By Raymond Carl Dela Cruz
Senator Grace Poe on Monday said the promised completion of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) - South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) connector road, more trains running in the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) and elevated walkways connecting buildings in urban centers would help ease traffic in Edsa.
“There are things that can help traffic move faster in EDSA and Mega Manila -- the completion of the NLEX-SLEX connector road, which hopefully by January will be completed,” Poe said during her speech at the BusinessWorld Industry 4.0 Summit.
The eight-kilometer elevated four-lane expressway connects the NLEX and SLEX through Segment 10 -- C3 Road in Caloocan City to Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) in Sta. Mesa, Manila -- and Skyway Stage 3.
The project is expected to be traversed by those going through Metro Manila from the north to the south and vice versa, which would effectively relocate a significant portion of vehicular traffic on Edsa.
Another big-impact project, she said, was increasing the number of trains running in the MRT-3, which is yet to be fully realized.
“We’ve been promised many times that the trains that were imported from Dalian will be working soon, but out of the 16 trains, only two or three are working after five years,” Poe said.
An PHP18-billion comprehensive rehabilitation of the MRT-3 is currently ongoing, which the Department of Transportation hopes would increase the ridership of the MRT-3 from the daily average of 320,000 to 650,000 by its expected completion on July 2021.
Sumitomo-MHI TESP, the contractor and maintenance provider of the MRT-3 project, will also overhaul all light rail vehicles of the rail transit, replace mainline tracks to increase its operating speeds, rehabilitate power and overhead catenary systems, among other upgrades.
Walkways, innovative transport systems
Aside from motorized mass transportation, the senator also highlighted conventional walkways as an effective solution to congestion in the metro.
“If the government would mandate that, if you build certain buildings in a financial center or a business center, you should already have elevated walkways to connect to other buildings,” Poe said.
She emphasized that these mass transport systems would be more effective than regulations on innovative transport systems such as transport network companies (TNC) like Grab and Angkas.
“Yet the initial reaction of some people, such as the LTFRB (Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board), was to treat the TNCs like taxi operators and regulate their supply and price,” Poe said.
The senator said passenger rights and innovations must be carefully balanced because “nothing chokes an enterprise more than excessive regulation.”
She added that the Philippines’ mass transportation is not yet fully available, thus, “the state is obligated to explore new modes of transportation for the sake of our commuters.”
During the summit, experts from both the government and private sectors tackled the fourth industrial revolution brought by such innovative technologies as learning robots through artificial intelligence, Internet of things, 3D-printing, among others. (PNA)
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1079978
Monday, September 9, 2019
Metro Pacific offers to extend Cavitex to Tanza
Cavitex Infrastructure Corp., a unit of Metro Pacific Tollways Corp., is set to submit this month a proposal to the Toll Regulatory Board to extend the Manila-Cavite Expressway from Kawit to Tanza in Cavite province for P30 billion.
“We hope to get a resolution from Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) and then after that we will jointly submit together with PRA to TRB within September,” said CIC president and general manager Robeto Bontia.
He said PRA would hold a special board meeting on September 11.
The company plans construct Segment 5 of Cavitex―a 22-kilometer road that will link Kawit to Noveleta to Sanglely and Sangley to Tanza in Cavite.
It plans to start construction of the first phase of the project, an expressway going to Sangley, by early 2021.
Cavitex is a 14-kilometer expressway linking Manila and Cavite province.
MPCala Holdings Inc., a unit of MPTC, earlier said the Laguna segment of the P35.4-billion Cavite Laguna Expressway was set to open to motorists by next month.
The first segment starts at the Mamplasan Barrier and passes through Laguna Technopark Interchange, Laguna Boulevard Interchange all the way to Santa Rosa-Tagaytay Interchange.
The construction of the Cavite side is expected to be completed by 2022.
MPCALA tapped Leighton Holdings of Australia to build the Cavite side and local contractor DMCI Consunji Inc. to construct the Laguna segment.
The Cavite segment comprises 27 kilometers of the 45-kilometer Cavite-Laguna Expressway.
The Cavite segment starts from Kawit, Cavite and traverses the Imus Open Canal, Governor’s Drive, Dasmariñas, Aguinaldo Highway and Silang which will connect to the Laguna segment from Sta. Rosa exiting to Mamplasan toward South Luzon Expressway.
http://manilastandard.net/business/corporate/304420/metro-pacific-offers-to-extend-cavitex-to-tanza.html
“We hope to get a resolution from Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) and then after that we will jointly submit together with PRA to TRB within September,” said CIC president and general manager Robeto Bontia.
He said PRA would hold a special board meeting on September 11.
The company plans construct Segment 5 of Cavitex―a 22-kilometer road that will link Kawit to Noveleta to Sanglely and Sangley to Tanza in Cavite.
It plans to start construction of the first phase of the project, an expressway going to Sangley, by early 2021.
Cavitex is a 14-kilometer expressway linking Manila and Cavite province.
