PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte's administration is on track to finish the construction of the 11.7-kilometer Light Rail Transit (LRT) - Line 1 by 2021, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said Wednesday, August 14.
Transportation Undersecretary for Railways Timothy Batan gave the assurance in a Palace press briefing, after Cavite Seventh District Representative Jesus Crispin Remulla blamed the Ayala consortium for the delay in the construction of LRT-1 Cavite extension.
"It's 19 years delayed. Project is finally on track," Batan said.
"Fourth quarter 2021, tapos 'yun (it's already completed). So finally, after 19 years, we are seeing actual construction works in progress in this LRT-1 Cavite extension project," he added.
The Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC), which is a consortium of Ayala Corporation, Metro Pacific Investment Corporation, and the Macquaire group, took over the operations, maintenance, and extension of the LRT-1 in September 2015.
The construction of LRT-1 Cavite extension is part of the concession agreement with the LRMC.
The extension, which will transport commuters from Baclaran to Cavite, will cover eight new stations.
The stations that are expected to be opened are Redemptorist, Naia Avenue, Asia World, Ninoy Aquino, Dr. Aquino, Las Piñas, Zapote, and Nigod.
The project is seen to increase its daily ridership to 800,000 from the current 500,000.
Batan noted that the piling works for the LRT extension would begin in October this year, while the launching of a girder for the project will be in March next year. (SunStar Philippines)
https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1818680
Thursday, August 15, 2019
Araneta-Aurora intersection closed for a week
Starting today, the Araneta-Aurora intersection in Manila will be closed to traffic every night for a week for the construction of the Skyway Stage 3 project, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) announced on Tuesday.
MMDA Road Safety Unit head Emilio Llavor said the closure would give way to the launching of girders for the Skyway.
The closure will be from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. and will affect 17,000 to 18,000 vehicles, Llavor said.
Drivers of light vehicles may take the following alternate routes: from Shaw Boulevard or V. Mapa, go straight toward Magsaysay Boulevard then Santol street, right on Palanza, Landargun or Bayani Road, then left on G. Araneta to their destination.
Vehicles from Cubao going to Manila should take Aurora Boulevard, turn right to Guirayan street, left to Palanza, left to Tomas Arguelles or Santol street to Magsaysay Boulevard to their destination.
From N. Domingo and Blumentritt, motorists may take F. Roman, H. Lozada and J. Ruiz streets; for vehicles coming from the north, they make take C-3 Sgt. Rivera, right at Bayani, Landargun and Palanza Street, left at Santol street, left at Magsaysay Boulevard, then V. Mapa, Old Sta. Mesa to their destination.
Trucks may take Quezon Avenue, E. Rodriguez Avenue, España Boulevard, Lacson Avenue, straight toward Nagtahan to their destination; or Magsaysay Boulevard, right at V. Mapa to Shaw Bouleavard, to their destination.
https://www.philstar.com/nation/2019/08/15/1943404/araneta-aurora-intersection-closed-week
MMDA Road Safety Unit head Emilio Llavor said the closure would give way to the launching of girders for the Skyway.
The closure will be from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. and will affect 17,000 to 18,000 vehicles, Llavor said.
Drivers of light vehicles may take the following alternate routes: from Shaw Boulevard or V. Mapa, go straight toward Magsaysay Boulevard then Santol street, right on Palanza, Landargun or Bayani Road, then left on G. Araneta to their destination.
Vehicles from Cubao going to Manila should take Aurora Boulevard, turn right to Guirayan street, left to Palanza, left to Tomas Arguelles or Santol street to Magsaysay Boulevard to their destination.
From N. Domingo and Blumentritt, motorists may take F. Roman, H. Lozada and J. Ruiz streets; for vehicles coming from the north, they make take C-3 Sgt. Rivera, right at Bayani, Landargun and Palanza Street, left at Santol street, left at Magsaysay Boulevard, then V. Mapa, Old Sta. Mesa to their destination.
Trucks may take Quezon Avenue, E. Rodriguez Avenue, España Boulevard, Lacson Avenue, straight toward Nagtahan to their destination; or Magsaysay Boulevard, right at V. Mapa to Shaw Bouleavard, to their destination.
https://www.philstar.com/nation/2019/08/15/1943404/araneta-aurora-intersection-closed-week
Wednesday, August 14, 2019
Completed railway assets to ease traffic by 25%: DOTr
By Azer Parrocha
A Department of Transportation (DOTr) official said Wednesday they expect Metro Manila traffic to ease from 6 percent to 7 percent to 20 percent to 25 percent once all its railway assets are finished.
