The Department of Transportation said it is pursuing the development and rehabilitation of Metro Rail Transit Line 3 system through an unsolicited proposal submitted by Metro Pacific Investments Corp.
“We are still in talks with them [MPIC]. I want lock, stock and barrel. I want to include the issue of equity and loans,” Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said.
The Transportation Department in September 2017 granted the original proponent status to MPIC, which submitted the unsolicited bid for the rehabilitation and O&M of MRT 3.
The consortium of MPIC and Ayala Corp. submitted an unsolicited proposal to DOTr to upgrade and rehabilitate MRT 3 system for P12.5 billion.
The consortium is also looking at buying out the stake of the government and private investors in MRT 3.
The government through Land Bank of the Philippines and the Development Bank of the Philippines own a combined 80-percent economic interest in MRT 3, while the balance is held by creditors of Metro Rail Transit Corp.
MPIC in 2011 offered to buy out the shares of Land Bank of the Philippines and Development Bank of the Philippines in MRT 3 for $1.1 billion.
MPIC-Ayala Group earlier said it was expecting to take over the O&M of MRT 3 in six months from the submission of its application as the original proponent to the government in July.
MPIC also submitted a proposal to the Department of Transportation in 2011 to invest $524 million to rehabilitate and upgrade MRT 3.
The Aquino administration, however, rejected Metro Pacific’s offer that would involve raising commuter fares.
MRT 3, which runs along Edsa from North Avenue in Quezon City to Taft Avenue in Pasay City, serves over 500,000 passengers a day, beyond its rated capacity of 350,000.
The line has a fleet of 73 Czech-made air-conditioned rail cars.
http://manilastandard.net/business/corporate/283432/govt-metropac-continue-talks-over-mrt-3-operation.html
Friday, December 21, 2018
Gov’t revisits MPIC bid to take over MRT-3
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has not completely taken out of the picture Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC)’s unsolicited proposal to operate the MRT-3 amid previous statements indicating that the agency is inclined to have a solicited bidding for the project.
“We can look at the unsolicited, but also take a look at solicited. What is running through our minds right now is unsolicited, but what I want is for it to be as a whole. Operations, maintenance, equity, ownership – everything will be included, lock, stock and barrel,” Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said.
“What I am saying is we are looking at the unsolicited but that does not mean that it would be the one. We are also eyeing if it can be solicited,” he said.
Tugade said the government and the private proponent are discussing details of the proposal.
“Up to what extent we will agree, I don’t know. We are still talking,” he said.
In an interview last October, Tugade said he intends to make the project a solicited proposal, wherein the contract would be auctioned amid an existing unsolicited proposal from MPIC that has already bagged an original proponent status (OPS).
This was further supported by Transportation Undersecretary Timothy John Batan, who in a separate interview, said the solicited route is the direction the DOTr is heading into for the MRT-3.
MPIC, in partnership with Ayala Corp. and Macquarie Infrastructure Holdings (Philippines) Pte Ltd., was granted OPS by the DOTr last year for its proposal to rehabilitate, operate, and maintain the MRT-3 for 30 years.
Being granted OPS gives MPIC the right to match an offer given by another group via a Swiss challenge.
The rehabilitation component, which was supposed to be part of MPIC’s unsolicited proposal, is now out of the equation as the DOTr announced that Japan’s Sumitomo and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is returning as the rehabilitation and maintenance service provider of the MRT-3.
MPIC’s proposed investment for its MRT-3 proposal is P20 billion and it includes a provision of no fare increase for at least two years.
The company has also offered to buy out the government’s stake held by Land Bank of the Philippines and Development Bank of the Philippines as well as other shareholders in Metro Rail Transit Corp. or the private owner of the train system.
https://www.philstar.com/business/2018/12/21/1878637/govt-revisits-mpic-bid-take-over-mrt-3
“We can look at the unsolicited, but also take a look at solicited. What is running through our minds right now is unsolicited, but what I want is for it to be as a whole. Operations, maintenance, equity, ownership – everything will be included, lock, stock and barrel,” Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said.
“What I am saying is we are looking at the unsolicited but that does not mean that it would be the one. We are also eyeing if it can be solicited,” he said.
Tugade said the government and the private proponent are discussing details of the proposal.
“Up to what extent we will agree, I don’t know. We are still talking,” he said.
In an interview last October, Tugade said he intends to make the project a solicited proposal, wherein the contract would be auctioned amid an existing unsolicited proposal from MPIC that has already bagged an original proponent status (OPS).
This was further supported by Transportation Undersecretary Timothy John Batan, who in a separate interview, said the solicited route is the direction the DOTr is heading into for the MRT-3.
MPIC, in partnership with Ayala Corp. and Macquarie Infrastructure Holdings (Philippines) Pte Ltd., was granted OPS by the DOTr last year for its proposal to rehabilitate, operate, and maintain the MRT-3 for 30 years.
Being granted OPS gives MPIC the right to match an offer given by another group via a Swiss challenge.
The rehabilitation component, which was supposed to be part of MPIC’s unsolicited proposal, is now out of the equation as the DOTr announced that Japan’s Sumitomo and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is returning as the rehabilitation and maintenance service provider of the MRT-3.
MPIC’s proposed investment for its MRT-3 proposal is P20 billion and it includes a provision of no fare increase for at least two years.
The company has also offered to buy out the government’s stake held by Land Bank of the Philippines and Development Bank of the Philippines as well as other shareholders in Metro Rail Transit Corp. or the private owner of the train system.
https://www.philstar.com/business/2018/12/21/1878637/govt-revisits-mpic-bid-take-over-mrt-3
Thursday, December 20, 2018
Investment council to decide on 13 unsolicited proposals by 2019 —PPP Center
The Investment Coordination Committee (ICC) will decide on at least 13 unsolicited project proposals next year, the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center said Thursday.
The decision would simply revolve on which of the projects to drop, or pursue, PPP Executive Director Ferdinand Pecson said.
“We’d like to see the decision on these projects next year,” he told reporters in a press conference in Quezon City.
The unsolicited proposals include five airport projects, five rail projects, and three other projects in different sectors.
The five airport projects include:
Meanwhile, the five rail projects include:
The three other projects are:
“We are looking at next year na for those projects. Ang pinaka-advanced is ‘yung Bulacan (International Airport),” said Pecson.
San Miguel has proposed to put up an airport on a 2,500-hectare land area in Bulacan with a passenger capacity of 100 million a year.
Once approved by the committee, the government and the private partner will then negotiate the terms of the project.
