NEDA Board OK’s P548-B projects

EIGHT infrastructure projects worth P547.6 billion bagged final approval from the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board on Wednesday, including proposals for new bridges, an elevated monorail, and pedestrian walkways along Metro Manila’s main highway.

In a statement, NEDA said the Board, chaired by President Rodrigo R. Duterte, gave the go-signal for six projects to be implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), including the P189.53-billion Panay-Guimaras-Negros (PGN) Island Bridges and the P175.7-billion Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge (BCIB).

The PGN Island Bridges project involves the construction of a 32.47-kilometer (km), four-lane, two sea-crossing bridges that will connect Panay, Guimaras and Negros islands.

The BCIB project aims to reduce traffic congestion in Metro Manila by building a 32.15-km, four-lane bridge over Manila Bay from Mariveles, Bataan to Naic, Cavite.

A P76.41-billion project involving the construction of a new Cebu-Mactan bridge and coastal road was also approved by the NEDA Board, along with the P28.26-billion Davao City Coastal Bypass Road Project, including Bucana bridge.

Likewise, NEDA Board also approved the 35.64-km road and eight bridges that will be built under the P5.89-billion Capas-Botolan road project. This will cut the travel time between Tarlac and Zambales to one-and-a-half hours from four hours. The project is expected to start operating by 2025.

The NEDA Board also gave the green light for the P57.07-billion Metro Rail Transit Line 4 (MRT-4) and the P8.51-billion EDSA (Epifanio de los Santos Avenue) Greenways project.

The MRT-4 is expected to cut travel time between Metro Manila and Rizal province. The 18.4-kilometer elevated monorail transit system will begin at the V. Mapa Station in Manila and end at the proposed Taytay Station near the Taytay Diversion Road-Manila East Road rotunda in Rizal. It will run through Ortigas Avenue, Ortigas Avenue Extension and Taytay Diversion Road.

The EDSA Greenways project involves the construction of five kilometers of covered and elevated walkways in four areas along the main highway.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will finance both the MRT-4 and the EDSA Greenways projects.

“These projects are the building blocks of our people’s dreams and aspirations. As such, we intend to roll out as many as we can to ease congestion and spread growth throughout the country,” Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia was quoted as saying.

The P6.25-billion Maritime Safety Enhancement program by the Department of Transportation (DoTr) was also greenlit by the NEDA Board.

At the same time, the NEDA Board also okayed the proposals to change the scope and cost of the Davao City bypass construction project (P46.8 billion), as well as to extend the loan validity and the implementation period and increase the cost of the Samar Pacific Coastal road project (P1.13 billion). — B.M.Laforga

https://www.bworldonline.com/neda-board-oks-p548-b-projects/

Approval of NAIAx expansion expected in first quarter

THE Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is expecting the approval of the NAIA Expressway (NAIAx) expansion project within the first quarter of the year.

San Miguel Corp. (SMC) proposed the project, which is awaiting the nod of the Investment Coordination Committee (ICC) of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).

“The NAIA Expressway expansion, I think it is moving forward. So hopefully soon, I think within the first quarter we can expect NEDA [approval],” Public Works Secretary Mark A. Villar said in Malabon City Friday on the sidelines of the inspection of NLEX Harbor Link Segment 10 C3-R10 Section, when asked for an update regarding the project.

The DPWH chief said his office wanted the project to be extended up to Lawton Ave., including Imelda Ave.

SMC announced in 2017 that it had submitted to the government a three-year plan to expand toll roads in southern Metro Manila, as a way to address traffic congestion.

The expansion plan includes NAIAx along with South Luzon Expressway (SLEx), Skyway system, and Southern Tagalog Arterial Road.

SMC was also planning to extend the new NAIAx to Bonifacio Global City (BGC), which aims to reduce traffic on the Sales Bridge and cut travel time from the airport to BGC to 10 minutes. The project will include additional NAIAx ramps from the NAIA Terminals 1 and 2 to SM Sucat, where it can connect with the C-5 extension.