“Our estimate for the current pipeline when they (railways) become operational is we increase our rail capture from 6 (percent) to 7 percent up to 20 (percent) to 25 percent,” DOTr Undersecretary for Railways Timothy John Batan said in a Palace briefing.
Philippine National Railways (PNR) General Manager Jun Magno said the strategy is to create several corridors by means of railway assets to reduce traffic.
“The strategy overall in rail is actually not to push everything through Edsa but actually through several corridors: One, is the subway; one, is NSCR (North-South Commuter Railway), and then MRT-3 (Metro Rail Transit),” Magno said.
“But again, the earliest that would materialize is NSCR ahead of the subway,” he added.
The officials estimated that one million passengers use the country’s four railway systems -- the PNR, Light Rail Transit (LRT-1, and -2), and the Metro Rail Transit (MRT-3).
Batan said on weekdays, there are about 20 million trips in Metro Manila.
“Out of that 20 million trips, we have around 14 million trips by public transport. And out of that 14 million trips, we are getting one million trips in our railway system or around 6 (percent) to 7 percent of our daily public transport commuters,” Batan said.
PNR extension
Meanwhile, Magno said the PNR is mulling the construction of a bridge between Valenzuela and Malabon to extend the PNR service all the way to Malabon.
“We are poised to carry 120,000 passengers between Malabon and Calamba and we are planning to extend the service because of traffic issues that came out yesterday. That’s why we might open all the way to Valenzuela,” Magno said.
He said the PNR has been studying the engineering obstacles in relation to the construction of the proposed bridge, which he said will take less than 30 to 45 days to build.
“Right now, we have service all the way to Governor Pascual in Malabon. Malabon and Valenzuela (are) separated by a body of water, (the) Tullahan River. We used to have an old bridge but it was destroyed,” Magno said.
“Because we are making the NSCR project, we are looking for a space where we can connect it to Valenzuela, so we could re-open service between Valenzuela and Makati,” he added.
Magno said once the bridge is built, residents living in Valenzuela can take a jeepney to Governor Pascual, and take the train service from there going to Makati.
“So we’ll just be adding trains. There are trains coming. We will make sure there are a lot of trains and then we connect the bridge between Tullahan and Malabon),” Magno said.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1077844
A Department of Transportation (DOTr) official said Wednesday they expect Metro Manila traffic to ease from 6 percent to 7 percent to 20 percent to 25 percent once all its railway assets are finished.
“Our estimate for the current pipeline when they (railways) become operational is we increase our rail capture from 6 (percent) to 7 percent up to 20 (percent) to 25 percent,” DOTr Undersecretary for Railways Timothy John Batan said in a Palace briefing.
Philippine National Railways (PNR) General Manager Jun Magno said the strategy is to create several corridors by means of railway assets to reduce traffic.
“The strategy overall in rail is actually not to push everything through Edsa but actually through several corridors: One, is the subway; one, is NSCR (North-South Commuter Railway), and then MRT-3 (Metro Rail Transit),” Magno said.
“But again, the earliest that would materialize is NSCR ahead of the subway,” he added.
The officials estimated that one million passengers use the country’s four railway systems -- the PNR, Light Rail Transit (LRT-1, and -2), and the Metro Rail Transit (MRT-3).
Batan said on weekdays, there are about 20 million trips in Metro Manila.
“Out of that 20 million trips, we have around 14 million trips by public transport. And out of that 14 million trips, we are getting one million trips in our railway system or around 6 (percent) to 7 percent of our daily public transport commuters,” Batan said.
PNR extension
Meanwhile, Magno said the PNR is mulling the construction of a bridge between Valenzuela and Malabon to extend the PNR service all the way to Malabon.
“We are poised to carry 120,000 passengers between Malabon and Calamba and we are planning to extend the service because of traffic issues that came out yesterday. That’s why we might open all the way to Valenzuela,” Magno said.
He said the PNR has been studying the engineering obstacles in relation to the construction of the proposed bridge, which he said will take less than 30 to 45 days to build.
“Right now, we have service all the way to Governor Pascual in Malabon. Malabon and Valenzuela (are) separated by a body of water, (the) Tullahan River. We used to have an old bridge but it was destroyed,” Magno said.
“Because we are making the NSCR project, we are looking for a space where we can connect it to Valenzuela, so we could re-open service between Valenzuela and Makati,” he added.