As an unsolicited proposal, the airport project will be subject to a Swiss Challenge—inviting other firms to make competing offers, while giving the original proponent the right to match the competition. —VDS, GMA News
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/money/economy/678890/investment-council-to-decide-on-13-unsolicited-proposals-by-2019-ppp-center/story/
The decision would simply revolve on which of the projects to drop, or pursue, PPP Executive Director Ferdinand Pecson said.
“We’d like to see the decision on these projects next year,” he told reporters in a press conference in Quezon City.
The unsolicited proposals include five airport projects, five rail projects, and three other projects in different sectors.
The five airport projects include:
- Bulacan International Airport Project of San Miguel Holdings Corp.
- Mactan Cebu International Airport Integrated Development Project of GMR-Megawide
- Operation and maintenance, and expansion of Davao Airport by Chealsea Logistics Holdings Corp.
- Operations and maintenance, and expansion of Kalibo Airport by Mega7 Construction Corp.
- Operations and maintenance, and expansion of Bohol International Airport by Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc.
Meanwhile, the five rail projects include:
- Davao Monorail Project of Udenna Corp.
- East-West Rail project of East-West Rail Transit Corp.
- Metro Rail Transit (MRT) 10 of C5 Mass Transit Corp. Ltd.
- Fort Bonifacio-Makati Sky Train of Infracorp Development Inc.
- Modified Light Rail Transit Line 6 (LRT-6) Project of Prime Asset Ventures Inc.
The three other projects are:
- IT Project for LGU City of Naga by Cylis Technologies Inc.
- Preservation and Development of Laguna de Bay Project by San Miguel Holdings Corp.
- Manila Bay Integrated Flood Control Project by the Coastal Development Consortium
“We are looking at next year na for those projects. Ang pinaka-advanced is ‘yung Bulacan (International Airport),” said Pecson.
San Miguel has proposed to put up an airport on a 2,500-hectare land area in Bulacan with a passenger capacity of 100 million a year.
Once approved by the committee, the government and the private partner will then negotiate the terms of the project.
As an unsolicited proposal, the airport project will be subject to a Swiss Challenge—inviting other firms to make competing offers, while giving the original proponent the right to match the competition. —VDS, GMA News
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/money/economy/678890/investment-council-to-decide-on-13-unsolicited-proposals-by-2019-ppp-center/story/
Monday, December 17, 2018
Gov’t, Mitsubishi-Sumitomo team to sign MRT 3 deal soon
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is readying the signing of a contract that will pave the way for the return of the original Japanese maintenance providers in the busy Metro Rail Transit Line 3 in Metro Manila.
Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade told reporters last week that the target signing date was within the next two weeks, or before the end of 2018.
With the Japanese group led by Sumitomo Corp. and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, which handled the maintenance of MRT3 during the first 12 years of its operations, the DOTr hopes to restore the aging system back to its original design condition and capacity.
“It’s more or less agreed upon, the return of Sumitomo,” Tugade told reporters on the sidelines of the blessing of the new Maritime Industry Authority headquarters in the Manila port area.
He said rehabilitation would cover all major aspects—its trains, signaling system and maintenance.
Last Nov. 7, the Philippine and Japanese governments signed an “exchange of notes” for the contract’s loan agreement.
According to the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, the loan provision will amount to a maximum of 38.1 billion yen or about P18 billion.
The interest rate was set at 0.1 percent a year payable in 28 years after a grace period of 12 years.
The DOTr previously said the rehabilitation and maintenance contract would run for 43 months.
The MRT-3, which began operations in 1999, is a 17-kilometer system that traverses the busy Edsa road. It is one of Metro Manila’s three elevated trains, the two others being the Light Rail Transit Line 1 and the LRT-2.
The Sumitomo-Mitsubishi tandem was replaced in 2012, or two years into the previous Aquino administration, which mainly balked at the high maintenance fees.
Experts believed the condition of the MRT-3 deteriorated faster when the Mitsubishi-Sumitomo contract was not renewed and the then Department of Transportation and Communications tapped other providers. This included Filipino-Korean venture Busan Universal Rail Inc., whose selection eventually led to the filing of graft charges against public officials from the previous administration.
https://business.inquirer.net/262303/govt-mitsubishi-sumitomo-team-to-sign-mrt-3-deal-soon
Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade told reporters last week that the target signing date was within the next two weeks, or before the end of 2018.
With the Japanese group led by Sumitomo Corp. and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, which handled the maintenance of MRT3 during the first 12 years of its operations, the DOTr hopes to restore the aging system back to its original design condition and capacity.
“It’s more or less agreed upon, the return of Sumitomo,” Tugade told reporters on the sidelines of the blessing of the new Maritime Industry Authority headquarters in the Manila port area.
He said rehabilitation would cover all major aspects—its trains, signaling system and maintenance.
Last Nov. 7, the Philippine and Japanese governments signed an “exchange of notes” for the contract’s loan agreement.
According to the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, the loan provision will amount to a maximum of 38.1 billion yen or about P18 billion.
The interest rate was set at 0.1 percent a year payable in 28 years after a grace period of 12 years.
The DOTr previously said the rehabilitation and maintenance contract would run for 43 months.
The MRT-3, which began operations in 1999, is a 17-kilometer system that traverses the busy Edsa road. It is one of Metro Manila’s three elevated trains, the two others being the Light Rail Transit Line 1 and the LRT-2.
The Sumitomo-Mitsubishi tandem was replaced in 2012, or two years into the previous Aquino administration, which mainly balked at the high maintenance fees.
Experts believed the condition of the MRT-3 deteriorated faster when the Mitsubishi-Sumitomo contract was not renewed and the then Department of Transportation and Communications tapped other providers. This included Filipino-Korean venture Busan Universal Rail Inc., whose selection eventually led to the filing of graft charges against public officials from the previous administration.
https://business.inquirer.net/262303/govt-mitsubishi-sumitomo-team-to-sign-mrt-3-deal-soon
Sunday, December 16, 2018
DOTr pursues various transpo projects to tackle PH traffic woes
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has implemented various transportation projects this year aimed at ensuring ease of travel among commuters and improving the traffic situation in the country.
These projects are part of the "Build, Build, Build" program of the Duterte administration, which aims to build vital infrastructures seeking to provide connectivity in various areas of the country to promote economic growth and decongest Metro Manila.
In November 5, the agency inaugurated the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX), which is the first integrated and multi-modal terminal in the southwestern part of Metro Manila.
The facility will serve as transfer point between provincial buses of Cavite and Batangas, as well as in-city modes of transportation.
It will also provide interconnectivity between different transport modes and services that will ensure efficient and seamless travel for commuters.
