Government readies plan for $6-B North-South Commuter Rail project

Aside from the construction of the country’s first subway system, residents of Metro Manila can soon expect the building of a new rail facility that will transport commuters from Malolos, Bulacan in the north to Calamba, Laguna in the south.

This as the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) prepares to present the $6-billion North-South Commuter Rail (NSCR) to the National Economic and Development Authority’s (NEDA) for its approval, after which the project will be bid out to private proponents under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) program.

 
Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya said the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has already finished its feasibility study for the NSCR, which is an 89.7-kilometer mass transport system that will run along the Philippine National Railways (PNR) State-owned tracks.

“We are already going up to NEDA. The NCSR is already scheduled for presentation to the next NEDA Investment Coordination Committee meeting,” he told the Manila Bulletin.

Due to the huge investment requirement of the NSCR, Abaya said the project will be offered in two components: The Malolos-Tutuban section and the Tutuban-Calamba portion.

“JICA is interested to fund the Malolos-Tutuban component through an official development assistance loan. Meanwhile, the Tutuban-Calamba component will be offered through a public-private partnership,” he disclosed.

Abaya said the Malolos-Tutuban section of the NSCR will be elevated while the Tutuban-Calamba portion will be semi-elevated, with some underground and at-grade sections.

“What is clear is that Malolos to Tutuban will be elevated. Tutuban to Calamba will be at grade in the meantime but we are aiming to elevate it eventually the road,” he said.

The official said the NSCR will include rehabilitation of the existing tracks, reinforcement of the rail line’s foundation, and double-tracking up to Calamba.

“Once the rails are steady enough to accommodate freight, cargo containers can pass through the rails instead of the roads. Cargo movers will only have to pay for rail usage,” Abaya pointed out.

It is not immediately clear if the provision of rolling stock is included in the NSCR but Abaya admitted that there is a need to augment the existing fleet of the PNR.

Like the NSCR, the $3-billion Mass Transit System Loop (MTSL) – a 12-kilometer underground railway that will link the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig to the Central Business District of Makati City, and the SM Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City—will be presented to the NEDA upon the finalization of its route. But unlike the NSCR and the MTSL, the feasibility study on DOTC’s grand plan to extend the PNR’s interprovincial operation up to Matnog Port in Sorsogon is not yet finished. The P271-billion “Integrated Luzon Railway Project” is seen to revive the PNR’s operation to La Union up north and to Albay down south and extend it further to Sorsogon.

12 June 2014 Scenario

   The Centennial of Philippine Independence 

At 6:00 a.m., all cities and municipalities will hold DAYANAS of brass bands, as they were held on June 12, 1898. 

At exactly 7:00 a.m., there will be simultaneous thanksgiving masses and services in all churches of all denomination nationwide. 

As s customary practice, His Excellency President Benigno S. Aquino III, will preside over the flag-raising ceremonies at the Aguinaldo Shrine in Kawit, Cavite also at 7:00 in the morning. Simultaneous flag-raising ceremonies will be held at all historical shrines. 

Starting at 9:00 a.m., Departments of National Defense and the Interior and Local Government, in cooperation with the Metro Manila Development Authority, will spearhead appropriate activities prior to the Centennial parade. 

These activities may vary from sky-diving exhibitions to regattas by the bay. 

At the Malacanang Palace, the President will host the traditional Vin d' Honneur at 11:00 in the morning. 

Likewise, Provincial Governors and City Mayors all over the country will hold their special Thanksgiving Lunch at their respective Capitols for their constituents. 

The Department of Tourism, in tandem with the Hotel and Restaurants Association of the Philippines, will host a special 3-day Philippine Centennial Food Festival at the Rizal Park. The Festival will feature regional dishes and other gastronomic delights from provinces such as Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Ilocos Region, among others. 

The highlight of the Independence Day Celebration is the Philippine Centennial Parade at the Quirino Grandstand at 3:00 p.m. 