Magno said once the bridge is built, residents living in Valenzuela can take a jeepney to Governor Pascual, and take the train service from there going to Makati.
“So we’ll just be adding trains. There are trains coming. We will make sure there are a lot of trains and then we connect the bridge between Tullahan and Malabon),” Magno said.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1077844
Government 'on track' to complete LRT-1 Cavite extension
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte's administration is on track to finish the construction of the 11.7-kilometer Light Rail Transit (LRT) - Line 1 by 2021, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said Wednesday, August 14.
Transportation Undersecretary for Railways Timothy Batan gave the assurance in a Palace press briefing, after Cavite Seventh District Representative Jesus Crispin Remulla blamed the Ayala consortium for the delay in the construction of LRT-1 Cavite extension.
"It's (LRT-1 Cavite extension project) 19 years delayed. Project is finally on track," Batan said.
"Fourth quarter 2021, tapos 'yun (it's already completed). So finally, after 19 years, we are seeing actual construction works in progress in this LRT-1 Cavite extension project," he added.
The Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC), which is a consortium of Ayala Corporation, Metro Pacific Investment Corporation, and the Macquaire group, took over the operations, maintenance, and extension of the LRT-1 in September 2015.
The construction of LRT-1 Cavite extension is part of the concession agreement with the LRMC.
The extension, which will transport commuters from Baclaran to Cavite, will cover eight new stations.
The stations that are expected to be opened are Redemptorist, Naia Avenue, Asia World, Ninoy Aquino, Dr. Aquino, Las Piñas, Zapote, and Nigod.
The project is seen to increase its daily ridership to 800,000 from the current 500,000.
Batan noted that the piling works for the LRT extension would begin in October this year, while the launching of a girder for the project will be in March next year. (SunStar Philippines)
https://ph.news.yahoo.com/government-track-complete-lrt-1-104300212.html
Transportation Undersecretary for Railways Timothy Batan gave the assurance in a Palace press briefing, after Cavite Seventh District Representative Jesus Crispin Remulla blamed the Ayala consortium for the delay in the construction of LRT-1 Cavite extension.
"It's (LRT-1 Cavite extension project) 19 years delayed. Project is finally on track," Batan said.
"Fourth quarter 2021, tapos 'yun (it's already completed). So finally, after 19 years, we are seeing actual construction works in progress in this LRT-1 Cavite extension project," he added.
The Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC), which is a consortium of Ayala Corporation, Metro Pacific Investment Corporation, and the Macquaire group, took over the operations, maintenance, and extension of the LRT-1 in September 2015.
The construction of LRT-1 Cavite extension is part of the concession agreement with the LRMC.
The extension, which will transport commuters from Baclaran to Cavite, will cover eight new stations.
The stations that are expected to be opened are Redemptorist, Naia Avenue, Asia World, Ninoy Aquino, Dr. Aquino, Las Piñas, Zapote, and Nigod.
The project is seen to increase its daily ridership to 800,000 from the current 500,000.
Batan noted that the piling works for the LRT extension would begin in October this year, while the launching of a girder for the project will be in March next year. (SunStar Philippines)
https://ph.news.yahoo.com/government-track-complete-lrt-1-104300212.html
Ayala, Metro Pacific slammed for LRT 1 extension, FTI construction delays
Cavite 7th District Representative Boying Remulla says the Paranaque Integrated Terminal Exchange would have been 'viable' if not for these construction delays
Cavite 7th District Representative Jesus Crispin "Boying" Remulla blamed corporations Ayala and Metro Pacific for delays in the construction of the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT1) Cavite extension and the Food Terminal Inc. (FTI) station.
Remulla said the Paranaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) would have been "viable" if not for these construction delays, since the LRT1 extension was supposed to have a station at the terminal to transport passengers to and from Metro Manila.
Instead, commuters who already spend 7.5 hours traveling two-way from the farthest points are forced to take another ride to other parts of Metro Manila. Consequently, they get to work late or they line up for hours just to get a ride.
Remulla addressed these concerns, saying the PITX "really hurt" the people of Cavite because of the lack of a plan to dispatch people to their destinations.
"In the PITX, they did not put in the dedicated rides to the business districts and to the educational institutions. They just let it be," Remulla said on Tuesday, August 13, during the Senate hearing on the provincial bus ban.
