Sunday, January 17, 2021
Thursday, January 14, 2021
Skyways to free Pinoys from ‘horrendous’ traffic jams: PRRD
By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos
President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday believed that the construction of more skyways would free Filipinos from the “horrendous” traffic situations in the country, particularly in Metro Manila.
Duterte, in a speech delivered during the inauguration of the Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3 (MMSS-3) Project in Quezon City, said travel would be easier for Filipinos, as his government continues to pursue more infrastructure projects.
“Today, the life of many may not really be very, very comfortable. But ang hiningi ko lang naman komportable lang na buhay (I want a comfortable life for all). And if this will continue, the planned skyways and more, then we will be freed of the horrendous traffic congestion that is prevailing in all cities, crowded cities in the world,” he said.
The MMSS-3 Project, which is divided into five sections during its construction, is an elevated 18.83-kilometer expressway from Buendia, Makati City to the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) in Balintawak, Quezon City.
The expressway project connects the NLEX and the South Luzon Expressway.
It is also expected to decongest traffic in Metro Manila’s major thoroughfares by as much as 55,000 vehicles daily and reduce travel time from Buendia to Balintawak from two hours to approximately 15 to 20 minutes.
Through the MMSS-3 Project, Duterte said Filipino travelers no longer have to bear the brunt of traffic mess in the country’s metropolis.
“For many years, our people have greatly suffered from the perennial problem of road congestion in the National Capital Region. Come to think of it actually when all of the skyways will be completed, I think ‘yung pagtitiis ng mga tao (people’s suffering) will be cut by about one-third, not really lahat (all) but it will cut the inconvenience and it will make you comfortable,” Duterte said.
‘Build, Build, Build’ continues
Duterte also lauded the Department of Public Works and Highways for its “hard work and cooperation” to ensure the successful launching of MMSS-3 Project.
He said the completion of the skyway project is a “testament to the efficiency, reliability, and sustainability” of his administration’s ambitious “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure program.
“As we marvel at this great feat, I hope that we in government will be reminded of our responsibility to not only ensure the timely completion of all public infrastructure projects, but also to shield the public from all forms of inconvenience during the construction,” Duterte said.
Duterte also vowed that his administration would continue implementing infrastructure projects under the “Build, Build, Build” program in an effort to make the Philippines an “inclusive, robust and prosperous nation that we can proudly leave behind to our children.”
“To the Filipino people, let me assure you that this administration will continue to pursue our ‘Build, Build, Build’ program guided by the highest standards of integrity, transparency and accountability,” he said.
After Skyway 3, San Miguel aims to start work on Pasig River Expressway in Feb
After completing the Skyway Stage 3, San Miguel Corp. announced that it will begin building the Pasig River Expressway (PAREX) in February.
During the opening ceremonies of Skyway 3 on Thursday which was attended by President Rodrigo Duterte, San Miguel president and COO Ramon Ang said the company was ready to work on the new toll road which aims to reduce travel time between the Eastern and Western part of Metro Manila.
"Following your approval Mr. President, we will begin work next month [in] February on the East-West Highway, which is called the PAREX," Ang said.
PAREX will traverse the length of the Pasig River, starting at Radial Road 10 in Manila, and ends at Circumferential Road 6 in Taguig.
It is expected to cut travel time between the two areas to about 10 to 15 minutes from 2 hours at present.
Ang said the project will include a flood control component, as San Miguel will restore the depth of the river, which has become as shallow as 1 meter in some sections.
"[The PAREX] will be completed by 2023, and we will realize our vision of seamless linking of North-South, East-West of Metro Manila through multiple access points," Ang said.
2 lalaking bagong laya, pinagbabaril sa loob ng jeep sa Quiapo
Patay ang dalawang lalaking kalalaya lamang sa kulungan matapos pagbabarilin sa loob ng isang pampasaherong jeepney sa southbound lane ng Quezon Boulevard sa Quiapo, Maynila, Huwebes ng umaga.
Ayon sa chairman ng Barangay 310, parehong may kasong robbery holdup ang dalawang biktima at kalalaya lamang sa city jail nang maganap ang pamamaril.
Kasasakay lamang sa jeep ng dalawang biktima at hindi pa nga nakakaalis ang sasakyan nang dumating ang riding-in-tandem na suspek at pinagbabaril sila.
Wala naman umanong ibang nasugatan sa pamamaril.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/14/21/2-lalaking-bagong-laya-pinagbabaril-sa-loob-ng-jeep-sa-quaipo
Truck nahulog sa bangin sa Davao Oriental; drayber patay
Patay ang isang lalaki matapos mahulog sa bangin ang kaniyang minamanehong 10-wheeler truck sa Lupon, Davao Oriental Martes ng umaga.
Binawian ng buhay ang drayber matapos maipit sa truck.
Inararo ng truck ang mga tanim at puno sa pagkahulog nito sa tinatayang 70 metro na lalim na bangin sa Brgy. Mariano Marcos.
Rumesponde ang mga bumbero sa Davao Oriental, rescuers ng KABALIKAT Mati City, at mga kawani ng Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office ng lalawigan para makuha ang bangkay sa truck.
Iniimbestigahan pa ng mga awtoridad ang sanhi ng disgrasya.--Ulat ni Hernel Tocmo
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/14/21/truck-nahulog-sa-bangin-sa-davao-oriental-drayber-patay
Wednesday, January 13, 2021
EDSA traffic inaasahang maiibsan sa opisyal na pagbubukas ng Skyway Stage 3
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| Umaasa umano ang pamahalaan na maiibsan ang matinding trapiko sa EDSA sa opisyal na pagbubukas ng Skyway Stage 3. Bianca Dava, ABS-CBN News |
Araw-araw bumibiyahe pa-Alabang sa Muntinlupa mula Quezon City si David Mallari.