The pre-parade activities starting with a hundred people with Tambuli and another hundred in tribal costumes playing drums, will signal the start of the Parade, with 50 Babaylanes (Catalonans) chanting prayers to drive away evil spirits - also a ritual of peace and thanksgiving. 

Another batch of Tambuli & horn players will be at the Grandstand area to help amplify the sound of the Tambuli and shell horns. 

A different kind of Military Parade will be witnessed by the public prior to the Centennial Parade. 

The Military component will feature the best of the Philippines' Armed Forces. The participating contingents will be wearing new gala uniforms and will execute fancy drills and formations during the parade at selected areas, specially in front of the Quirino Grandstand. 

At exactly 4:10 p.m., the June 12, 1989 scenario at Kawit, Cavite will be re-enacted, focusing on the replica of the old house of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, a three-dimension structure located opposite the Granstand. An actor playing the role of Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista will read excerpts form the Declaration of Independence. An actor playing Artemio "El Vibora" Ricarte will explain the symbols of the Philippine flag, and an actor playing the role of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo will wave the flag while the crowd shouts "Mabuhay and Kalayaan". 

Then, the Banda Matanda of San Francisco de Malabon (now Gen. Trias) will play the tune of Marcha Magdalo, the anthem played after the declaration of independence. 

After reading the declaration, a Philippine Flag will be given to President Aquino. The President will wave the Philippine Flag at the Grandstand. As the President waves the flag, white doves will be released, bells will be tolled, and fireworks will be lit to signal the band to play the Philippine National Anthem. 

A thousand-voice choir will sing the anthem accompanies by the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra. 

The President then delivers his centennial speech. Following his speech, a big Philippine Flag --- 100 feet in size --- with giant balloons tied to it will be released. 

After the giant balloons are released, representatives of countries that had consular relations with Spanish Philippines will lead the march in the Family of Nations wearing appropriate costumes and waving their respective colors. 

The Grand Centennial Parade starts at 5:00 p.m. up to 7:30 p.m. Immediately after, the people will witness massive fireworks display and participate in the revelry lasting up to the early hours of the morning. 

ABS-CBN, GMA Network both claim June ratings leads

ABS-CBN Corp. claimed the nationwide ratings lead for June, while rival GMA Network, Inc. said it continued to dominate the viewer-rich markets which it defines as “Urban Luzon” and “Mega Manila,” based on separate surveys commissioned by the two networks. In a statement released yesterday, ABS-CBN Corp. said that data from research firm Kantar Media showed it captured an average audience share of 45%, or 13 points higher than GMA Network's 32%.

Kantar Media uses a nationwide panel size of 2,609 urban and rural homes that represent the whole Philippine TV viewing population, while the other ratings data supplier, AGB Nielsen, is thought to concentrate on urban areas, representing 57% of the Philippine TV viewing population.

The Lopez-controlled network continued to win the primetime block (6PM-12MN) with an average audience share of 51%, or a 21-point lead over GMA Network's 30%. This was driven by TV shows, such as "The Legal Wife," with a national TV rating of 36.2%. TV shows "Dyesebel" and "Ikaw Lamang" take turns on the top two spots for weekdays.

In a separate statement, GMA Network said that data from ratings provider Nielsen TV Audience Measurement showed that it maintained its lead in total day ratings in Mega Manila with a 35.9% household audience share, up 5.9 points from ABS-CBN's 30% and up 23.2 points from TV5's 12.7%.

For the month of June, GMA Network claimed ratings in Urban Luzon with a 34.5% total day household audience share, surpassing ABS-CBN's 32.7% by 1.8 points and TV5's 11.6% by 22.9 points.

Urban Luzon and Mega Manila represent 77% and 60%, respectively, of all urban TV households in the country.

Furthermore, GMA Network said that its most watched programs in both Urban Luzon and Mega Manila, include "Magpakailanman", "Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho", "24 Oras", "My Love from the Star", "Celebrity Bluff", and "Niño".