In the past, the former Cavite governor proposed solutions to address these difficulties in a letter to the Department of Transportation (DOTr), requesting Secretary Arthur Tugade to allow both provincial and city buses to enter Metro Manila and reach their designated terminals.
He had also previously moved to suspend PITX operations until the LRT1 extension was constructed, saying it did not serve the general public at its current state.
Remulla now calls on people to stop turning a blind eye to the problem of concessionaires, which he said were being favored by the government.
Further, he also slammed the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board for "adapting discriminatory practices" by awarding concessionaires without distinguishing which will serve the commuters' interests.
"The DOTr is not calling the attention of those running the LRT1 and those in charge of the extension, and [is instead] allowing these people to take their sweet time," he said.
The Light Rail Manila Corporation – a consortium of Ayala Corporation, Metro Pacific Investments Corporation, and the Macquarie group – took over the operations, maintenance, and extension of the LRT1 in September 2015.
The extension was meant to transport passengers from Baclaran to Cavite. Construction was supposed to start in mid-2018, but only began last April.
Meanwhile, Ayala Land won the bid for FTI in 2012.
Remulla on Tuesday proposed that these concessions be awarded to another group if the current concessionaires are not continuing with the construction.
"That is a very urgent matter that they should be doing. Kung hindi kaya ng Ayala 'yan tsaka Metro Pacific, ibigay na nila sa ibang concessionaire na may kaya. Kasi para namang maghihintay tayo forever for Ayala to move eh," he said.
(If Ayala and Metro Pacific cannot do it, give it to a concessionaire who can. We can't wait forever for Ayala to move.)
https://www.rappler.com/nation/237687-boying-remulla-slams-ayala-metro-pacific-lrt1-fti-construction-delays
Cavite 7th District Representative Jesus Crispin "Boying" Remulla blamed corporations Ayala and Metro Pacific for delays in the construction of the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT1) Cavite extension and the Food Terminal Inc. (FTI) station.
Remulla said the Paranaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) would have been "viable" if not for these construction delays, since the LRT1 extension was supposed to have a station at the terminal to transport passengers to and from Metro Manila.
Instead, commuters who already spend 7.5 hours traveling two-way from the farthest points are forced to take another ride to other parts of Metro Manila. Consequently, they get to work late or they line up for hours just to get a ride.
Remulla addressed these concerns, saying the PITX "really hurt" the people of Cavite because of the lack of a plan to dispatch people to their destinations.
"In the PITX, they did not put in the dedicated rides to the business districts and to the educational institutions. They just let it be," Remulla said on Tuesday, August 13, during the Senate hearing on the provincial bus ban.
In the past, the former Cavite governor proposed solutions to address these difficulties in a letter to the Department of Transportation (DOTr), requesting Secretary Arthur Tugade to allow both provincial and city buses to enter Metro Manila and reach their designated terminals.
He had also previously moved to suspend PITX operations until the LRT1 extension was constructed, saying it did not serve the general public at its current state.
Remulla now calls on people to stop turning a blind eye to the problem of concessionaires, which he said were being favored by the government.
Further, he also slammed the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board for "adapting discriminatory practices" by awarding concessionaires without distinguishing which will serve the commuters' interests.
"The DOTr is not calling the attention of those running the LRT1 and those in charge of the extension, and [is instead] allowing these people to take their sweet time," he said.
The Light Rail Manila Corporation – a consortium of Ayala Corporation, Metro Pacific Investments Corporation, and the Macquarie group – took over the operations, maintenance, and extension of the LRT1 in September 2015.
The extension was meant to transport passengers from Baclaran to Cavite. Construction was supposed to start in mid-2018, but only began last April.
Meanwhile, Ayala Land won the bid for FTI in 2012.
Remulla on Tuesday proposed that these concessions be awarded to another group if the current concessionaires are not continuing with the construction.
"That is a very urgent matter that they should be doing. Kung hindi kaya ng Ayala 'yan tsaka Metro Pacific, ibigay na nila sa ibang concessionaire na may kaya. Kasi para namang maghihintay tayo forever for Ayala to move eh," he said.
(If Ayala and Metro Pacific cannot do it, give it to a concessionaire who can. We can't wait forever for Ayala to move.)
https://www.rappler.com/nation/237687-boying-remulla-slams-ayala-metro-pacific-lrt1-fti-construction-delays
Monday, August 12, 2019
Filinvest-JG consortium to take over Clark airport
The Department of Transportation said it is set to turn over the operations and maintenance of Clark International Airport to Luzon International Premiere Airport Development Corp. on Aug. 16.