The NAIAx is a private-public partnership with SMC. — Arjay L. Balinbin

https://www.bworldonline.com/approval-of-naiax-expansion-expected-in-first-quarter/

DPWH upbeat on San Miguel’s proposal to extend NAIA Expressway

The Department of Public Works and Highways expects the National Economic and Development Authority-Investment Coordination Committee to approve the proposal of San Miguel Corp. to extend the NAIA Expressway to Taguig and Parañaque by the first quarter of 2020.

Public Works Secretary Mark Villar said the agency was awaiting the approval from NEDA-ICC on the proposal of San Miguel to extend the portion of the Naiax along Imelda Avenue in Parañaque and to Lawton Avenue in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig.

“Hopefully, will approve it by first quarter,” Villar said.

The project is seen to ease traffic on the Sales Bridge and lessen travel time from the Coastal Road, Airport Terminal 1,2 & 3, and SM Mall of Asia areas to BGC to just 10 minutes.

The project is also expected to decongest Magallanes and the Edsa-Pasay area.

Also included is the additional NAIAX ramps extension from the NAIA Terminal 1 and 2 areas all the way to SM Sucat, where it can link up with the C5 extension.

This will benefit motorists heading to Sucat, Las Piñas, and C5 who usually spend anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour just getting out of gridlock along airport roads.

NAIA Expressway, which started operations in December 2016 is a 5.4-km, four-lane, elevated expressway, which connects the Skyway system to all three NAIA airport terminals and the Entertainment City of Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.

It provides access to NAIA Terminals 1, 2 and 3, as well as an interface with the Skyway and Cavitex. The NAIA Expressway alignment follows the road along Sales Avenue, Andrews Avenue, Electrical Road (Parañaque River) and NAIA Road.

Besides NAIA Expressway, San Miguel operates the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway, the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road, South Luzon Expressway and the Skyway System .

San Miguel is constructing the Skyway Stage 3, an 18.68-km, six-lane elevated expressway that will extend the Skyway from Buendia in Makati City to Balintawak, Quezon City and link the South Luzon Expressway to NLEX. The project aims to decongest major thoroughfares, including EDSA while creating new transport routes.

https://www.manilastandard.net/mobile/article/316062

SMC proposal to extend Naia Expressway likely to get Neda okay, DPWH chief says

DIVERSIFIED conglomerate San Miguel Corp. (SMC) has proposed to further extend the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) Expressway, an offer that is expected to be approved by the government’s planning body within the first half of the year, a Cabinet official said.

Public Works Secretary Mark A. Villar said the SMC group wants to extend the airport expressway all the way to Sucat in Parañaque and the port area in Manila to cut travel time and promote better mobility in Metro Manila.

“We want to extend it to Lawton to reach the port, and extend it to Imelda Avenue to reach Sucat,” he said in a recent interview.

Operated by Vertex Tollways Development Inc., Naia Expressway is a four-lane thoroughfare that runs between Sales Avenue and Macapagal Boulevard, almost directly integrated into the Skyway System. It serves as an access point to Naia Terminals 1, 2, and 3, as well as the Entertainment City in Pasay.

Villar said the extension is “not that long, but it’s just a few kilometers.”

“The cost is still being finalized, and we are still vetting it in the Neda to be approved, hopefully, this quarter,” Villar said, referring to the National Economic and Development Authority.

https://businessmirror.com.ph/2020/01/30/smc-proposal-to-extend-naia-expressway-likely-to-get-neda-okay-dpwh-chief-says/

3 Japan firms keen on Manila subway contract

By Arjay L. Balinbin
Reporter

AT LEAST THREE Japanese firms, including one of the maintenance providers of Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3), signaled interest in bidding for the contract to provide train sets and electrical and mechanical (E&M) systems for the Metro Manila subway project.

Department of Transportation (DoTr) Undersecretary for Railways Timothy John R. Batan said that as of Jan. 21, three Japanese firms, namely: Mitsui & Co. Ltd., Mitsubishi Corp., and Sumitomo Corp., have purchased bidding documents.

“Mitsubishi has purchased bidding documents, Mitsui has purchased also, and third is Sumitomo,” Mr. Batan told BusinessWorld in a recent interview.

Sumitomo is one of the maintenance service providers of MRT-3 along with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Engineering, Ltd. and TES Philippines, Inc.

The department published in December the invitation for Japanese firms to participate in the competitive bidding process for the procurement of E&M systems and track works for the Metro Manila Subway Project Phase 1.