Kung dati raw ay inaabot siya ng isa't kalahating oras sa biyahe, ngayo'y 30 minuto na lang dahil sa Skyway Stage 3.
"Very convenient, especially kung manggagaling ka ng Araneta going to south sa Alabang. Wala kang mararamdaman na traffic... na-less talaga ang travel time mo," ani Mallari.
Isa si Mallari sa nasa 6,000 motoristang dumadaan sa Skyway Stage 3 kada araw mula nang mag-partial opening ito noong isang buwan.
Pero ayon sa Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), mas dadami pa ito kapag nabuksan na ang lahat ng 7 lane ng expressway sa Huwebes, Enero 14.
Umaasa naman umano ang pamahalaan na maiibsan ng Skyway ang matinding trapiko sa ibang kalsada sa Kamaynilaan, lalo na sa EDSA.
"Malaking effect din sa ibang roads kasi nabawasan na ang congestion sa [Metro Manila]," ani DPWH Secretary Mark Villar.
"Ito naman ang gusto, na bawasan ang EDSA ng 100,000 cars para bumalik sa original capacity," aniya.
Ayon kay Villar, naglalaro sa 60,000 hanggang 70,000 motorista ang dumadaan sa Skyway mula nang mag-partial opening ito.
Sa abiso ng pamunuan ng Skyway, isasara muna ang expressway simula gabi ng Miyerkoles hanggang madaling araw ng Biyernes.
Ito ay para bigyang daan ang full inspection at official opening ng Skyway sa Huwebes.
Sa Biyernes na magagamit ng publiko ang kabuuan ng 18 kilometrong Skyway, na nagdudugtong sa North Luzon Expressway at South Luzon Expressway.
Pitong ramps ang magagamit ng mga motorista: Buendia northbound on ramp at southbound off ramp, Plaza Dilao southbound on ramp, Quezon Avenue northbound at southbound on at off ramps at Balintawak northbound off ramp at southbound on ramp
Mananatili namang libre ang toll sa Skyway ngayong Enero.
"Wala pang set date kasi kailangan pang i-finalize ang toll operating permit... kapag wala pa 'yan sa [Toll Regulatory Board], 'di puwedeng maningil so libre pa rin for the near future," ani Villar. -- Ulat ni Bianca Dava, ABS-CBN News
LRT-2 to reopen Santolan to Anonas run by first quarter of 2021
The Light Rail Transit Line 2 (LRT-2) is set to resume its Santolan to Anonas run by the first quarter of 2021, more than a year since a fire shut down the operation of the three stations.
“The resumption of operations of Santolan, Katipunan, and Anonas stations, which were closed after a fire damaged power rectifiers and some railway tracks, is slated this first quarter of 2021,” the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said in a statement.
Operations from Santolan to Anonas stations have been suspended since October 2019 after a fire damaged two rectifier substations in Katipunan and Anonas.
The resumption of the railway’s full operations was initially set in June 2020 but was delayed as community lockdowns slowed down repairs.
Apart from the expected reopening of the three existing stations, the DOTr mentioned that the two new stations under the LRT-2 East Extension Project – Emerald in Marikina City and Masinag at the Masinag Junction in Antipolo City – would also be operational by April 26.
“It’s a beautiful station, let us finish it right away so the Filipino people can enjoy this station,” Tugade told Japanese Ambassador Kazuhiko Koshikawa during his visit to the rail line last week.
The East Extension Project intends to add four kilometers to the 13.8-kilometer LRT-2 train line which currently runs from Recto Ave. in Manila to Santolan Station in Marikina, connecting to Antipolo City.
Upon completion of this extension project, the Department said that travel time from Recto to Masinag is expected to significantly drop to about 40 minutes from the usual three hours travel through bus or jeepney.
It can also accommodate an additional 80,000 passengers daily once operational, boosting the LRT-2’s current daily ridership of 240,000 passengers., the DOTr added.
https://mb.com.ph/2021/01/13/lrt-2-to-reopen-santolan-to-anonas-run-by-first-quarter-of-2021/
Thursday, January 7, 2021
NLEX to complete 3 major projects this year
Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. unit NLEX Corp. is poised to complete three major road projects this year which will improve traffic flow and enhance safety of motorists.
These projects are the Subic Freeport Expressway (SFEX) capacity expansion, Candaba Viaduct upgrade and NLEX Connector.
“These infrastructure works are intended to further improve traffic flow and connectivity, as well as promote road safety for hundreds of thousands of motorists using these critical arteries in Central and Northern Luzon,” NLEX president and general manager Luigi Bautista said.
The P1.6 billion SFEX capacity expansion project, which is 92 percent done, is slated for completion withn the first quarter.
NLEX said the new and expanded SFEX would complement Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority’s infrastructure program once finished.
It will accommodate the growing number of traffic while promoting road safety and facilitate passage for truckers and merchants, delivering essential goods in and out of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.
The project includes the addition of two expressway lanes and construction of two bridges and a new tunnel that will increase road capacity from one lane in each direction to two lanes in each direction.
It also involves the installation of expressway-standard LED lighting for safer night driving and the raising of elevation of the Maritan Highway-Rizal Highway-Tipo Road junction for better flood management.
NLEX is also undertaking a series of upgrades on the five-kilometer Candaba Viaduct to maintain its long-term serviceability and ensure the safety and comfort of motorists.
Built in the 1970s, the Candaba Viaduct has served as a vital link between Metro Manila, and Central and North Luzon road corridor.
https://www.philstar.com/business/2021/01/07/2068633/nlex-complete-3-major-projects-year