MPCala Holdings Inc., a unit of MPTC, earlier said the Laguna segment of the P35.4-billion Cavite Laguna Expressway was set to open to motorists by next month.
The first segment starts at the Mamplasan Barrier and passes through Laguna Technopark Interchange, Laguna Boulevard Interchange all the way to Santa Rosa-Tagaytay Interchange.
The construction of the Cavite side is expected to be completed by 2022.
MPCALA tapped Leighton Holdings of Australia to build the Cavite side and local contractor DMCI Consunji Inc. to construct the Laguna segment.
The Cavite segment comprises 27 kilometers of the 45-kilometer Cavite-Laguna Expressway.
The Cavite segment starts from Kawit, Cavite and traverses the Imus Open Canal, Governor’s Drive, Dasmariñas, Aguinaldo Highway and Silang which will connect to the Laguna segment from Sta. Rosa exiting to Mamplasan toward South Luzon Expressway.
http://manilastandard.net/business/corporate/304420/metro-pacific-offers-to-extend-cavitex-to-tanza.html
Friday, September 6, 2019
Work on Tagaytay toll road likely to start early next year—DPWH
The Public Works Department said it expects to start the construction of the P22.4-billion Cavite-Tagaytay-Batangas Expressway project early next year.
“Hopefully by fourth quarter, we get approval from NEDA Board. Then Swiss Challenge. So we can start early next year,” Public Works Secretary Mark Villar said.
The agency last year granted the original proponent status to Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. for the construction of CTBEX.
CTBEX is a 50.4-kilometer expressway that will connect Cavite and Batangas, with a spur road to Tagaytay City and ultimately terminating in Nasugbu and another spur road to Tuy, Batangas.
CTBEX would decongest about 23,000 vehicles daily from existing thoroughfares.
The project will start at Silang East Interchange of the Cavite-Laguna Expressway. The alignment will traverse the towns of Silang, Amadeo, Mendez, Alfonso and Tagaytay in Cavite and Nasugbu in Batangas.
MPCALA Holdings Inc., a subsidiary of MPTC is also constructing the P35-billion Cavite-Laguna Expressway―a four-lane, 47-kilometer closed-system toll expressway connecting Cavitex and South Luzon Expressway.
The expressway will start from Cavitex in Kawit, Cavite and end at SLEX-Mamplasan Interchange in Biñan, Laguna.
Parent Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. is building the NLEX-SLEX Connector Road, an 8-kilometer, four-lane toll road linking the North Luzon Expressway and South Luzon Expressway, passing through Metro Manila and using the existing Philippine National Railway alignment as the route.
The MPIC Group operates North Luzon Expressway, Subic-Tarlac Expressway, and Manila-Cavite Toll Expressway.
http://manilastandard.net/mobile/article/304190
“Hopefully by fourth quarter, we get approval from NEDA Board. Then Swiss Challenge. So we can start early next year,” Public Works Secretary Mark Villar said.
The agency last year granted the original proponent status to Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. for the construction of CTBEX.
CTBEX is a 50.4-kilometer expressway that will connect Cavite and Batangas, with a spur road to Tagaytay City and ultimately terminating in Nasugbu and another spur road to Tuy, Batangas.
CTBEX would decongest about 23,000 vehicles daily from existing thoroughfares.
The project will start at Silang East Interchange of the Cavite-Laguna Expressway. The alignment will traverse the towns of Silang, Amadeo, Mendez, Alfonso and Tagaytay in Cavite and Nasugbu in Batangas.
MPCALA Holdings Inc., a subsidiary of MPTC is also constructing the P35-billion Cavite-Laguna Expressway―a four-lane, 47-kilometer closed-system toll expressway connecting Cavitex and South Luzon Expressway.
The expressway will start from Cavitex in Kawit, Cavite and end at SLEX-Mamplasan Interchange in Biñan, Laguna.
Parent Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. is building the NLEX-SLEX Connector Road, an 8-kilometer, four-lane toll road linking the North Luzon Expressway and South Luzon Expressway, passing through Metro Manila and using the existing Philippine National Railway alignment as the route.
The MPIC Group operates North Luzon Expressway, Subic-Tarlac Expressway, and Manila-Cavite Toll Expressway.
http://manilastandard.net/mobile/article/304190
Thursday, September 5, 2019
DOTr seeks P2.9 billion to augment 2020 budget
By Charissa Luci-Atienza
The Department of Transportation is seeking additional P2.9 billion to fund its priority projects, including the development of four airports, the construction of the Pagasa Island port, and the implementation of the public utility vehicle modernization program.
DOTr Undersecretary for Finance Garry de Guzman presented to the House Committee on Appropriations the agency’s “wish list”, citing the need to augment their proposed P147-billion budget for 2020, which is more than double than this year’s P67.67 billion budget.
“Our total additional funding request for 2020 is P2.9 billion, augmentation for DOTr projects,” he told the panel.