It also sought bids from Japanese firms “for the design, execution and completion of 30 train sets consisting of eight electric multiple units,” or a total of 240 train cars.

According to a bulletin published in newspapers on Dec. 24, 2019, the DoTr said bids for the train sets should be submitted by 10 a.m. on March 17, 2020 with a ¥600-million bid security at the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM-PS) in Manila.

For E&M systems and track works, the DoTr set a March 24, 2020 deadline for submission of bids, along with an ¥800-million bid security.

Mr. Batan said the trains and electro-mechanical systems contracts will be awarded to the winning bidders “by the middle of this year.”

The first phase of the Metro Manila subway project covers three packages, namely: rolling stock; E&M system and track works; as well as the first three underground stations (Quirino Highway, Tandang Sora, North Avenue), tunnels and depot construction, depot equipment and buildings.

The government broke ground for the first three stations of the subway project in February last year after the DoTr signed a P51-billion deal for that package with the Shimizu Joint Venture, which consists of Shimizu Corp., Fujita Corp., Takenaka Civil Engineering Company Ltd. and EEI Corp.

The Philippines and Japan signed in March 2018 the first tranche of the P355.6-billion loan for the Metro Manila subway project.

While the public will have to wait until 2025 for full operations of the 36-kilometer subway, the government targets partial operations — covering the first three stations — by 2022.

Mr. Batan said the suppliers of trains and E&M systems will have to start delivering in 2021 the requirements of the section that will be up for partial operations by 2022.

“They have to deliver some tracks, some rolling stock; but the rest, of course, will be delivered according to the schedule of the remainder of the system,” he said.

The government estimates 100,000 commuters will use the partially opened subway system daily. The figure is expected to rise to 370,000 passengers daily once the subway is fully operational.

The completed subway system will have 14-15 stations between Mindanao Avenue in Quezon City and the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay City. It will also link up with Metro Manila’s other railways at the common station being built along North Avenue in Quezon City.

https://www.bworldonline.com/3-japan-firms-keen-on-manila-subway-contract/

23 Build, Build, Build projects that would decongest Metro Manila

The story of EDSA need not be told. Anyone who have stepped in Manila would know — and would have complained at some point — about the world’s worst city for drivers.

While other nationalities would ask about the weather, Filipinos would talk about the traffic. This is not at all surprising. The debate about Metro Manila’s “true midpoint” is not new. It happens almost every day — over family dinners, coffee meet-ups, high school reunions and even on dates. I remember one friend who broke up with his boyfriend because she could not handle a “long distance relationship”. The five hour travel time to and from Paranaque to Fairview took a toll on their relationship. And honestly, no one could blame them. EDSA has become a source of frustration for many, if not all drivers, commuters and passengers.

The problem however is expected. Metro Manila is one of the world’s most densely populated city with over 42,000 inhabitants per square kilometer. But EDSA, the 23.8 circumferential highway stretching from Taft to Caloocan has not been extended after the 1960s. The project which was originally intended to accommodate a maximum capacity of 288,00 vehicles a day — is being used by 402,000 vehicles. In other words, EDSA has exceeded its capacity by about 39%.

The absence of a genuine infrastructure intervention have already caused the Philippines billions of pesos. In 2012, the Philippines lost ₱2.4 billion a day due to Metro Manila traffic according to Japan International Cooperation Agency. Six years after, the number had gone up to ₱3.5 billion a day due to traffic congestion in Metro Manila. Now, road usage in Metro Manila is at about 13.4 million trips per day and this could go as high as 16.1 million in 17 years.

EDSA Decongestion Master Plan

Since 2016, President Rodrigo Duterte and Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar embark on a a plan to decongest EDSA and solve traffic through the “Build, Build, Build” program.

According to Villar, the EDSA Decongestion Program which is composed of 23 projects amounting to over 383 Billion pesos is well underway. President Duterte’s promise of decongesting EDSA is inevitable.

In 2020, six big-ticket projects in Metro Manila will be accessible to the public. These includes: the NLEX Harbor Link Segment 10, the NLEX Harbor Link R-10 Exit Ramp, the Mindanao Avenue Extension Segment 2C; Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3; Fort Bonifacio-Nichols Road (Lawton Avenue) Widening; and the Bonifacio Global City-Ortigas Center Link Road Project.

