Aida Arceo, Baby Lavarro, Ruben Silvestre, Ma. Cristina Maralit, Sari Paz Tan, Edwin Trompeta, Mike Sandejas, Maya Encila, Alexander Gerilla of Cutz Company, Raquel Monteza, Fr. Arnold Layoc, Fr. Jeronimo Ma. Cruz and Fr. Jun Sanchez, Rev. Msgr. Hernando Coronel, Allan Llarena of New York, Alyssa Iris Nojo, Bennie Jun Bantawig, Dr. Mimi Berdin of Cordova, Cebu, Jay-R Cadao, Edz Buena, Grace Diaz, Jessica Quijano, Joshua Gerome Solon, Mary Anne Tabasa-Sabejon, Roxanne Tagudina, MIRA NAUADEZ, ANNA KABIGTING, CHATO ORDINARIO, JOE DELA CRUZ, HERNINA MARIANO, MARYLN CARAIG, Jarelle Baloyz,  Teresita Esguerra, Louis Jocson, John Carlos delos Reyes, Dona de Guzman, Cesar Faustino, Professor Marjorie Angeles, Fr. Arnold Taguinez, Nice Ramos and Denise Laurel…


Read more at http://www.mb.com.ph/emma-cordero-now-a-beauty-queen-too/#Ps5sW6EmVBBFxM8G.99

SM Supermalls

Existing

1. SM City North EDSA
2. SM City Sta. Mesa
3. SM Megamall Ortigas
4. SM City Cebu
5. SM Southmall Las Pinas
6. SM City Bacoor
7. SM City Fairview
8. SM City Iloilo
9. SM City Manila
10. SM City Pampanga
11. SM City Sucat
12. SM City Davao
13. SM City Cagayan de Oro
14. SM City Bicutan
15. SM City Lucena
16. SM City Baguio
17. SM City Marilao
18. SM City Dasmarinas
19. SM City Batangas
20. SM City San Lazaro
21. SM City Valenzuela
22. SM City Molino
23. SM City Sta. Rosa
24. SM City Clark
25. SM Mall of Asia
26. SM Center Frontera Verde
27. SM City Lipa
28. SM City Bacolod
29. SM City Muntinlupa
30. SM City Taytay
31. SM City Marikina
32. SM City Rosales
33. SM City Baliuag
34. SM City Naga
35. SM Center Pamplona
36. SM City Rosario
37. SM City Tarlac
38. SM City San Pablo
39. SM City Calamba
40. SM City Novaliches
41. SM City Masinag
42. SM Marketmall Dasmarinas
43. SM City Olongapo
44. SM City Consolacion
45. SM City San Fernando Downtown
46. SM City General Santos
47. SM Lanang Premier
48. SM Aura Premier
49. SM City BF Paranaque
50. SM City Cauayan
51. SM Center Angono
52. SM Megacenter Cabanatuan
53. SM City San Mateo
54. SM City Cabanatuan
55. SM Center Sangandaan
56. SM Seaside City Cebu
57. SM City San Jose Del Monte
58. SM City Trece Martires

2016

1. SM City East Ortigas

2017
SM CDO Premier
SM Center Tuguegarao
SM City Puerto Princesa
SM Center Ormoc
SM City Urdaneta

SOON
SM City Vito Cruz (Harison Plaza)
SM Center Pulilan (Sto Cristo)
SM Center Lemery (Poblacion)
SM City Legazpi (Legazpi Grand Terminal)
SM City Butuan (Lapu-Lapu)
SM City Caloocan (Ever Gotesco Grand Central-Caloocan)
SM City Commonwealth
SM Dagupan (Pantranco Terminal)
SM City Telabastagan (Essel Supermarket)
SM Olongapo 2 (Marikit Park)
SM Urdaneta 1 (Anonas)
SM City Tuguegarao
SM Zamboanga (Mindpro Citimall)
SM City Roxas (Baybay)
SM Santa Rosa-Yulo (Sto. Domingo)
SM Santa Rosa-Cabuyao (Pulo)
SM City Sorsogon (Sorsogon Grand Terminal)
SM City Balanga (Bataan Grand Terminal)