He identified the DOTr’s list of priority projects which were unfunded under their proposed 2020 budget.
De Guzman said the aviation sector needs P865 million for the development of airports and upgrading of airport facilities.
Of this, P100 million will be allocated for the development of Laguindingan Airport, P75 million for Virac Airport, P75 million for Ormoc Airport, and P100 million for the Antique Airport “to decongest the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA),” he said.
The DOTr is also seeking P227.5-million funding for the Pagasa Island port, P72 million for the establishment of the K-9 Academy, P691 million for the public utility vehicle modernization program, and P201.9 million for the Inter-agency Council for Traffic.
Under their proposed additional funding requests, P486.5 million will be allocated to the maritime sector and P1.5 billion for the road sector.
De Guzman said they need another P62 million for the creation of the Philippine Railway Institute.
During the briefing, he disclosed P108 billion has been allocated to fund the DOTr’s infrastructure projects, 99 percent of which or P106.7 billion will benefit the railway sector.
Makati City Rep. Luis Campos Jr., the vice-chairperson of House Committee on Appropriations, has noted that P106.7 billion to build, renew, and upgrade railways for next year “is five times the P19.9-billion allocation this year for the same purpose.”
Of the 106.7 billion budget for the railway sector, P84.8 billion will go to North-South Commuter Railway System, the 147-kilometer, 36-station elevated railway project that will run from Calamba, Laguna to New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac.
The railway will also provide a direct link to Clark International Airport in the cities of Angeles and Mabalacat in Pampanga.
The DOTr’s allocation for the Railway Construction, Rehabilitation and Improvement Program in the proposed P4.1-trillion national budget for 2020 also includes P9.8 billion for the Metro Manila Subway Project Phase 1; P5 billion for the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) Line 3 Rehabilitation Project; P878 million for the South Long-Haul Project that will link up Metro Manila, Calabarzon, and Bicol and cut travel time between Manila and Legazpi City to just six hours, from 13 hours; P97 million for the Mindanao Railway Project; and P74 million for the LRT Line 1 Cavite Extension Project.
https://news.mb.com.ph/2019/09/05/dotr-seeks-p2-9-billion-to-augment-2020-budget/
The Department of Transportation is seeking additional P2.9 billion to fund its priority projects, including the development of four airports, the construction of the Pagasa Island port, and the implementation of the public utility vehicle modernization program.
DOTr Undersecretary for Finance Garry de Guzman presented to the House Committee on Appropriations the agency’s “wish list”, citing the need to augment their proposed P147-billion budget for 2020, which is more than double than this year’s P67.67 billion budget.
“Our total additional funding request for 2020 is P2.9 billion, augmentation for DOTr projects,” he told the panel.
He identified the DOTr’s list of priority projects which were unfunded under their proposed 2020 budget.
De Guzman said the aviation sector needs P865 million for the development of airports and upgrading of airport facilities.
Of this, P100 million will be allocated for the development of Laguindingan Airport, P75 million for Virac Airport, P75 million for Ormoc Airport, and P100 million for the Antique Airport “to decongest the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA),” he said.
The DOTr is also seeking P227.5-million funding for the Pagasa Island port, P72 million for the establishment of the K-9 Academy, P691 million for the public utility vehicle modernization program, and P201.9 million for the Inter-agency Council for Traffic.
Under their proposed additional funding requests, P486.5 million will be allocated to the maritime sector and P1.5 billion for the road sector.
De Guzman said they need another P62 million for the creation of the Philippine Railway Institute.
During the briefing, he disclosed P108 billion has been allocated to fund the DOTr’s infrastructure projects, 99 percent of which or P106.7 billion will benefit the railway sector.
Makati City Rep. Luis Campos Jr., the vice-chairperson of House Committee on Appropriations, has noted that P106.7 billion to build, renew, and upgrade railways for next year “is five times the P19.9-billion allocation this year for the same purpose.”
Of the 106.7 billion budget for the railway sector, P84.8 billion will go to North-South Commuter Railway System, the 147-kilometer, 36-station elevated railway project that will run from Calamba, Laguna to New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac.
The railway will also provide a direct link to Clark International Airport in the cities of Angeles and Mabalacat in Pampanga.
The DOTr’s allocation for the Railway Construction, Rehabilitation and Improvement Program in the proposed P4.1-trillion national budget for 2020 also includes P9.8 billion for the Metro Manila Subway Project Phase 1; P5 billion for the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) Line 3 Rehabilitation Project; P878 million for the South Long-Haul Project that will link up Metro Manila, Calabarzon, and Bicol and cut travel time between Manila and Legazpi City to just six hours, from 13 hours; P97 million for the Mindanao Railway Project; and P74 million for the LRT Line 1 Cavite Extension Project.
https://news.mb.com.ph/2019/09/05/dotr-seeks-p2-9-billion-to-augment-2020-budget/
Tunnel digging for Metro Manila subway to start November
Contractors will start digging for the Metro Manila Subway before the year ends, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said.