Located along the Coastal Road, the PITX is expected to reduce the number of provincial buses plying Metro Manila, specifically on Taft Avenue-Pasay and Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (Edsa).
“So, I am impressed, I am proud na ginawa nila itong magandang (that they built this beautiful) structure. And it will serve the Filipino and that is what’s very important to me,” President Rodrigo Duterte said when he graced the inauguration rites.
“As the first integrated and multi-modal terminal in the southwestern part of Metro Manila, PITX is a landmark project -- a 'landport' that feels and functions like an airport,” he added.
PITX will have world-class facilities like those of an airport such as departure and arrival areas and baggage handling facilities that can accommodate over 100,000 passengers per day.
It also has automated ticketing and bus monitoring systems and multiple terminals for bus, jeepney, UV express, taxis and transport network services.
Buses coming from provinces near Metro Manila must pass through the terminal to pick up and drop off passengers.
“All buses will utilize PITX,” DOTr officer-in-charge Undersecretary for Road Transport Mark de Leon said in an interview with the Philippine News Agency (PNA).
However, the DOTr has issued Department Order 2018-025, which converted the franchises of buses in selected areas in the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite and Laguna into city operations not to end their routes at PITX and directly traverse through Metro Manila.
These buses operate along commuter routes within the Greater Manila Area which have high passenger demand.
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board has likewise allowed 60 additional buses traversing the following routes: PITX to Ayala via Buendia in Makati City; PITX to NAIA Airport Loop; PITX to Bonifacio Global City in Taguig and PITX to Plaza Lawton in Manila to address passenger demand for transportation going to Metro Manila.
It has also issued special permits to 500 UV Express units with routes from Paliparan to PITX via Molino and Bacoor to PITX via Molino as well as 40 jeepney units with routes from Paliparan to PITX via Molino and Dasmarinas to PITX via Aguinaldo Highway.
The DOTr has assured that it will conduct a review on the operations of PITX to address concerns on the lack of available transport to ferry passengers to and from the terminal.
More terminals
Meanwhile, the department has conducted last January the groundbreaking of the Taguig Integrated Terminal Exchange (ITX) which is expected to ease traffic congestion in Edsa.
Taguig ITX is projected to accommodate 4,000 buses and 160,000 passengers per day. It will likewise feature a pedestrian walkway connecting to the PNR FTI station and the proposed Mega Manila subway system.
The DOTr is also eyeing to construct the North Integrated Terminal Exchange in Bocaue, Bulacan which will serve as a stop for buses coming from the provinces along the northern part of Metro Manila.
The department is likewise pushing for the implementation of an integrated transport system (ITS) to address the traffic congestion in Metro Cebu.
The system will include various transportation modes such as a bus rapid transit system; point to point bus system; a monorail in Lapu-Lapu City, and the Light Rail Transit (LRT) lines from Carcar to Danao and the Mandaue to Airport Line.
“The ITS was developed after due consideration of Metro Cebu’s road profile, and the fast-growing need of efficient mass transport systems in bigger, interconnected cities. Habang papaunlad ang ating mga lungsod ay kailangan din nating tugunan ang pangangailangan para sa mas episyente na pampublikong transportasyon (As our cities progress, we need to address the need for an efficient public transportation)," Tugade said in a statement last July.
Under the transport plan, a Common Station is being considered in two areas: a coastal district and a city center.
Passengers will be ushered to an interlink terminal where connecting transit systems of all the components (bus-to-LRT, bus-to-BRT, or BRT-to-LRT) are located.
The DOTr aims to achieve partial operability of the multi-modal transport system within the next one and a half to two years.
“Once implemented, Cebu will become beautiful and more livable. The ITS will encourage interoperability and interconnectivity of land, air, and sea transportation,” according to Tugade.
MRT rehab, other railway projects
A major achievement for the railway sector this year is the signing of the PHP18-billion loan agreement between the Philippines and Japan for the rehabilitation of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) last November 8.
The loan agreement covers the repair and maintenance of the MRT-3’s electromechanical components, power supply, rail tracks, and depot equipment and the overhaul of its 72 light rail vehicles.
Sumitomo-Mitsubishi Heavy Industries will take over the rehabilitation and maintenance of MRT-3. The consortium signed and built the railway system from 1998 to 2000 and maintained the system from 2000 to 2012.
“Transition is already ongoing up to December; the full mobilization will be by January,” DOTr Undersecretary for Railways Timothy John Batan said in an earlier interview to the PNA.
The upgrade of the MRT-3 will take about 43 months, with the first 26 months focused on the rehabilitation of the entire system.
Meanwhile, the MRT has deployed the initial set of trains that were purchased from Chinese firm CRRC Dalian.
The first train set which consists of three cars was deployed to the MRT line last October while another train set was deployed this December.
A total of 48 Dalian light rail vehicles were delivered to the country in 2016 but were not deployed to the MRT line due to compatibility issues. Supplier CCRC Dalian eventually agreed to absorb the costs for the adjustments of the trains.
The Dalian trains must first undergo the 1,000-kilometer test run for 150 hours before these are deployed during peak hours of the MRT-3's operations, according to the DOTr.
Unloading incidents in the railway system have declined to 56 from January to November this year compared to 440 and 562 for the same period in 2017 and 2016, respectively.
The MRT management attributed this to the ongoing maintenance works on the MRT and the delivery of vital spare parts.
The MRT-3 currently runs an average of 15 trains daily with headway time of seven minutes serving around 300,000 passengers.
The DOTr has likewise said that the construction for the Metro Manila Subway is slated to begin next year and have its partial operability by 2022.
The subway system aims to have partial operations in three stations: North Avenue, Mindanao Avenue, and Tandang Sora with its full operations in 2025.
Last March, the Philippine and Japanese governments signed a loan agreement for the subway project with the initial tranche amounting to 104.53 billion yen or roughly PHP49.45 billion.
The first phase of the 25-km underground railway, which has an estimated cost of PHP356.96 billion, will have a total of 14 stations from Mindanao Avenue in Quezon City to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Parañaque City.
The succeeding phases will involve extending the subway system to San Jose del Monte, Bulacan and Dasmariñas, Cavite.
The department has also awarded the project management consultancy contract for the Philippine National Railways (PNR) South Rail Project to the China Railway Design Corp. (CRDC) and Guangzhou Wanan Construction Supervision Corp. (WACC) last November 17.
The railway project would be financed through the Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) from the government of China.
The CRDC-WACC Consortium will conduct all pre-construction surveys (topographic, geotechnical, hydrological, parcellary, environmental, etc.), preparation of designs for bidding, preparation of bidding documents, bidding assistance, construction supervision, and defects liability period (warranty) supervision.