“By Aug. 16, we’ll be ready to turn over the O&M to Lipad Corp.,” Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said.
Lipad is the corporate name of the former North Luzon Airport Consortium composed of Changi Airports Philippines Pte. Ltd., Filinvest Development Corp., JG Summit Holdings Inc. and Philippine Airport Ground Support Solutions Inc.
The company won the public bidding in December 2018 for the operations and maintenance of Clark International Airport’s existing passenger terminal and the development of a new modern terminal building targeted for operation by 2020.
Lipad plans to establish a new reputation for Philippine international gateway airports to ensure ease and seamless travel in the Philippine airports with the consortium’s technical partner, Changi Airport Philippines, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Changi Airports International of Singapore.
Tugade also said he was expecting Terminal 2 at Clark to be operational by June or July next year.
Megawide-GMR earlier won the bidding for the construction of a new passenger terminal in Clark Airport when it submitted the lowest financial proposal of P9.36 billion on Dec. 14.
“Our expectation is to increase the capacity from 4 million to 12 million passengers,” Tugade said.
Clark International Airport is the second main gateway in Luzon. The new 100,000-square-meter terminal will double its capacity to eight million passengers a year, easing the strain on Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Parañaque City and boosting the development of Central Luzon.
Clark International Airport has an annual capacity of four million passengers. Airlines operating in Clark include Qatar Airways, Cebu Pacific, Tigerair, Jin Air, Asiana Airlines, Dragon Air, AirAsia Berhad, Philippine Airlines and Emirates Airlines.
These airlines mount flights to Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangkok, Macau, Pudong, Incheon, Doha, Dubai, Davao, Cebu and Kalibo.
http://manilastandard.net/business/corporate/302104/filinvest-jg-consortium-to-take-over-clark-airport-.html
“By Aug. 16, we’ll be ready to turn over the O&M to Lipad Corp.,” Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said.
Lipad is the corporate name of the former North Luzon Airport Consortium composed of Changi Airports Philippines Pte. Ltd., Filinvest Development Corp., JG Summit Holdings Inc. and Philippine Airport Ground Support Solutions Inc.
The company won the public bidding in December 2018 for the operations and maintenance of Clark International Airport’s existing passenger terminal and the development of a new modern terminal building targeted for operation by 2020.
Lipad plans to establish a new reputation for Philippine international gateway airports to ensure ease and seamless travel in the Philippine airports with the consortium’s technical partner, Changi Airport Philippines, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Changi Airports International of Singapore.
Tugade also said he was expecting Terminal 2 at Clark to be operational by June or July next year.
Megawide-GMR earlier won the bidding for the construction of a new passenger terminal in Clark Airport when it submitted the lowest financial proposal of P9.36 billion on Dec. 14.
“Our expectation is to increase the capacity from 4 million to 12 million passengers,” Tugade said.
Clark International Airport is the second main gateway in Luzon. The new 100,000-square-meter terminal will double its capacity to eight million passengers a year, easing the strain on Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Parañaque City and boosting the development of Central Luzon.
Clark International Airport has an annual capacity of four million passengers. Airlines operating in Clark include Qatar Airways, Cebu Pacific, Tigerair, Jin Air, Asiana Airlines, Dragon Air, AirAsia Berhad, Philippine Airlines and Emirates Airlines.
These airlines mount flights to Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangkok, Macau, Pudong, Incheon, Doha, Dubai, Davao, Cebu and Kalibo.
http://manilastandard.net/business/corporate/302104/filinvest-jg-consortium-to-take-over-clark-airport-.html
Monday, August 5, 2019
Meralco spending P12 B this year to strengthen network
Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) is spending over P12 billion this year to strengthen its network and to relocate distribution poles affected by infrastructure projects of government.
Of the P12.03 billion networks capital expenditure (capex) set this year, the power distributor has already utilized 67 percent or P8 billion as of end-June, Meralco senior vice president and head of networks Ronnie Aperocho said.
He said P2.16 billion was spent for projects that address load growth requirements of the Meralco franchise.
A significant portion of the workload includes support for government’s Public-Private Partnership (PPP) and Build Build Build (BBB) programs.
“We also spent significant amount for the relocation of poles to support PPP/BBB programs projects of government. As of June 30, we have already relocated close to 2,800 poles out of more than 4,000 poles,” Aperocho said.
To support government priority projects, at least 4,260 poles need to be relocated. Of the running total, 2,780 affected poles have already been relocated as of end-June.