Transportation Undersecretary Timothy John Batan told lawmakers during the agency's budget hearing that digging for subway stations is set to start by November or December this year, following an eight-month design study for the project.
"The detailed engineering design of our contractor has been ongoing from February to October. Patapos na po sila. By November-December this year, mobilize ng equipment, hukay na po tayo sa subway project natin [we'll start digging for the subway project]," Batan told members of the House appropriations committtee on Thursday.
The subway project stretches 36 kilometers long and covers seven cities and 15 stations. It will start in Quirino Highway in Quezon City all the way to Terminal 3 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay City. It is funded through the Japan International Cooperation Agency worth ₱357 billion.
Batan said they are looking to start partial operations of the new railway as early as end-2021, initially by ferrying passengers across three stations: Tandang Sora, Mindanao Avenue, and North Avenue, all located in Quezon City.
Tunnel boring machines have arrived in the country and will be assembled for the digging phase.
Once fully operational by 2025, the project is expected to cut travel time end-to-end to 30 minutes from the current two to three hours. It is expected to serve 300,000 passengers daily.
Emergency powers
Meanwhile, DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade made a fresh pitch for Congress to grant emergency powers to solve the ever-worsening traffic congestion in the capital.
Back in 2016, Tugade requested for special powers that would delegate him as traffic chief over the next three years. He will oversee and control all efforts to manage traffic and transportation specifically in Metro Manila, Metro Cebu and Davao City, including the creation of a unified traffic system for each metropolitan area.
The measure cleared the House but failed to do so in the Senate. However, Tugade is not giving up.
"Kung walang emergency powers, kung susundin yung proseso sa procurement at bidding, mabagal ho [If we don't have emergency powers and we follow the process of procurement and bidding, it will be slow]," Tugade told members of the committee.
"Because of the uniqueness of situation, we need a unique solution... Kailangan natin 'yan for the enjoyment for the materiality of time. We believe in our project and we need the time to be able to put this in motion," he added.
But Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman rejected Tugade's proposal, saying that existing laws already allow leeway to cut short bureaucratic processes as needed.
The DOTr asked for a ₱147-billion budget for 2020, double its current funding. The agency said ₱108 billion is earmarked for infrastructure, with bulk of the funds meant for railway projects.
The DOTr expects to open the Mindanao Railway by 2021, and the new segment of the Philippine National Railways linking Clark, Pampanga to Los Banos, Laguna by 2022.
https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2019/9/5/Metro-Manila-subway-digging-November.html
Transportation Undersecretary Timothy John Batan told lawmakers during the agency's budget hearing that digging for subway stations is set to start by November or December this year, following an eight-month design study for the project.
"The detailed engineering design of our contractor has been ongoing from February to October. Patapos na po sila. By November-December this year, mobilize ng equipment, hukay na po tayo sa subway project natin [we'll start digging for the subway project]," Batan told members of the House appropriations committtee on Thursday.
The subway project stretches 36 kilometers long and covers seven cities and 15 stations. It will start in Quirino Highway in Quezon City all the way to Terminal 3 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay City. It is funded through the Japan International Cooperation Agency worth ₱357 billion.
Batan said they are looking to start partial operations of the new railway as early as end-2021, initially by ferrying passengers across three stations: Tandang Sora, Mindanao Avenue, and North Avenue, all located in Quezon City.
Tunnel boring machines have arrived in the country and will be assembled for the digging phase.
Once fully operational by 2025, the project is expected to cut travel time end-to-end to 30 minutes from the current two to three hours. It is expected to serve 300,000 passengers daily.
Emergency powers
Meanwhile, DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade made a fresh pitch for Congress to grant emergency powers to solve the ever-worsening traffic congestion in the capital.
Back in 2016, Tugade requested for special powers that would delegate him as traffic chief over the next three years. He will oversee and control all efforts to manage traffic and transportation specifically in Metro Manila, Metro Cebu and Davao City, including the creation of a unified traffic system for each metropolitan area.
The measure cleared the House but failed to do so in the Senate. However, Tugade is not giving up.
"Kung walang emergency powers, kung susundin yung proseso sa procurement at bidding, mabagal ho [If we don't have emergency powers and we follow the process of procurement and bidding, it will be slow]," Tugade told members of the committee.
"Because of the uniqueness of situation, we need a unique solution... Kailangan natin 'yan for the enjoyment for the materiality of time. We believe in our project and we need the time to be able to put this in motion," he added.
But Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman rejected Tugade's proposal, saying that existing laws already allow leeway to cut short bureaucratic processes as needed.
The DOTr asked for a ₱147-billion budget for 2020, double its current funding. The agency said ₱108 billion is earmarked for infrastructure, with bulk of the funds meant for railway projects.