The 639-kilometer PNR Bicol Project covering Manila to Matnog town in Sorsogon is expected to be partially operational by 2022.
Furthermore, the Philippines and Japan have signed an exchange of notes over the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) Extension Project last November.
The NSCR Extension Project will be financed through an ODA loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency and the Asian Development Bank.
The railway project which has a total cost of PHP 777.75 billion, will integrate the PNR Clark Phase 1 from Tutuban to Malolos, PNR Clark Phase 2 from Malolos to Clark International Airport and from PNR Solis to Calamba. It will consist of 36 stations and a double-track elevated railway system that will connect the National Capital Region, Central Luzon and Calabarzon; and enable seamless transfer of passengers with the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1), LRT-2, the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) and the Mega Manila Subway.
Dev't of regional airports
The DOTr is also pursuing the development of airports outside Metro Manila to decongest NAIA, which has recorded around 42 million passengers -- exceeding its capacity of just 31 million passengers.
The department is eyeing to utilize Clark International Airport as an alternative gateway to the country.
Its new passenger terminal building which broke ground on December last year was awarded to the consortium of Megawide and GMR Infrastructure.
The new terminal is expected to accommodate up to 8 million passengers per year.
Meanwhile, a consortium between Singapore’s Changi Airport and local conglomerates JG Summit Holdings Inc. and Filinvest Development Corp will likely secure the operations and maintenance of Clark Airport, according to Tugade.
The bidder, known as North Luzon Airport Consortium, emerged as the sole qualified group after the only other challenger, dubbed X-Droid Consortium, was disqualified during the bidding which was conducted last November.
The consortium that will bag the O&M contract shall manage and operate Clark airport’s existing terminal and the New Terminal Building according to the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) who is in charge of the implementation of the project.
The BCDA is targeting to award the project, a so-called hybrid Public Private Partnership project with a 25-year concession.
The DOTr is also seen to award two key airport projects in Bulacan and Manila by early 2019.
These projects namely San Miguel Corp.’s (SMC) P800-billion international airport in Bulacan province and NAIA Consortium’s PHP102-billion offer to modernize and operate NAIA had yet to be cleared by the Investment Coordination Committee of the NEDA (NEDA-ICC), according to the department.
The approval of the NEDA-ICC will be followed by the approval of the NEDA Board, which is chaired by President Duterte. As unsolicited proposals, the final step is a bidding process known as Swiss Challenge, which requires at least 60 days.
NAIA Consortium and SMC were awarded the original proponent status for their respective projects.
NAIA Consortium’s members are Ayala Corp., Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Alliance Global Group Inc., Asia Emerging Dragon, Filinvest Development Corp., JG Summit Holdings Inc. and Metro Pacific Investments Corp. Its technical partner is Changi Airports International.
The consortium’s proposal to rehabilitate NAIA involves the expansion and interconnection of the existing NAIA terminals, upgrade of airside facilities,
development of commercial facilities to ensure efficient airline and airport operations, enhancing passenger comfort and experience, and elevating the status of NAIA as the country's premier international gateway.
On the other hand, SMC is planning a brand-new airport in Bulakan, Bulacan that will have as many as six parallel runways and a capacity of over 100 million passengers yearly.
Currently, there are 13 domestic airports and 12 international airports across the country that are either completed or have ongoing improvements and upgrades, according to the DOTr.
The department has also completed the night-rating of 20 out of 42 airports, making them capable of handling nighttime flights.
Maritime industry dev't program
The DOTr, together with the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) and the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), reopened the Davao to Manila passenger shipping route last October 28.
The shipping route is envisioned to enhance connectivity and mobility between Luzon and Mindanao, providing people more travel options and lowering the prices of goods and commodities through the access of freight containers traveling from Davao to Manila and vice versa.
The MARINA has completed the formulation of its projects to be implemented under the 10-year Maritime Industry Development Program (MIDP), which aims to establish a safe and modernized maritime sector in the country.
The priority programs to be implemented under the MIDP are the upgrading of domestic shipping in support of the nautical highway development; development of shipping services for maritime tourism; development of Coastal and Inland Waterways Transport (CIWT) system; strengthening of safety standards of Philippine Registered Fishing Vessels; development of global maritime hub; enhancement of maritime safety in the Philippines; modernization of maritime security in the Philippines, and the establishment of a maritime innovation and knowledge center.
The 10-year MIDP seeks to achieve a nationally integrated and globally competitive maritime industry through developing and supporting an organizational culture and practice of leading in maritime education, innovation, technology, and sustainability.
A major initiative being pursued under the MIDP is the modernization of domestic ships such as turning wooden-hulled motor bancas into either steel, aluminum, or fiberglass boats. It also involves strengthening of the capability of local shipyards and promoting the development of locally-made ships.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1056817
These projects are part of the "Build, Build, Build" program of the Duterte administration, which aims to build vital infrastructures seeking to provide connectivity in various areas of the country to promote economic growth and decongest Metro Manila.
In November 5, the agency inaugurated the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX), which is the first integrated and multi-modal terminal in the southwestern part of Metro Manila.
The facility will serve as transfer point between provincial buses of Cavite and Batangas, as well as in-city modes of transportation.
It will also provide interconnectivity between different transport modes and services that will ensure efficient and seamless travel for commuters.
Located along the Coastal Road, the PITX is expected to reduce the number of provincial buses plying Metro Manila, specifically on Taft Avenue-Pasay and Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (Edsa).
“So, I am impressed, I am proud na ginawa nila itong magandang (that they built this beautiful) structure. And it will serve the Filipino and that is what’s very important to me,” President Rodrigo Duterte said when he graced the inauguration rites.
“As the first integrated and multi-modal terminal in the southwestern part of Metro Manila, PITX is a landmark project -- a 'landport' that feels and functions like an airport,” he added.
PITX will have world-class facilities like those of an airport such as departure and arrival areas and baggage handling facilities that can accommodate over 100,000 passengers per day.
It also has automated ticketing and bus monitoring systems and multiple terminals for bus, jeepney, UV express, taxis and transport network services.
Buses coming from provinces near Metro Manila must pass through the terminal to pick up and drop off passengers.
“All buses will utilize PITX,” DOTr officer-in-charge Undersecretary for Road Transport Mark de Leon said in an interview with the Philippine News Agency (PNA).
However, the DOTr has issued Department Order 2018-025, which converted the franchises of buses in selected areas in the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite and Laguna into city operations not to end their routes at PITX and directly traverse through Metro Manila.