The PPP, BBB and other government projects include the C-5 South Link, the Cavite-Laguna Expressway Light Rail Transit Line 2 (LRT-2) East Extension Project, C3-R10 Road, Skyway Stage 3, Metro Rail Transit Line 7, LRT 1 Extension project, the Lawton Avenue widening, and the Philippine National Railways (North 1 Project).
Meanwhile, Meralco is preparing for six more major government projects that are prepared to commence this year, Aperocho said.
These include the Bonifacio Global City Ortigas Link, C-6 Southeast Metro Manila Expressway, PNR North 2, Metro Manila Subway Project, the North Luzon Expressway-South Luzon Expressway Connector Road and Common Station.
Company officials said a big chunk of the networks capex are relocation and upgrades, which are non-revenue generating.
“For the demand growth, very little comes from the BBB projects. In fact, the question you may want to ask, is of the capex that we spent of P8 billion, how much are revenue producing and how much are these BBB built for the country, which are not directly revenue producing. But, of course, we have to do it,” Meralco chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan said.
Broken down, almost half of the P12.03 billion networks capex set this year, or P5.14 billion, is allocated to new customer connections.
Meralco has also budgeted P3.51 billion for asset renewals, such as replacement of poles, meters, substation equipment and relocation of poles affected by projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways.
The company has also set P250 million to relocate distribution facilities affected by the PPP and BBB programs, P858 million for movable non-network assets such as information technology and software, tools, work and testing equipment, and P46 million for immovable non-network assets like construction of meter warehouse.
Meanwhile, P2.22 billion was allocated to address load growth for the year, which include the construction of new switchyards and feeders for the Filinvest substation, the TMC substation and Bridgetowne substation.
https://www.philstar.com/business/2019/08/05/1940570/meralco-spending-p12-b-year-strengthen-network
Of the P12.03 billion networks capital expenditure (capex) set this year, the power distributor has already utilized 67 percent or P8 billion as of end-June, Meralco senior vice president and head of networks Ronnie Aperocho said.
He said P2.16 billion was spent for projects that address load growth requirements of the Meralco franchise.
A significant portion of the workload includes support for government’s Public-Private Partnership (PPP) and Build Build Build (BBB) programs.
“We also spent significant amount for the relocation of poles to support PPP/BBB programs projects of government. As of June 30, we have already relocated close to 2,800 poles out of more than 4,000 poles,” Aperocho said.
To support government priority projects, at least 4,260 poles need to be relocated. Of the running total, 2,780 affected poles have already been relocated as of end-June.
The PPP, BBB and other government projects include the C-5 South Link, the Cavite-Laguna Expressway Light Rail Transit Line 2 (LRT-2) East Extension Project, C3-R10 Road, Skyway Stage 3, Metro Rail Transit Line 7, LRT 1 Extension project, the Lawton Avenue widening, and the Philippine National Railways (North 1 Project).
Meanwhile, Meralco is preparing for six more major government projects that are prepared to commence this year, Aperocho said.
These include the Bonifacio Global City Ortigas Link, C-6 Southeast Metro Manila Expressway, PNR North 2, Metro Manila Subway Project, the North Luzon Expressway-South Luzon Expressway Connector Road and Common Station.
Company officials said a big chunk of the networks capex are relocation and upgrades, which are non-revenue generating.
“For the demand growth, very little comes from the BBB projects. In fact, the question you may want to ask, is of the capex that we spent of P8 billion, how much are revenue producing and how much are these BBB built for the country, which are not directly revenue producing. But, of course, we have to do it,” Meralco chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan said.
Broken down, almost half of the P12.03 billion networks capex set this year, or P5.14 billion, is allocated to new customer connections.
Meralco has also budgeted P3.51 billion for asset renewals, such as replacement of poles, meters, substation equipment and relocation of poles affected by projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways.
The company has also set P250 million to relocate distribution facilities affected by the PPP and BBB programs, P858 million for movable non-network assets such as information technology and software, tools, work and testing equipment, and P46 million for immovable non-network assets like construction of meter warehouse.
Meanwhile, P2.22 billion was allocated to address load growth for the year, which include the construction of new switchyards and feeders for the Filinvest substation, the TMC substation and Bridgetowne substation.
https://www.philstar.com/business/2019/08/05/1940570/meralco-spending-p12-b-year-strengthen-network
Friday, August 2, 2019
Marikina grants Manila Water original proponent status
MANILA WATER Co., Inc. said Marikina had granted the Ayala-controlled water concessionaire the certificate of acceptance and grant of original proponent status to build and operate the city’s integrated waste management facility.