On Wednesday, shares of ABS-CBN Corp fell by 90 centavos or 2.41% to P36.50, while GMA Network rose P0.09 or 1.16% to P7.84. -- Chrisee Jalyssa V. Dela Paz

DOTC to formalize Trinoma as MRT-LRT common station (By Lawrence Agcaoili, The Philippine Star)

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) is set to formalize the location of the common station for the Metro Rail Transit line 3 (MRT-3) and Light Rail Transit line 1 (LRT-1) at the Trinoma Mall in Quezon City.

DOTC undersecretary Rene Limcaoco said the agency would issue a bid bulletin naming the Trinoma Mall owned by property giant Ayala Land Inc. as the site of the proposed P1.4 billion common station.

“We’re going to announce it in an special bid bulletin, but it’s most probably in Trinoma,” Limcaoco said.

Earlier, Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya said the government could save as much as P1 billion if the MRT-LRT common station is constructed near the Trinoma Mall instead of the earlier planned SM City North Edsa.

“Primarily, the cost, it’s a billion less,” Limcaoco replied when asked why the agency picked the Trinoma Mall over the SM City North Edsa.

It would be recalled that the DOTC originally picked SM North Edsa as the site of the proposed common station but later revised the plan and transferred the site near Trinoma.

Mall giant SM Prime Holdings Inc. of retail magnate Henry Sy already paid P200 million to state-run Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) for the naming rights of the common station.

SM Prime could keep its naming rights despite the transfer of the station to Trinoma.

The DOTC is looking at completing the bidding and awarding of the contract for the project within the first half of the year so that construction would start in the third quarter.

The DOTC hopes to complete the proposed common station by the third quarter of 2015.

The project would involve a turn-back system between the SM City North Edsa and Trinoma malls to serve as an area where trains would maneuver to change directions.

The station would serve as a common platform to interconnect LRT1 that runs from Baclaran to Roosevelt, the MRT 3 that traverses EDSA from North Avenue in Quezon City to Taft Avenue in Pasay City, and the proposed MRT 7 of diversified conglomerate San Miguel Corporation that would run from Caloocan City and pass through Lagro and Fairview, Novaliches, Batasan, Diliman, Philcoa, before ending at Edsa near SM City North EDSA.

The proposed common station was one of the seven major infrastructure projects worth P184.2 billion approved by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board chair by President Aquino last November 21.

SMC boosts infra portfolio

 Diversified conglomerate San Miguel Corporation (SMC) is boosting its infrastructure portfolio in the next few years with the completion of major railway, airport and tollroad projects.

The P62.7-billion Metro Rail Transit Line 7 (MRT-7) will be completed in 2018, coming on the heels of the completion of the Boracay Airport in 2016 and the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEx) in December 2015.

“MRT-7 project has successfully secured necessary government approval to proceed with construction,” SMC said in a disclosure to the stock exchange.

It awarded the engineering procurement contract to Japanese firm Marubeni Corp.

SMC said it is still waiting for the release of the performance undertaking, a government guarantee stating that the state agency involved in a project will comply with all its obligations to the contractor.

Processing of the financial closure can be completed this year, SMC said.

“Construction of the 44-kilometer road and rail transportation will begin immediately after this, and will take an estimated 42 months to complete,” SMC said.

In 2010, SMC acquired a 51-percent stake in Universal LRT Corp. that holds the build-operate-transfer concession for MRT-7, is one of several rail extension projects to the existing metro rail system that services Metro Manila.

It includes a 22-km, six-lane asphalt highway that will connect the North Luzon Expressway to the intermodal transport terminal in San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan and a 22-km mostly elevated MRT with 14 stations that will start from San Jose del Monte City and end at the integrated railway station at North EDSA.

Other infrastructure projects are also underway.

SMC said the P24-billion, 88.85-km TPLEx will be fully completed by 2015, three years ahead of the 2018 schedule.

“The upgrade of the Boracay Airport is also ongoing,” SMC said, adding that it plans to start construction of a runway this year and the project in 2016.