These buses operate along commuter routes within the Greater Manila Area which have high passenger demand.
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board has likewise allowed 60 additional buses traversing the following routes: PITX to Ayala via Buendia in Makati City; PITX to NAIA Airport Loop; PITX to Bonifacio Global City in Taguig and PITX to Plaza Lawton in Manila to address passenger demand for transportation going to Metro Manila.
It has also issued special permits to 500 UV Express units with routes from Paliparan to PITX via Molino and Bacoor to PITX via Molino as well as 40 jeepney units with routes from Paliparan to PITX via Molino and Dasmarinas to PITX via Aguinaldo Highway.
The DOTr has assured that it will conduct a review on the operations of PITX to address concerns on the lack of available transport to ferry passengers to and from the terminal.
More terminals
Meanwhile, the department has conducted last January the groundbreaking of the Taguig Integrated Terminal Exchange (ITX) which is expected to ease traffic congestion in Edsa.
Taguig ITX is projected to accommodate 4,000 buses and 160,000 passengers per day. It will likewise feature a pedestrian walkway connecting to the PNR FTI station and the proposed Mega Manila subway system.
The DOTr is also eyeing to construct the North Integrated Terminal Exchange in Bocaue, Bulacan which will serve as a stop for buses coming from the provinces along the northern part of Metro Manila.
The department is likewise pushing for the implementation of an integrated transport system (ITS) to address the traffic congestion in Metro Cebu.
The system will include various transportation modes such as a bus rapid transit system; point to point bus system; a monorail in Lapu-Lapu City, and the Light Rail Transit (LRT) lines from Carcar to Danao and the Mandaue to Airport Line.
“The ITS was developed after due consideration of Metro Cebu’s road profile, and the fast-growing need of efficient mass transport systems in bigger, interconnected cities. Habang papaunlad ang ating mga lungsod ay kailangan din nating tugunan ang pangangailangan para sa mas episyente na pampublikong transportasyon (As our cities progress, we need to address the need for an efficient public transportation)," Tugade said in a statement last July.
Under the transport plan, a Common Station is being considered in two areas: a coastal district and a city center.
Passengers will be ushered to an interlink terminal where connecting transit systems of all the components (bus-to-LRT, bus-to-BRT, or BRT-to-LRT) are located.
The DOTr aims to achieve partial operability of the multi-modal transport system within the next one and a half to two years.
“Once implemented, Cebu will become beautiful and more livable. The ITS will encourage interoperability and interconnectivity of land, air, and sea transportation,” according to Tugade.
MRT rehab, other railway projects
A major achievement for the railway sector this year is the signing of the PHP18-billion loan agreement between the Philippines and Japan for the rehabilitation of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) last November 8.
The loan agreement covers the repair and maintenance of the MRT-3’s electromechanical components, power supply, rail tracks, and depot equipment and the overhaul of its 72 light rail vehicles.
Sumitomo-Mitsubishi Heavy Industries will take over the rehabilitation and maintenance of MRT-3. The consortium signed and built the railway system from 1998 to 2000 and maintained the system from 2000 to 2012.
“Transition is already ongoing up to December; the full mobilization will be by January,” DOTr Undersecretary for Railways Timothy John Batan said in an earlier interview to the PNA.
The upgrade of the MRT-3 will take about 43 months, with the first 26 months focused on the rehabilitation of the entire system.
Meanwhile, the MRT has deployed the initial set of trains that were purchased from Chinese firm CRRC Dalian.
The first train set which consists of three cars was deployed to the MRT line last October while another train set was deployed this December.
A total of 48 Dalian light rail vehicles were delivered to the country in 2016 but were not deployed to the MRT line due to compatibility issues. Supplier CCRC Dalian eventually agreed to absorb the costs for the adjustments of the trains.
The Dalian trains must first undergo the 1,000-kilometer test run for 150 hours before these are deployed during peak hours of the MRT-3's operations, according to the DOTr.
Unloading incidents in the railway system have declined to 56 from January to November this year compared to 440 and 562 for the same period in 2017 and 2016, respectively.
The MRT management attributed this to the ongoing maintenance works on the MRT and the delivery of vital spare parts.
The MRT-3 currently runs an average of 15 trains daily with headway time of seven minutes serving around 300,000 passengers.
The DOTr has likewise said that the construction for the Metro Manila Subway is slated to begin next year and have its partial operability by 2022.
The subway system aims to have partial operations in three stations: North Avenue, Mindanao Avenue, and Tandang Sora with its full operations in 2025.
Last March, the Philippine and Japanese governments signed a loan agreement for the subway project with the initial tranche amounting to 104.53 billion yen or roughly PHP49.45 billion.
The first phase of the 25-km underground railway, which has an estimated cost of PHP356.96 billion, will have a total of 14 stations from Mindanao Avenue in Quezon City to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Parañaque City.
The succeeding phases will involve extending the subway system to San Jose del Monte, Bulacan and Dasmariñas, Cavite.
The department has also awarded the project management consultancy contract for the Philippine National Railways (PNR) South Rail Project to the China Railway Design Corp. (CRDC) and Guangzhou Wanan Construction Supervision Corp. (WACC) last November 17.
The railway project would be financed through the Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) from the government of China.
The CRDC-WACC Consortium will conduct all pre-construction surveys (topographic, geotechnical, hydrological, parcellary, environmental, etc.), preparation of designs for bidding, preparation of bidding documents, bidding assistance, construction supervision, and defects liability period (warranty) supervision.
The 639-kilometer PNR Bicol Project covering Manila to Matnog town in Sorsogon is expected to be partially operational by 2022.
Furthermore, the Philippines and Japan have signed an exchange of notes over the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) Extension Project last November.
The NSCR Extension Project will be financed through an ODA loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency and the Asian Development Bank.
The railway project which has a total cost of PHP 777.75 billion, will integrate the PNR Clark Phase 1 from Tutuban to Malolos, PNR Clark Phase 2 from Malolos to Clark International Airport and from PNR Solis to Calamba. It will consist of 36 stations and a double-track elevated railway system that will connect the National Capital Region, Central Luzon and Calabarzon; and enable seamless transfer of passengers with the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1), LRT-2, the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) and the Mega Manila Subway.
Dev't of regional airports
The DOTr is also pursuing the development of airports outside Metro Manila to decongest NAIA, which has recorded around 42 million passengers -- exceeding its capacity of just 31 million passengers.
The department is eyeing to utilize Clark International Airport as an alternative gateway to the country.
Its new passenger terminal building which broke ground on December last year was awarded to the consortium of Megawide and GMR Infrastructure.