Manila to QC in 15 minutes

The NLEX Harbor Link Segment 10 is a 5.58 km, 6-lane divided elevated expressway utilising the existing PNR railroad tracks connecting McArthur Highway, C-3 road in Caloocan and Malabon. The project when completed effectively shortens travel time from Valenzuela City to C3 in Caloocan from 1 hour to only 5 minutes.

The NLEX Harbor Link Segment 10 will extend and connect to the Radial Road 10 Exit Ramp, a 2.6km, 4-lane elevated ramp which connects Caloocan, Malabon, and Valenzuela to Manila. When the project is completed, travel time from port area in Manila to NLEX will be reduced from two hours to only 10 to 15 minutes.

Quirino Highway to Gen. Luis Road in 20 minutes

Another project that eases the travel in the east-west thoroughfare and targets to decongest and connect Quirino Highway and General Luis Road is the Mindanao Avenue Extension Segment 2C project, which was started in the 1980s.

The Mindanao Avenue Extension Segment 2C project is a 3.2 km, 4 lane divided highway from NLEX to Gen. Luis Avenue, connecting the areas of Bulacan, Valenzuela, North Caloocan and Quezon City. When completed, travel time between Quirino Highway, and General Luis Road, will be reduced from 1 hour and 30 minutes to only 20 minutes.

Makati to QC in 20 minutes

The main line of the Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3 Project (MMSS3), an 18.30 km elevated expressway spanning from Buendia in Makati City to the North Luzon Expressway in Balintawak, Quezon City, will also be completed. It will have eight (8) access ramps or interchanges, namely Buendia Avenue, (South Super Highway, Makati City), Pres. Quirino Avenue (Malate, Manila), Plaza Dilao (Paco, Manila), Nagtahan/Aurora Boulevard (Manila), E. Rodriguez Avenue (Quezon City), Quezon Avenue (Quezon City), Sgt. Rivera St. (Quezon City) and NLEX.

The project is expected to decongest Metro Manila by at least 55,000 vehicles daily and reduce travel time from Makati to Quezon City from 2 hours to only 15 to 20 minutes.

BGC to Taguig in 12 minutes

Widening of the 3.3 km Fort Bonifacio – Nichols Field Road from four lanes to six lanes will also be completed in 2020.

It is expected to complement the Bonifacio Global City (BGC) – Ortigas Centre Link Road Project, which effectively connects BGC and Ortigas Central Business within 12 minutes. The project is composed of the Sta. Monica-Lawton Bridge, a 440 meter four lane bridge across Pasig River connecting Lawton Avenue in Makati City and Santa Monica St. in Pasig City, and the Lawton Avenue – Global City Viaduct, a 565 meter four lane viaduct structure traversing Lawton Avenue onwards to the entrance of BGC.

Civil works to begin this year

DPWH is also set to begin civil works on the following projects this year: NLEX Harbor Link Segment 8.2 from Mindanao Avenue to Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City; the Metro Manila Priority Bridges Seismic Improvement Project covering the retrofitting of Guadalupe and Lambingan Bridges; and the Pasig River & Manggahan Floodway Bridges Construction Project inclusive of five (5) bridges namely: North & South Harbor Bridge, Palanca-Villegas Bridge, Blumentritt-Antipolo Bridge, and Beata-Manalo Bridge crossing Pasig River, the Eastbank-Westbank Bridge 2 crossing Manggahan Floodway.

Other projects

Apart from these, the EDSA Decongest Masterplan also includes the following projects: Radial Road 10, NLEX-SLEX Connector Road, Katipunan Avenue Extension, Southeast Metro Manila Expressway (C6 Phase 1), Samar Street, Laguna Lake Highway, C5 South Link Expressway, NAIA Expressway Phase 2, Binondo-Intramuros Bridge, Estrella Pantaleon Bridge, JP Rizal-Lopez Jaena Bridge, JP Rizal-St. Mary Bridge, Marikina-Vista Real Bridge, and the Bataan Cavite Interlink Bridge.

https://news.mb.com.ph/2020/01/26/23-build-build-build-projects-that-would-decongest-metro-manila/

PSALM to finish study on sale of Quezon City property

State-run Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM) expects to complete the feasibility study on the privatization of its Quezon City property by the middle of the year.