In 2007, SMC started selling parts of key businesses to fund diversification from the mature food and beverage businesses into high-growth and capital-intensive sectors such as power generation, mining, infrastructure and telecommunications. 

LRT Line 2 East Extension

This involves the design and construction of a 4.19-kilometer extension from the existing Santolan Station to Masinag Junction (intersection of Marcos Highway and Sumulong Highway).

Two stations will be built at Emerald Drive, Cainta, Rizal (in front of Robinson's Place Metro East), SM City Masinag and Masinag Junction, Antipolo City. This project will provide rapid and reliable mode of transit to the east of Manila and to various strategic commercial, industrial and educational districts in Metro Manila.
The LRT 2 line extension would cost about P9.5 million to build and is slated to be finished by 2016. It is projected to serve at least 526,400 passengers per week by 2045.

North Avenue MRT Station Rehabilitation

Project Description

They would be fine sa minor fixing ng MRT-3 North Avenue station in front of Trinoma Mall na magkakaroon siya ng parang 2nd level concourse area before 3rd level platform area similar to MRT-2 Stations and LRT-1 Balintawak and Roosevelt Stations. Pwede naman siguro may space naman sa ilalim para mas marami ang booth for ticket at mabawasan ang pila lalo na sa labas kailangan lang nila sirain yung overpass sa ilalim.

LRT Line 1 Rehablitation

The LRTA last week issued a notice to proceed to OMMC-KORAIL-Erin Marty-Jorgman Joint Venture to replace 23 kilometers of rail of the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) within 20 months from the receipt of the notice.

In November 2012, OMMC-KORAIL-Erin Marty-Jorgman Joint Venture won the bidding for the P269 million LRT1 Rehabilitation Project. The project was supposed to start in May 2013, but the Commission on Audit had raised procedural issues, which had since been resolved.

LRT, MRT and PNR Rolling Stock Acquisition Project

Project Description

The coaches are fire retardant, air-conditioned and designed to reduce noise and vibration, and will feature both high seating capacity and ample space for standing passengers. They will be outfitted with a number of features for safety and convenience, including LCD screens, 3D route maps, first-aid kits, wheelchair facilities, fire-fighting equipment and intercom systems permitting communication with the train driver. Each coach will furthermore feature a black box to assist in accident investigations.

LRT-1, MRT-3 and PNR Southrail Trains in the Pipeline

LRT Line 1 Trains

• Low Floor LRV for Changchun 
• Bombardier Innovia Metro Advanced Rapid Transit Beijing Airport Line Mark II vehicle assembled by the Changchun Railcar Company. 
• A Goninan (UGL)/CSR Phase IV Light Rail vehicle

MRT Line 3 Trains

• Madrid Metro Series 2000
• Madrid Metro Series 3000
• U-Bahn Type T1

PNR Southrail Trains

• Chūō Line E233-0 series
• E233-3000 series

Implementing Agencies

• Light Rail Transit Authority (Lines 1 and 2) 
• Metro Rail Transit Corporation (Line 3) 
• Philippine National Railways (NorthRail and SouthRail) 
• Universal LRT Corporation (Line 4, 5, 7, 8 and 9) 
• Department of Transportation and Communications

JESUS IS LORD (JIL) HEADQUARTERS | Manila, Philippines

The Jesus Is Lord Church Worldwide Headquarters is envisioned to become a beacon of hope, a towering icon soaring to the sky, bringing all the people of the kingdom of the living God Together. Its architecture design has clear navigation, with interconnected and flexible spaces, strong linkage between inside and out, and appropriate orientation, creating light and airy spaces.


A eurythmic blend of texture and color, the proposed interiors for the Jesus Is Lord (JIL) headquarters expresses the evangelical community’s commitment to cultivate inclusiveness and community in the transforming power of the Lord. Despite its contemporary exterior, it embraces the use of natural materials, and nature driven spaces transmit light in an evocative way, creating permanence and warmth.