It told the stock exchange Thursday that it had received the certificate dated July 22, 2019 from the office the mayor “to treat and process the city solid waste of Marikina City.”
It added that Manila Water’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Manila Water Total Solutions Corp., submitted an unsolicited proposal to build and operate the facility through a joint venture arrangement.
“The Certificate granted by the City of Marikina authorizes the commencement of detailed negotiations with respect to the terms and conditions of the project,” it said.
Manila Water disclosed last month that it signed and executed a joint venture agreement (JVA) with the Calbayog City Water District to handle the city’s water system through a project with estimated capital expenditure of P1.197 billion.
Manila Water, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Calbayog Water Co., Inc. and the water district are to execute the project for 25 years from start date as defined in the JVA. The water system is estimated to deliver a potential billed volume of 28.48 million liters per day by year 2043.
Also last month, the company forged a similar JVA with the Lambunao Water District to handle the water system of Lambunao town in Iloilo province in a 35-year project that will entail a capital expenditure of P78.98 million. The project is estimated to deliver a potential billed volume of 2.93 million liters per day by 2054.
Both deals cover the design, construction, rehabilitation, maintenance, operation, financing, expansion and management of the water system in the areas. The handling of the wastewater system is included in the Calbayog City project.
On Thursday, Manila Water fell 2.13% to P23. — Victor V. Saulon
https://www.bworldonline.com/marikina-grants-manila-water-original-proponent-status/
It told the stock exchange Thursday that it had received the certificate dated July 22, 2019 from the office the mayor “to treat and process the city solid waste of Marikina City.”
It added that Manila Water’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Manila Water Total Solutions Corp., submitted an unsolicited proposal to build and operate the facility through a joint venture arrangement.
“The Certificate granted by the City of Marikina authorizes the commencement of detailed negotiations with respect to the terms and conditions of the project,” it said.
Manila Water disclosed last month that it signed and executed a joint venture agreement (JVA) with the Calbayog City Water District to handle the city’s water system through a project with estimated capital expenditure of P1.197 billion.
Manila Water, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Calbayog Water Co., Inc. and the water district are to execute the project for 25 years from start date as defined in the JVA. The water system is estimated to deliver a potential billed volume of 28.48 million liters per day by year 2043.
Also last month, the company forged a similar JVA with the Lambunao Water District to handle the water system of Lambunao town in Iloilo province in a 35-year project that will entail a capital expenditure of P78.98 million. The project is estimated to deliver a potential billed volume of 2.93 million liters per day by 2054.
Both deals cover the design, construction, rehabilitation, maintenance, operation, financing, expansion and management of the water system in the areas. The handling of the wastewater system is included in the Calbayog City project.
On Thursday, Manila Water fell 2.13% to P23. — Victor V. Saulon
https://www.bworldonline.com/marikina-grants-manila-water-original-proponent-status/
Wednesday, July 31, 2019
Baguio eyes reopening Loakan Airport in 2020
The city government is mulling the reopening of the Loakan Airport, which ceased commercial operations in the 1990s, through a public-private partnership (PPP).
In an interview with the Philippine News Agency (PNA), Mayor Benjamin Magalong said he would meet with officials of the Department of Transportation on Wednesday (July 31) to discuss the proposal to reopen the airport for commercial operations.
“We are in the process of drafting a proposal which when agreed upon by the DOTr, the local government and DOTr would come up with an agreement that we will manage the facilities and the operation of the airport,” Magalong said on Tuesday.
Built in 1934, Loakan Airport is the only airport in the Cordillera. Prior to the 1990 earthquake, commercial airplanes serviced the city but stopped after the devastation brought about by the 7.7 magnitude earthquake that hit Luzon in 1990.
Magalong said once the city had been granted permission to operate the airport, it would enter into a PPP scheme with a private firm.
“We will look for a third party, a group that will fully oversee the management, will have direct management of the facility... agreement will be between the LGU and the third party,” he said.
Magalong also bared that he would meet with officials of PALExpress, a PAL subsidiary, after he had been initially approached regarding the plan to reopen the airport.
“Fina-fasttrack namin. Hopefully by next year, early next year, mapatakbo na natin 'yan, ma-open na natin 'yan (We are fasttracking and hopefully by early next year, we can open it [Loakan airport] and operate it again)," he said.