The new terminal is expected to accommodate up to 8 million passengers per year.
Meanwhile, a consortium between Singapore’s Changi Airport and local conglomerates JG Summit Holdings Inc. and Filinvest Development Corp will likely secure the operations and maintenance of Clark Airport, according to Tugade.
The bidder, known as North Luzon Airport Consortium, emerged as the sole qualified group after the only other challenger, dubbed X-Droid Consortium, was disqualified during the bidding which was conducted last November.
The consortium that will bag the O&M contract shall manage and operate Clark airport’s existing terminal and the New Terminal Building according to the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) who is in charge of the implementation of the project.
The BCDA is targeting to award the project, a so-called hybrid Public Private Partnership project with a 25-year concession.
The DOTr is also seen to award two key airport projects in Bulacan and Manila by early 2019.
These projects namely San Miguel Corp.’s (SMC) P800-billion international airport in Bulacan province and NAIA Consortium’s PHP102-billion offer to modernize and operate NAIA had yet to be cleared by the Investment Coordination Committee of the NEDA (NEDA-ICC), according to the department.
The approval of the NEDA-ICC will be followed by the approval of the NEDA Board, which is chaired by President Duterte. As unsolicited proposals, the final step is a bidding process known as Swiss Challenge, which requires at least 60 days.
NAIA Consortium and SMC were awarded the original proponent status for their respective projects.
NAIA Consortium’s members are Ayala Corp., Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Alliance Global Group Inc., Asia Emerging Dragon, Filinvest Development Corp., JG Summit Holdings Inc. and Metro Pacific Investments Corp. Its technical partner is Changi Airports International.
The consortium’s proposal to rehabilitate NAIA involves the expansion and interconnection of the existing NAIA terminals, upgrade of airside facilities,
development of commercial facilities to ensure efficient airline and airport operations, enhancing passenger comfort and experience, and elevating the status of NAIA as the country's premier international gateway.
On the other hand, SMC is planning a brand-new airport in Bulakan, Bulacan that will have as many as six parallel runways and a capacity of over 100 million passengers yearly.
Currently, there are 13 domestic airports and 12 international airports across the country that are either completed or have ongoing improvements and upgrades, according to the DOTr.
The department has also completed the night-rating of 20 out of 42 airports, making them capable of handling nighttime flights.
Maritime industry dev't program
The DOTr, together with the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) and the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), reopened the Davao to Manila passenger shipping route last October 28.
The shipping route is envisioned to enhance connectivity and mobility between Luzon and Mindanao, providing people more travel options and lowering the prices of goods and commodities through the access of freight containers traveling from Davao to Manila and vice versa.
The MARINA has completed the formulation of its projects to be implemented under the 10-year Maritime Industry Development Program (MIDP), which aims to establish a safe and modernized maritime sector in the country.
The priority programs to be implemented under the MIDP are the upgrading of domestic shipping in support of the nautical highway development; development of shipping services for maritime tourism; development of Coastal and Inland Waterways Transport (CIWT) system; strengthening of safety standards of Philippine Registered Fishing Vessels; development of global maritime hub; enhancement of maritime safety in the Philippines; modernization of maritime security in the Philippines, and the establishment of a maritime innovation and knowledge center.
The 10-year MIDP seeks to achieve a nationally integrated and globally competitive maritime industry through developing and supporting an organizational culture and practice of leading in maritime education, innovation, technology, and sustainability.
A major initiative being pursued under the MIDP is the modernization of domestic ships such as turning wooden-hulled motor bancas into either steel, aluminum, or fiberglass boats. It also involves strengthening of the capability of local shipyards and promoting the development of locally-made ships.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1056817
Quiapo Fiesta: Feast of the Black Nazarene 2019 Schedule of Activities, Procession Route, Traffic Advisory and More
The year is coming to an end and come January 9, 2019, devotees will flock to Quiapo for the annual Traslacion. This religious event is celebrated by devout Catholics especially with the belief that the image of the Black Nazarene can help them cure their illnesses. According to the administrators of the Church of the Black Nazarene, they will put life-sized replicas of the Black Nazarene in different stations.
The centuries-old Black Nazarene is hard to reach during this time because of the many people who come to the feast that’s why the church administrators decided to put the replicas at different stations. This is also to avoid congestion where people get hurt during the procession due to millions of devotees who participate in the traslacion each year.
Drones will be allowed next year to fly through the route of the processions if they meet the requirements of the Philippine National Police (PNP). Drone operators are also required to be accompanied by police officers. The route of the Traslacion next year is the same as this year’s.
How to Get to Quiapo Church
Quezon Boulevard, the main road to Quiapo Church, will not be passable during the Quiapo Fiesta. The best way to reach the church is by using LRT 1 or LRT 2.
Via LRT 1 – Get off at the Recto Station near Isetann Mall then walk towards the church from Claro M. Recto.
Via LRT 2 – Get off at the Carriedo or Central Station then walk towards the Quiapo Church.
Feast of the Black Nazarene 2019 Schedule of Activities
On January 9, 2019, the procession is expected to leave the Luneta Grandstand around 6 am and would bring back the image of the Black Nazarene to Quiapo Church. The procession is expected to last for 12 hours.
2019 Feast Crowd Route
Here is the proposed Feast 2019 procession route:
Quirino Grandstand (Rizal Park)
left to Katigbak Drive thru Padre Burgos Street
left to Taft Avenue thru Jones Bridge
right to Dasmariñas Street
right to Plaza Sta. Cruz Street
left to Carlos Palanca Street thru under Quezon Bridge
left to Quezon Boulevard
right to Arlegui Street
right to Fraternal Street
right to Vergara Street
left to Duque de Alba Street
left to Castillejos Street
left to Farnecio Street
right to Arlegui Street
left to Nepomuceno Street
left to Concepcion Aguila Street
right to Carcer Street
right to Hidalgo thru Plaza del Carmen
left to Bilibid Viejo thru Gil Puyat
left to J.P. De Guzman Street
right to Hidalgo Street
left to Barbosa Street (Bautista Street)
right to Globo de Oro Street thru under Quezon Bridge
right to Palanca Street
right to Villalobos thru Plaza Miranda and to Quiapo Church
Alternate Routes during 2019 Celebration
To be announced
The centuries-old Black Nazarene is hard to reach during this time because of the many people who come to the feast that’s why the church administrators decided to put the replicas at different stations. This is also to avoid congestion where people get hurt during the procession due to millions of devotees who participate in the traslacion each year.
Drones will be allowed next year to fly through the route of the processions if they meet the requirements of the Philippine National Police (PNP). Drone operators are also required to be accompanied by police officers. The route of the Traslacion next year is the same as this year’s.