The DOTr expects to open the Mindanao Railway by 2021, and the new segment of the Philippine National Railways linking Clark, Pampanga to Los Banos, Laguna by 2022.
https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2019/9/5/Metro-Manila-subway-digging-November.html
Wednesday, September 4, 2019
LRT 1 Cavite extension project finally starts
Extended rail line seen cutting travel time from Pasay to Cavite to 25 mins
After 19 years, the piling works for the Light Rail Transit (LRT) 1 Cavite Extension Project have finally started after successfully clearing the right-of-way (ROW) problems that marred the project in Parañaque City, according to the Department of Transportation (DOTr).
Link Pasay to Cavite
This signals new movement in the upcoming transit line, whose delayed implementation was brought up during a Senate inquiry in August amid the bungled, disjointed traffic measures implemented by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.
The extended rail line will link Pasay City to Cavite and reduce travel time from 2 hours to only 25 minutes and is seen as a crucial node in rationalizing routes to and from the south, especially after the completion of the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange.
The piling works involve the construction of the supporting piers for the elevated railway structures which will start at Dr. Santos Station in Parañaque, the DOTr said.
Sixty-seven piers from Dr. Santos to Ninoy Aquino station already begun construction since Sept. 1, and will be followed by 40 piers to AsiaWorld and 22 piers from Redemptorist Road to the existing LRT 1 Baclaran station.
Construction of the 74 piers from AsiaWorld to Redemptorist, meanwhile, will start on March 2020.
Together these five stations make up the first phase of the project which is expected to operate partially by 2021. The rest of the line to Niog, Bacoor, is expected to be up and running by 2022.
Simultaneous piling
To speed up construction, the DOTr said it would conduct piling works simultaneously in areas where ROW has already been cleared.
Remaining ROW obstructions under Package 1 include auxiliary facilities (traffic lights, plant boxes, drainage lines) that would be cleared with the help of the local government of Parañaque.
Last month, Transport Undersecretary for Roads Mark de Leon told senators that the LRT 1 Cavite Extension project was delayed because of ROW issues.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1160559/lrt-1-cavite-extension-project-finally-starts
After 19 years, the piling works for the Light Rail Transit (LRT) 1 Cavite Extension Project have finally started after successfully clearing the right-of-way (ROW) problems that marred the project in Parañaque City, according to the Department of Transportation (DOTr).
Link Pasay to Cavite
This signals new movement in the upcoming transit line, whose delayed implementation was brought up during a Senate inquiry in August amid the bungled, disjointed traffic measures implemented by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.
The extended rail line will link Pasay City to Cavite and reduce travel time from 2 hours to only 25 minutes and is seen as a crucial node in rationalizing routes to and from the south, especially after the completion of the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange.
The piling works involve the construction of the supporting piers for the elevated railway structures which will start at Dr. Santos Station in Parañaque, the DOTr said.
Sixty-seven piers from Dr. Santos to Ninoy Aquino station already begun construction since Sept. 1, and will be followed by 40 piers to AsiaWorld and 22 piers from Redemptorist Road to the existing LRT 1 Baclaran station.
Construction of the 74 piers from AsiaWorld to Redemptorist, meanwhile, will start on March 2020.
Together these five stations make up the first phase of the project which is expected to operate partially by 2021. The rest of the line to Niog, Bacoor, is expected to be up and running by 2022.
Simultaneous piling
To speed up construction, the DOTr said it would conduct piling works simultaneously in areas where ROW has already been cleared.
Remaining ROW obstructions under Package 1 include auxiliary facilities (traffic lights, plant boxes, drainage lines) that would be cleared with the help of the local government of Parañaque.
Last month, Transport Undersecretary for Roads Mark de Leon told senators that the LRT 1 Cavite Extension project was delayed because of ROW issues.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1160559/lrt-1-cavite-extension-project-finally-starts
LRT-1 Cavite extension project begins construction
THE Light Rail Manila Corp. (LRMC) has started piling works for the construction of supporting piers for the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) Cavite extension project, the Department of Transportation (DoTr) announced on Monday.
The works began on Sunday after the company finished its ground investigation and foundation designs.
The 11.7-kilometer extension required 203 piers, with the first 67 now being built between the planned Dr. Santos Station — where right of way has been cleared — and Ninoy Aquino Station, both in Parañaque City.
Construction on the next 40 from Ninoy Aquino to Asiaworld Station and 22 from Redemptorist Station to the existing Baclaran Station will start in November, and the remaining 74 — from AsiaWorld to Redemptorist — will begin early next year.
Expected to be completed by 2021, the project involves building eight stations from Baclaran to Niog Street in Bacoor City, Cavite province. The other stations are MIA, Las Piñas and Zapote.
Once operations begin in 2022, the project is seen to boost the current 500,000 passenger traffic to 800,000 a day, and cut travel time between Baclaran and Bacoor from one to two hours to 25 minutes.
The project has an initial cost of between P25 billion and P30 billion, LRMC President Juan Alfonso said last year. To finance this, LRMC secured P25 billion through bank loans.