LUZON
SM Laoag
SM Vigan
SM San Fernando La Union
SM Gapan
SM Santiago
SM Malolos
SM Cainta
SM Calapan
SM Tagaytay
SM Tanauan

VISAYAS
SM Tacloban
SM Kalibo
SM San Jose de Buenavista
SM Tagbilaran
SM Catarman
SM Calbayog
SM Dumaguete
SM Kabankalan

MINDANAO
SM Pagadian
SM Dipolog
SM Iligan
SM Valencia
SM Surigao
SM Tagum
SM Digos
SM Cotabato
SM Ozamis

NLEX-SLEX Connector Road to be finished by September 2020

8-kilometer four-lane tollway will cost an estimated Php 23.2 billion
 
Just days after being awarded the North Luzon Expressway – South Luzon Expressway (NLEX-SLEX) Connector Road Project, Metro Pacific Tollways Development Corporation (MPTDC) submitted compliance requirements to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) which includes the estimated cost and its target completion date.

The NLEX-SLEX Connector Road Project is an eight-kilometer, four-lane elevated expressway estimated to cost Php 23.2 billion with an estimated date of completion set for September 2020.

The DPWH has previously received a "no objection" on the use of the Philippine National Railway (PNR) Right of Way from the Department of Transportation since August of 2012 to fast-track the completion of the said project.

It will start from the end of Segment 10 of the NLEX at Circumferential Road 3 (C-3) in Caloocan City connecting to the Polytechnic University of the Philippines campus in Sta. Mesa with a common point at the Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3.

Designed to have two interchanges at C-3 Road and España, Manila, the NLEX-SLEX Connector Road is expected to reduce travel time from 1.5 to 2 hours to only 15-20 minutes.

Next activity after the issuance of Notice of Award will be the signing of Toll Concession Agreement.

MNTC borrowing P11 B for connector road project By Louella Desiderio (The Philippine Star) | Updated September 28, 2016 - 12:00am

Manila North Tollways Corp. (MNTC) president and CEO Rodrigo Franco told reporters the firm intends to borrow 70 percent of the P16 billion construction cost of the project from banks. “We’ll start with the fourth quarter, but the process will take some time,” he said.

The project which has an estimated construction cost of P16 billion and right-of-way cost of P7 billion, involves building and operating a four-lane, eight-km elevated toll expressway over the right of way of the Philippine National Railways starting at the junction of the NLEX Segment 10 at C-3 Road/5th Avenue in Caloocan City, and connecting to the SLEX through the Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3 Project in Manila.

Tycoons end row on MRT hub posted September 27, 2016 at 11:55 pm by Darwin G. Amojelar

Four conglomerates agreed to end a seven-year deadlock over the location of the common station that will link Metro Manila’s overhead train system in Quezon City.

SM Group’s Tessie Sy-Coson and Hans Sy, Ayala Corp.’s Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, San Miguel Corp.’s Ramon Ang and Metro Pacific Investment Corp.’s Manuel Pangilinan reached an agreement in a meeting on Sept. 8 for a unified Light Rail Transit station to make commuting more convenient to the public.

The four parties also identified a single location of the common station to be built between The Annex at SM City North EDSA and Trinoma shopping mall (between Landmark), which would connect the three urban transit lines: LRT Line 1, Metro Rail Transit Line-3, and the proposed MRT-7, which would run from EDSA corner North Avenue in Quezon City to Araneta-Colinas Verdes Subdivision in San Jose del Monte City in Bulacan.

The location of the common station is important to SM and Ayala because of the additional foot traffic that it can bring to their respective malls.

The station will provide a common concourse or atrium where train commuters can conveniently transfer from one line to another.