How to Get to Quiapo Church
Quezon Boulevard, the main road to Quiapo Church, will not be passable during the Quiapo Fiesta. The best way to reach the church is by using LRT 1 or LRT 2.
Via LRT 1 – Get off at the Recto Station near Isetann Mall then walk towards the church from Claro M. Recto.
Via LRT 2 – Get off at the Carriedo or Central Station then walk towards the Quiapo Church.
Feast of the Black Nazarene 2019 Schedule of Activities
On January 9, 2019, the procession is expected to leave the Luneta Grandstand around 6 am and would bring back the image of the Black Nazarene to Quiapo Church. The procession is expected to last for 12 hours.
2019 Feast Crowd Route
Here is the proposed Feast 2019 procession route:
Quirino Grandstand (Rizal Park)
left to Katigbak Drive thru Padre Burgos Street
left to Taft Avenue thru Jones Bridge
right to Dasmariñas Street
right to Plaza Sta. Cruz Street
left to Carlos Palanca Street thru under Quezon Bridge
left to Quezon Boulevard
right to Arlegui Street
right to Fraternal Street
right to Vergara Street
left to Duque de Alba Street
left to Castillejos Street
left to Farnecio Street
right to Arlegui Street
left to Nepomuceno Street
left to Concepcion Aguila Street
right to Carcer Street
right to Hidalgo thru Plaza del Carmen
left to Bilibid Viejo thru Gil Puyat
left to J.P. De Guzman Street
right to Hidalgo Street
left to Barbosa Street (Bautista Street)
right to Globo de Oro Street thru under Quezon Bridge
right to Palanca Street
right to Villalobos thru Plaza Miranda and to Quiapo Church
Alternate Routes during 2019 Celebration
To be announced
Saturday, December 15, 2018
Speaking of L2 BGM:
"As posted in Pinoy Joyride:
We can massively improve this by adopting what we see in other countries:
- including station numbers (for ex. L2 is now what, the Purple Line? BGM can be [P07] - Betty Go Belmonte)
- include next station in small font saturation 50% - current station (highlighted in bold) immediate past station in small font saturation 50% with directional arrows
ex: ← [P08] Gilmore [P07] - Betty Go Belmonte ← [P06] Araneta Center Cubao
We can massively improve this by adopting what we see in other countries:
- including station numbers (for ex. L2 is now what, the Purple Line? BGM can be [P07] - Betty Go Belmonte)
- include next station in small font saturation 50% - current station (highlighted in bold) immediate past station in small font saturation 50% with directional arrows
ex: ← [P08] Gilmore [P07] - Betty Go Belmonte ← [P06] Araneta Center Cubao
Wednesday, December 12, 2018
Makati holds groundbreaking ceremony for first intra-city train system in PH
THE Makati City government on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that would pave the way for the construction of the first intra-city mass transit in the country.
The P185-billion Public Rail Transport (PRT) is a joint venture between Makati and the Philippine InfraDev Holdings Inc., a consortium of local and foreign investors, which will ensure and maintain operations and serve as a control hub for 30 years.
Lawyer Michael Camiña said the PRT would run through 10 stations along Ayala Avenue near the Bureau of Fire Protection, Circuit Mall, Makati City Hall, Guadalupe Village and city-run Ospital ng Makati.
Mayor Abby Binay, who led the groundbreaking on Wednesday, promised to have the project done by 2023.
“I believe the Makati Subway will be a very valuable legacy, and I am fully committed to its timely completion and operation. It will make a lasting positive impact on the lives of our residents, and contribute significantly to the city’s sustainable development and economic growth,” Binay said.
Binay added that the intra-city subway system was expected to create about 6,000 new jobs during its construction and its operations in 2024.
Once completed, the subway system will be able to serve up to 27,000 passengers per hour and per direction on an interval of three to six minutes between trains on the first year, with 12 operational trains.
The subway system will have two tracks, up to 10 underground stations, and air-conditioned coaches, which can accommodate 200 persons per car. The entire system spans 10 kilometers with a train yard, maintenance depot, and central command center at ground level.
Camiña said PRT was also prepared to accommodate as many as 40,500 passengers per hour during peak hours. The train system will run on an 18-hour operational cycle.
It will also be linked to ferry transport, interchanges to the existing MRT 3 line, as well as potential links to the future Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)-funded Metro Manila subway.
According to JICA’s congestion valuations, the Philippines will gain at least $600 million annually in gross domestic product (GDP)just for enhanced productivity.
Feasibility studies project 270,000 fewer cars in the streets of Makati by 2048, which Binay said would also decongest neighboring cities, particularly in major thoroughfares used by millions of commuters and motorists daily.
https://www.manilatimes.net/makati-holds-groundbreaking-ceremony-for-first-intra-city-train-system-in-ph/481621/
The P185-billion Public Rail Transport (PRT) is a joint venture between Makati and the Philippine InfraDev Holdings Inc., a consortium of local and foreign investors, which will ensure and maintain operations and serve as a control hub for 30 years.
Lawyer Michael Camiña said the PRT would run through 10 stations along Ayala Avenue near the Bureau of Fire Protection, Circuit Mall, Makati City Hall, Guadalupe Village and city-run Ospital ng Makati.
Mayor Abby Binay, who led the groundbreaking on Wednesday, promised to have the project done by 2023.
“I believe the Makati Subway will be a very valuable legacy, and I am fully committed to its timely completion and operation. It will make a lasting positive impact on the lives of our residents, and contribute significantly to the city’s sustainable development and economic growth,” Binay said.
Binay added that the intra-city subway system was expected to create about 6,000 new jobs during its construction and its operations in 2024.
NOW: Groundbreaking rites for the Public Railway Transport System here in Makati City Hall. @TheManilaTimes pic.twitter.com/LkhRrLQXP7
— Neil Servallos (@tmtnjservallos) December 12, 2018
Once completed, the subway system will be able to serve up to 27,000 passengers per hour and per direction on an interval of three to six minutes between trains on the first year, with 12 operational trains.
The subway system will have two tracks, up to 10 underground stations, and air-conditioned coaches, which can accommodate 200 persons per car. The entire system spans 10 kilometers with a train yard, maintenance depot, and central command center at ground level.
Camiña said PRT was also prepared to accommodate as many as 40,500 passengers per hour during peak hours. The train system will run on an 18-hour operational cycle.
It will also be linked to ferry transport, interchanges to the existing MRT 3 line, as well as potential links to the future Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)-funded Metro Manila subway.