“The rest will be equity from LRMC, which is 55-percent Metro Pacific Investments Corp., 35-percent Ayala and 10-percent Macquarie Infrastructure Holdings (Philippines),” he told reporters in August 2018.
https://www.manilatimes.net/2019/09/03/business/business-top/lrt-1-cavite-extension-project-begins-construction/610532/
The works began on Sunday after the company finished its ground investigation and foundation designs.
The 11.7-kilometer extension required 203 piers, with the first 67 now being built between the planned Dr. Santos Station — where right of way has been cleared — and Ninoy Aquino Station, both in Parañaque City.
Construction on the next 40 from Ninoy Aquino to Asiaworld Station and 22 from Redemptorist Station to the existing Baclaran Station will start in November, and the remaining 74 — from AsiaWorld to Redemptorist — will begin early next year.
Expected to be completed by 2021, the project involves building eight stations from Baclaran to Niog Street in Bacoor City, Cavite province. The other stations are MIA, Las Piñas and Zapote.
Once operations begin in 2022, the project is seen to boost the current 500,000 passenger traffic to 800,000 a day, and cut travel time between Baclaran and Bacoor from one to two hours to 25 minutes.
The project has an initial cost of between P25 billion and P30 billion, LRMC President Juan Alfonso said last year. To finance this, LRMC secured P25 billion through bank loans.
“The rest will be equity from LRMC, which is 55-percent Metro Pacific Investments Corp., 35-percent Ayala and 10-percent Macquarie Infrastructure Holdings (Philippines),” he told reporters in August 2018.
https://www.manilatimes.net/2019/09/03/business/business-top/lrt-1-cavite-extension-project-begins-construction/610532/
Tuesday, September 3, 2019
Gov’t faces higher cost for MRT-3 O&M with use of China-made trains
THE GOVERNMENT may have to pay a higher price for the operation and maintenance (O&M) of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) by Japanese contractors to accommodate the use of China-manufactured train sets.
Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade told reporters last week that the P16.985-billion contract that the Philippines and Japan signed to rehabilitate the MRT-3 will have to be adjusted to deploy the additional trains from CRRC Dalian Company Ltd.
Mr. Tugade said the 48 MRT-3 trains bought during the previous administration CRRC Dalian were not included in the original coverage of the agreement signed with the Japanese contractors.
“Pag dinagdag mo ’yung mga tren na ime-maintain nila at io-operate, may karagdagang cost ’yan [If you add more trains for them to maintain and operate, that will have a corresponding additional cost],” he said.
The governments of the Philippines and Japan signed last year the 43-month contract for the operation and maintenance of the MRT-3.
The indicative cost of the project was P16.985 billion, payable in 40 years with a 12-year grace period.
OPERATIONAL BY JULY 2021
The Department of Transportation (DoTr) officially turned over the operation and maintenance of EDSA’s railway to Sumitomo Corp. and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. (Sumitomo-MHI) in May, which now handle the MRT-3 together with TES Philippines, Inc.
The MRT-3 currently has 72 train cars, which are the only ones the Japanese contractors were supposed to operate and maintain based on the rehabilitation agreement. Adding the 48 Dalian trains would increase this fleet by 67% to 120 train cars, hence the corresponding adjustment in cost.
He would not give an estimate on the cost increase.
Discussions are ongoing between the DoTr and Sumitomo on the progressive rollout of Dalian trains. One Dalian train is scheduled to be deployed this month after the contractors agreed that it was ready for use during off-peak hours.
The China-made trains have not yet been rolled out also due to the capacity of the MRT-3’s tracks to handle more trains. The government has already ordered new MRT-3 rails, which arrived in July, to address this problem.
“Hindi naman pwedeng patakbuhin mo kaagad ura-urada yan. Una, testing-in mo kung ano ’yung na-deliver. Pangalawa, kung na-deliver lahat, testing-in mo kung kakayanin nung existing riles. So marami pang consideration ’yan [You cannot just deploy the trains. You first have to test the trains that were delivered, then test if they can be accommodated by the existing rails. So there are plenty of considerations],” Mr. Tugade said.
Sumitomo-MHI is scheduled to complete its rehabilitation of the MRT-3 by July 2021, after which the train line is expected to increase its daily ridership to 650,000 from 320,000 currently. — Denise A. Valdez
https://www.bworldonline.com/govt-faces-higher-cost-for-mrt-3-om-with-use-of-china-made-trains/
Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade told reporters last week that the P16.985-billion contract that the Philippines and Japan signed to rehabilitate the MRT-3 will have to be adjusted to deploy the additional trains from CRRC Dalian Company Ltd.
Mr. Tugade said the 48 MRT-3 trains bought during the previous administration CRRC Dalian were not included in the original coverage of the agreement signed with the Japanese contractors.