Once operational, the airport would cater only to domestic flights, a clamor of tourists who travel to Baguio.
Magalong said tourists were discouraged from going to Baguio due to the long hours of travel and the traffic congestion.
In 2017, the city government placed the rehabilitation of the Loakan Airport among its priorities. The same was carried by the Regional Development Council in its 2018 Regional Infrastructure Development Projects for the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).
On the first semester of 2018, officials of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines visited the airport to see if some upgrading could again make the facility viable for regular air travel.
At present, the Loakan Airport is being used by the Philippine Air Force and the presidential chopper, but not by commercial flights due to its small size, pedestrians near the site, and the upland fog that hinders night vision. (With Rithan Haize Dullona, OJT/PNA)
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1076486
In an interview with the Philippine News Agency (PNA), Mayor Benjamin Magalong said he would meet with officials of the Department of Transportation on Wednesday (July 31) to discuss the proposal to reopen the airport for commercial operations.
“We are in the process of drafting a proposal which when agreed upon by the DOTr, the local government and DOTr would come up with an agreement that we will manage the facilities and the operation of the airport,” Magalong said on Tuesday.
Built in 1934, Loakan Airport is the only airport in the Cordillera. Prior to the 1990 earthquake, commercial airplanes serviced the city but stopped after the devastation brought about by the 7.7 magnitude earthquake that hit Luzon in 1990.
Magalong said once the city had been granted permission to operate the airport, it would enter into a PPP scheme with a private firm.
“We will look for a third party, a group that will fully oversee the management, will have direct management of the facility... agreement will be between the LGU and the third party,” he said.
Magalong also bared that he would meet with officials of PALExpress, a PAL subsidiary, after he had been initially approached regarding the plan to reopen the airport.
“Fina-fasttrack namin. Hopefully by next year, early next year, mapatakbo na natin 'yan, ma-open na natin 'yan (We are fasttracking and hopefully by early next year, we can open it [Loakan airport] and operate it again)," he said.
Once operational, the airport would cater only to domestic flights, a clamor of tourists who travel to Baguio.
Magalong said tourists were discouraged from going to Baguio due to the long hours of travel and the traffic congestion.
In 2017, the city government placed the rehabilitation of the Loakan Airport among its priorities. The same was carried by the Regional Development Council in its 2018 Regional Infrastructure Development Projects for the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).
On the first semester of 2018, officials of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines visited the airport to see if some upgrading could again make the facility viable for regular air travel.
At present, the Loakan Airport is being used by the Philippine Air Force and the presidential chopper, but not by commercial flights due to its small size, pedestrians near the site, and the upland fog that hinders night vision. (With Rithan Haize Dullona, OJT/PNA)
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1076486
Monday, July 29, 2019
LRT 1 to close earlier
Train operating hours at the LRT 1 line will be modified to accommodate system upgrading works for the safety and reliability of service, the Light Rail Manila Corporation said on Sunday.
Effective July 29, the last LRT 1 train from Baclaran northbound will leave at 9:30 p.m. and from Roosevelt southbound at 9:45 p.m. daily.
The last trip of LRT1 was originally scheduled at 10 p.m. during weekdays.
The schedule of the first trip remains at 4:30 a.m. for either directions.
“The system upgrade and rehabilitation work will include the replacement of the auxiliary power supply and train control and monitoring system among many others,” said LRMC operations director Roberto San Jose.
“To be able to provide them a safe, reliable, efficient, and comfortable journey, we need to update and upgrade our signalling system,” he said.
The maintenance and rehabilitation work is set to be completed by October 2020.
http://manilastandard.net/news/national/300973/lrt-1-to-close-earlier.html
Effective July 29, the last LRT 1 train from Baclaran northbound will leave at 9:30 p.m. and from Roosevelt southbound at 9:45 p.m. daily.
The last trip of LRT1 was originally scheduled at 10 p.m. during weekdays.
The schedule of the first trip remains at 4:30 a.m. for either directions.
“The system upgrade and rehabilitation work will include the replacement of the auxiliary power supply and train control and monitoring system among many others,” said LRMC operations director Roberto San Jose.
“To be able to provide them a safe, reliable, efficient, and comfortable journey, we need to update and upgrade our signalling system,” he said.
The maintenance and rehabilitation work is set to be completed by October 2020.
http://manilastandard.net/news/national/300973/lrt-1-to-close-earlier.html
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