The Transportation Department, Public Works Department, Light Rail Transit Authority, SM Prime Holdings Inc., Universal LRT Corp., Light Rail Manila Consortium, North Triangle Depot Commercial Corp. represented by Ayala Land Inc. will finalize the agreement on Sept. 28.

The Public Works Department also assured that the underpass to be built in the area would seamlessly integrate with the common station.

The parties are set to file a joint motion to the Supreme Court  to lift the temporary restraining order.

LRT-MRT common station to rise between SM, Trinoma

After DOTr forges consensus with stakeholders

AFTER a seven-year legal deadlock, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said on Tuesday that it has forged a consensus with stakeholders on a single location for the common station that will connect the LRT Line 1, MRT-3, and the proposed MRT-7.

The DOTr, Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA), SM Prime Holdings, Inc. (SMPHI), Universal LRT Corp. (ULC) and Light Rail Manila Consortium (LRMC), North Triangle Depot Commercial Corporation represented by Ayala Land, Inc. (ALI), and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) are set to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) today, September 28, to finalize the agreement.

The MOU will pave the way for the filing of a joint motion to the Supreme Court to lift the temporary restraining order on the construction of the common station for the three urban transit lines.

The common station, which will be built between SM North EDSA and Trinoma, with access to both malls and major roads such as EDSA, will provide a common concourse or atrium for train commuters to conveniently transfer from one line to another.

The DPWH also assured that the underpass being built will seamlessly integrate with the common station.

Getting all parties to agree was among the targets set by DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade within the first 100 days in office, and it involved engaging all stakeholders in meetings in order to reach a consensus.

In a meeting earlier this month, the country’s top executives–SM’s Tessie Sy Coson and Hans Sy, Ayala’s Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, San Miguel’s Ramon Ang, and Metro Pacific’s Manny Pangilinan–agreed that a unified station was necessary to make commuting more convenient to the public.

The Common Station project started in 2009 and has been on hold due to legal issues. The LRTA inked a deal with SMPHI to build the station near SM North EDSA. Four years later, the then-Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) decided to build the station near Ayala’s Trinoma, citing lower costs as a reason for the change of location.

The Supreme Court intervened and issued a TRO in favor of SMPHI to stop the construction of the common station.

Common station won’t separate 3 rail systems – DOTr By Ghio Ong (The Philippine Star) | Updated September 23, 2016 - 12:00am

Contrary to earlier reports, a common train station located between two malls on North Avenue in Quezon City would connect, not separate, Metro Manila’s three rail systems, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said Wednesday.

“They will be connected via a common concourse, which will allow commuters to transfer from one line to another conveniently,” DOTr Assistant Secretary for communications Cherie Mercado-Santos wrote to The STAR.

She was referring to the Light Rail Transit Line 1, which runs from Roosevelt in Quezon City to Baclaran in Pasay City; Light Rail Transit Line 2, which runs from Santolan in Pasig City to Recto Avenue in Manila, Metro Rail Transit Line 3, which runs from North Avenue in Quezon City to Taft Avenue in Pasay City; and the MRT Line 7, which is under construction and would cover EDSA corner North Avenue in Quezon City to Araneta-Colinas Verdes Subdivision, City of San Jose del Monte in Bulacan.

The STAR previously reported that House Minority Leader and Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez “mentioned that he was surprised when (DOTr Secretary Arthur) Tugade told him in a recent congressional hearing that MRT-7, which will run from The Annex at SM City North Edsa to Araneta-Colinas Verdes Subdivision, City of San Jose del Monte in Bulacan, is to be detached from MRT-3 and LRT-1.”

Tugade said in August that he talked to private sector parties involved in the common station project and agreed to sign a memorandum of agreement.

The conflict over the common station started when the Department of Transportation and Communications decided to have the common station near Ayala Group’s Trinoma mall, citing savings in construction cost as well as convenience of passengers, even as the LRT Authority and SM entered into an agreement to put up a common station for the railways near the Annex at SM City North EDSA mall in 2009.