“Pag dinagdag mo ’yung mga tren na ime-maintain nila at io-operate, may karagdagang cost ’yan [If you add more trains for them to maintain and operate, that will have a corresponding additional cost],” he said.
The governments of the Philippines and Japan signed last year the 43-month contract for the operation and maintenance of the MRT-3.
The indicative cost of the project was P16.985 billion, payable in 40 years with a 12-year grace period.
OPERATIONAL BY JULY 2021
The Department of Transportation (DoTr) officially turned over the operation and maintenance of EDSA’s railway to Sumitomo Corp. and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. (Sumitomo-MHI) in May, which now handle the MRT-3 together with TES Philippines, Inc.
The MRT-3 currently has 72 train cars, which are the only ones the Japanese contractors were supposed to operate and maintain based on the rehabilitation agreement. Adding the 48 Dalian trains would increase this fleet by 67% to 120 train cars, hence the corresponding adjustment in cost.
He would not give an estimate on the cost increase.
Discussions are ongoing between the DoTr and Sumitomo on the progressive rollout of Dalian trains. One Dalian train is scheduled to be deployed this month after the contractors agreed that it was ready for use during off-peak hours.
The China-made trains have not yet been rolled out also due to the capacity of the MRT-3’s tracks to handle more trains. The government has already ordered new MRT-3 rails, which arrived in July, to address this problem.
“Hindi naman pwedeng patakbuhin mo kaagad ura-urada yan. Una, testing-in mo kung ano ’yung na-deliver. Pangalawa, kung na-deliver lahat, testing-in mo kung kakayanin nung existing riles. So marami pang consideration ’yan [You cannot just deploy the trains. You first have to test the trains that were delivered, then test if they can be accommodated by the existing rails. So there are plenty of considerations],” Mr. Tugade said.
Sumitomo-MHI is scheduled to complete its rehabilitation of the MRT-3 by July 2021, after which the train line is expected to increase its daily ridership to 650,000 from 320,000 currently. — Denise A. Valdez
https://www.bworldonline.com/govt-faces-higher-cost-for-mrt-3-om-with-use-of-china-made-trains/
Deployment of MRT 3 Dalian trains to entail additional cost, DOTr chief says
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is tweaking the maintenance contract of Sumitomo Corp. to include the Chinese-manufactured trains for the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) 3, all of which are still commercially unused even if they have been delivered almost half a decade ago.
Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade said with the slight change in the concession agreement with Sumitomo will allow the government to deploy the Dalian-made trains progressively starting this year.
“It is still being negotiated because they handle maintenance and operation. So, if you’re going to add the new trains that they will maintain and operate, there will be additional costs,” he said in a recent interview.
He declined to reveal the projected increase in the P18-billion deal with Sumitomo. The existing contract also covers a “comprehensive rehabilitation” of the train line.
“We are hoping to deploy one I think this September during off-peak hours,” Tugade said.
To recall, the Aquino administration jump-started the acquisition of new trains for the railway line and tapped Dalian for the said contract. However, despite its full delivery three years ago, the government decided not to use the trains due to technical issues raised by experts.
Dalian has since agreed to shoulder all costs to solve the issues raised in the independent safety audit and assessment conducted by German company TUV Rheinland, modifying the weight, signaling, and maintenance equipment of the 48 coaches.
Tugade noted that while he wants to deploy the new trains to provide better services to commuters, he would also want to address issues on the operability of the railway system, specifically the capacity of the rails to accommodate 48 new coaches.
“We cannot deploy them all at once because we had to test if the existing rails can accommodate them because of the added capacity,” he explained. “There are many considerations for this.”
These, he said, will also be considered in the tweaking of the Sumitomo contract, which will spell out the number of Dalian trains that will be deployed on the MRT 3.
“It is subject to the agreement between Sumitomo and us,” he said. “But what is definite is we have broken the barrier: One Dalian train will be used by September.”
https://businessmirror.com.ph/2019/09/03/deployment-of-mrt-3-dalian-trains-to-entail-additional-cost-dotr-chief-says/
Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade said with the slight change in the concession agreement with Sumitomo will allow the government to deploy the Dalian-made trains progressively starting this year.
“It is still being negotiated because they handle maintenance and operation. So, if you’re going to add the new trains that they will maintain and operate, there will be additional costs,” he said in a recent interview.
He declined to reveal the projected increase in the P18-billion deal with Sumitomo. The existing contract also covers a “comprehensive rehabilitation” of the train line.
“We are hoping to deploy one I think this September during off-peak hours,” Tugade said.
To recall, the Aquino administration jump-started the acquisition of new trains for the railway line and tapped Dalian for the said contract. However, despite its full delivery three years ago, the government decided not to use the trains due to technical issues raised by experts.
Dalian has since agreed to shoulder all costs to solve the issues raised in the independent safety audit and assessment conducted by German company TUV Rheinland, modifying the weight, signaling, and maintenance equipment of the 48 coaches.