According to JICA’s congestion valuations, the Philippines will gain at least $600 million annually in gross domestic product (GDP)just for enhanced productivity.
Feasibility studies project 270,000 fewer cars in the streets of Makati by 2048, which Binay said would also decongest neighboring cities, particularly in major thoroughfares used by millions of commuters and motorists daily.
https://www.manilatimes.net/makati-holds-groundbreaking-ceremony-for-first-intra-city-train-system-in-ph/481621/
MRT 3 reports 90% drop in unloading cases
Compared to the same period in 2016 and 2017, the number of unloading incidents reported this year by Metro Manila’s busiest light rail system, the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) 3, has dropped by around 80 to 90 percent.
According to data presented by the MRT 3 management, the cases of off-loading — in which passengers were forced to alight from a train due to disruptions in operations — went down to just 56 from January to November this year.
The figure was a marked improvement from the 440 and 562 incidents recorded during the same months in 2017 and 2016, respectively.
At least nine of the 56 unloading incidents happened in February when the number of functioning MRT 3 trains went down to a single digit.
11-minute wait
At 5 p.m. on Feb. 12, there were just seven operational trains, resulting in an 11-minute wait for passengers at the different stations.
Normally, the MRT 3 should have 15 trains running during rush hour and 12 trains at off-peak hours.
Due to the deterioration in services and the long wait in between trains, ridership was drastically affected.
In February, the MRT 3 ferried close to 259,000 passengers, a steep drop from its daily average of 463,000 passengers in 2017.
Things, however, improved in April as the number of operational trains went up once more to 15 with the arrival of much-needed spare parts.
The MRT 3’s longest glitch-free streak was 31 days until an electrical failure on Nov. 17 led to the off-loading of 650 passengers at Gil Puyat station.
The train system also recorded 17 instances of service interruptions that did not lead to the unloading of passengers.
Continuous maintenance
The MRT 3 management attributed the train system’s better performance to its staff’s continuous maintenance work.
However, the improvements could also be traced to the return of Sumitomo, the MRT 3’s original maintenance provider, for the implementation of a 43-month rehabilitation project.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1062215/mrt-3-reports-90-drop-in-unloading-cases
According to data presented by the MRT 3 management, the cases of off-loading — in which passengers were forced to alight from a train due to disruptions in operations — went down to just 56 from January to November this year.
The figure was a marked improvement from the 440 and 562 incidents recorded during the same months in 2017 and 2016, respectively.
At least nine of the 56 unloading incidents happened in February when the number of functioning MRT 3 trains went down to a single digit.
11-minute wait
At 5 p.m. on Feb. 12, there were just seven operational trains, resulting in an 11-minute wait for passengers at the different stations.
Normally, the MRT 3 should have 15 trains running during rush hour and 12 trains at off-peak hours.
Due to the deterioration in services and the long wait in between trains, ridership was drastically affected.
In February, the MRT 3 ferried close to 259,000 passengers, a steep drop from its daily average of 463,000 passengers in 2017.
Things, however, improved in April as the number of operational trains went up once more to 15 with the arrival of much-needed spare parts.
The MRT 3’s longest glitch-free streak was 31 days until an electrical failure on Nov. 17 led to the off-loading of 650 passengers at Gil Puyat station.
The train system also recorded 17 instances of service interruptions that did not lead to the unloading of passengers.
Continuous maintenance
The MRT 3 management attributed the train system’s better performance to its staff’s continuous maintenance work.
However, the improvements could also be traced to the return of Sumitomo, the MRT 3’s original maintenance provider, for the implementation of a 43-month rehabilitation project.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1062215/mrt-3-reports-90-drop-in-unloading-cases
Tuesday, December 11, 2018
MRT-3 rolls out second Dalian train
The second Dalian train hit the tracks of the Metro Rail Transit line 3 (MRT-3) on Tuesday, nearly over a month after its first train set was rolled out.
MRT-3 Director for Operations Mike Capati confirmed this to INQUIRER.net in a text message following the train update of the management.
“This is the 2nd train set undergoing 150 (hours) test,” Capati said.
At 10 a.m., the second train set of Dalian with three coaches was rolled out to the public and was used until 2 p.m.
Like the first train set, the second Dalian train would undergo a 150-hour test before it could fully be rolled out.
A 150-hour test takes around 33 revenue days.
The first set of Dalian, which was rolled out in October, has just finished its 150-hour battery test last Nov. 21
However, it was put back to the depot of the MRT-3 as the management awaits for the Philippine National Railways (PNR) report on its performance.
Aside from Sumitomo, MRT-3’s service provider, the PNR also supervised some parts of the Dalian trains during the battery test conducted.
Recently, Senator Grace Poe, head of the Senate public works committee, slammed the roll out of the Dalian train on the tracks of the MRT-3
According to Poe, one working Dalian train is nothing to be proud of given the length of the waiting time before the country rolled out a single train.
“People have been asking me: What can you say now that one of the Dalian trains is working? Eh ‘di masaya (Well, I’m happy),” Poe said during a forum.
“But remember this: we bought the trains in 2014. It’s 2018 now. Of the 16 trains, 48 coaches, only one train is running. Is this really something to be proud of?” she asked. /je
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1062150/mrt-3-rolls-out-second-dalian-train
MRT-3 Director for Operations Mike Capati confirmed this to INQUIRER.net in a text message following the train update of the management.
“This is the 2nd train set undergoing 150 (hours) test,” Capati said.
At 10 a.m., the second train set of Dalian with three coaches was rolled out to the public and was used until 2 p.m.
Like the first train set, the second Dalian train would undergo a 150-hour test before it could fully be rolled out.
A 150-hour test takes around 33 revenue days.
The first set of Dalian, which was rolled out in October, has just finished its 150-hour battery test last Nov. 21
However, it was put back to the depot of the MRT-3 as the management awaits for the Philippine National Railways (PNR) report on its performance.
Aside from Sumitomo, MRT-3’s service provider, the PNR also supervised some parts of the Dalian trains during the battery test conducted.
Recently, Senator Grace Poe, head of the Senate public works committee, slammed the roll out of the Dalian train on the tracks of the MRT-3
According to Poe, one working Dalian train is nothing to be proud of given the length of the waiting time before the country rolled out a single train.
“People have been asking me: What can you say now that one of the Dalian trains is working? Eh ‘di masaya (Well, I’m happy),” Poe said during a forum.
“But remember this: we bought the trains in 2014. It’s 2018 now. Of the 16 trains, 48 coaches, only one train is running. Is this really something to be proud of?” she asked. /je
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1062150/mrt-3-rolls-out-second-dalian-train
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