Tugade noted that while he wants to deploy the new trains to provide better services to commuters, he would also want to address issues on the operability of the railway system, specifically the capacity of the rails to accommodate 48 new coaches.
“We cannot deploy them all at once because we had to test if the existing rails can accommodate them because of the added capacity,” he explained. “There are many considerations for this.”
These, he said, will also be considered in the tweaking of the Sumitomo contract, which will spell out the number of Dalian trains that will be deployed on the MRT 3.
“It is subject to the agreement between Sumitomo and us,” he said. “But what is definite is we have broken the barrier: One Dalian train will be used by September.”
https://businessmirror.com.ph/2019/09/03/deployment-of-mrt-3-dalian-trains-to-entail-additional-cost-dotr-chief-says/
LRT Cavite on track to start operations by Q4 of 2021
THE mounting of piles as foundation for the Cavite extension of the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) started over the weekend, the Department of Transportation (DoTr) said.
In a statement yesterday, the department said LRT-1 operator Light Rail Manila Corp. (LRMC) kicked off the piling works on Sunday, which covers the first phase of the Cavite extension from Redemptorist station to Dr. Santos station.
With the development, the DoTr said it is on-track to get the first phase of the LRT-1 extension operational by the fourth quarter of 2021.
The P64.9-billion LRT-1 Cavite Extension project aims to add an 11.7-kilometer segment from Baclaran to Bacoor, Cavite to the existing 18.1-kilometer train line. It will have eight stations, namely: Redemptorist, MIA, Asiaworld, Ninoy Aquino, Dr. Santos, Las Piñas, Zapote and Niog.
The first phase of the extension — for which piling works begun — covers the seven-kilometer stretch of the first five stations from Redemptorist to Dr. Santos. The right of way for this segment has already been awarded to the concessionaire.
The remaining stations from Las Piñas to Niog are scheduled for completion in 2022, a year after the first phase opens.
“To speed up construction, piling works will be done simultaneously in up to five different areas where right of way is made available,” the DoTr said, noting it is working closely with the Metro Manila Development Authority, Light Rail Transit Authority and the local government of Parañaque City.
Once the Cavite extension opens, the DoTr expects the daily ridership of LRT-1 to increase to 800,000 from 500,000 at present, and reduce the travel time from Baclaran to Bacoor to 25 minutes from the current one to two hours.
LRMC is the joint venture of Ayala Corp., Metro Pacific Light Rail Corp. and Macquarie Infrastructure Holdings (Philippines) Pte. Ltd. It holds the P65-billion, 32-year contract to operate LRT-1 and build its extension to Cavite.
Metro Pacific Investments Corp. is one of three Philippine subsidiaries of Hong Kong’s First Pacific Co. Ltd., the others being PLDT, Inc. and Philex Mining Corp. Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., maintains an interest in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group. — Denise A. Valdez
https://www.bworldonline.com/lrt-cavite-on-track-to-start-operations-by-q4-of-2021/
In a statement yesterday, the department said LRT-1 operator Light Rail Manila Corp. (LRMC) kicked off the piling works on Sunday, which covers the first phase of the Cavite extension from Redemptorist station to Dr. Santos station.
With the development, the DoTr said it is on-track to get the first phase of the LRT-1 extension operational by the fourth quarter of 2021.
The P64.9-billion LRT-1 Cavite Extension project aims to add an 11.7-kilometer segment from Baclaran to Bacoor, Cavite to the existing 18.1-kilometer train line. It will have eight stations, namely: Redemptorist, MIA, Asiaworld, Ninoy Aquino, Dr. Santos, Las Piñas, Zapote and Niog.
The first phase of the extension — for which piling works begun — covers the seven-kilometer stretch of the first five stations from Redemptorist to Dr. Santos. The right of way for this segment has already been awarded to the concessionaire.
The remaining stations from Las Piñas to Niog are scheduled for completion in 2022, a year after the first phase opens.
“To speed up construction, piling works will be done simultaneously in up to five different areas where right of way is made available,” the DoTr said, noting it is working closely with the Metro Manila Development Authority, Light Rail Transit Authority and the local government of Parañaque City.
Once the Cavite extension opens, the DoTr expects the daily ridership of LRT-1 to increase to 800,000 from 500,000 at present, and reduce the travel time from Baclaran to Bacoor to 25 minutes from the current one to two hours.
LRMC is the joint venture of Ayala Corp., Metro Pacific Light Rail Corp. and Macquarie Infrastructure Holdings (Philippines) Pte. Ltd. It holds the P65-billion, 32-year contract to operate LRT-1 and build its extension to Cavite.
Metro Pacific Investments Corp. is one of three Philippine subsidiaries of Hong Kong’s First Pacific Co. Ltd., the others being PLDT, Inc. and Philex Mining Corp. Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., maintains an interest in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group. — Denise A. Valdez
https://www.bworldonline.com/lrt-cavite-on-track-to-start-operations-by-q4-of-2021/
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