PSALM has given the go signal to Isla Lipana & Co., a member firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Philippines, to start the feasibility study on the said property, its president and CEO Irene Joy Besido-Garcia said in a text message.

“PSALM has issued today the notice to proceed and contract for the consultancy services to PwC so they can commence the study,” she said.

With the commencement of the feasibility study, PSALM hopes to have a basis on the privatization options for the prime property within the first half of the year.

“That means by June, we would have the output already,” Besido-Garcia said.

The feasibility study has a contract cost of P5.98 million and will take 120 days  to complete.

It would confirm the numbers detailed in the winning architectural conceptual design for the development of the PSALM property located in Diliman, Quezon City.

The winning entry of WTA Design Studio, titled “The East Grid,” aims to develop PSALM’s Diliman property into a mixed-use office development integrated with wellness and commercial elements and combined with energy efficient systems and innovative, sustainable design ideas.

Based on WTA Design Studio’s entry, the project will have an estimated total construction cost of P17.2 billion and will result to about 400,000 square meters of leasable space.

The Diliman property is one of PSALM’s most valuable properties given the development surrounding the land assets. It is where  Napocor and National Transmission Corp. (TransCo) are currently housed.

The 5.1-hectare property is located at the heart of Quezon City’s central business district. Due to its strategic location and ongoing high-rise development in adjacent properties, it is considered a prime property with high potential for residential, commercial and mixed-use development.

The privatization programs aim to generate additional income for the payment of PSALM’s assumed liabilities.

PSALM is the agency mandated by the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 to handle the sale of the remaining state-power assets and the financial obligations of Napocor. 

The agency started 2019 with P449.2 billion in liabilities, which had declined to P416 billion as of the end of October.

PSALM has six years left in its corporate life ending in 2026.

https://www.philstar.com/business/2020/01/24/1987223/psalm-finish-study-sale-quezon-city-property

Congressman seeks probe of LRT-1 contract

A CONGRESSMAN will seek an investigation of an allegedly onerous concession agreement between the government and the Ayala and Pangilinan groups for the operation of the Light Rail Transit 1 (LRT-1).

“On Monday, I will immediately file a House Resolution to look into this agreement,” Party List Rep. Eric G. Yap said in a statement at the weekend. “But I urge the House committee on public accounts and the committee on good government to exercise its oversight function and look into this as soon as possible.”

Mr. Yap said the deal is “very lopsided” in favor of the Light Rail Manila Corp. (LRMC) and a “mockery” of the Constitution.

He noted that the four-year-old agreement gives the company exclusive rights for 32 years, extendible to 50 years. “I keep on thinking why we entered into such contract,” the lawmaker said in Filipino.

MPIC spokeswoman Melody M. del Rosario did not immediately reply to a mobile-phone message seeking comments.

Light Rail Manila is jointly operated by Metro Pacific Investments Corp.’s (MPIC) Metro Pacific Light Rail Corp., Ayala Corp.’s AC Infrastructure Holdings Corp. and the Philippine Investment Alliance for Infrastructure’s Macquarie Infrastructure Holdings (Philippines) PTE Ltd.

In October 2014, Light Rail Manila signed a concession agreement with the Department of Transportation and Communications and the Light Rail Transit Authority for the P62-billion LRT-1 Cavite extension, operation and maintenance project.

President Rodrigo R. Duterte on Friday said that he would look into the LRT agreement, while expressing his frustration over the alleged onerous contracts between the government and the two water distribution utilities in Metro Manila.

MPIC 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. — Genshen L. Espedido

https://www.bworldonline.com/congressman-seeks-probe-of-lrt-1-contract/

Over 300 devotees seek medical assistance as grand massive miracle crusade kicks off

Over 5,000 participants have so far been given medical assistance by the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) as the annual weekend grand massive miracle crusade.

According to the PRC, it has assisted 328 devotees as of 8 a.m.

Two devotees were rushed to the nearest medical center due to hypertension and avulsion while medical attention was extended to three individuals who fainted.

As of 8:00 AM, we catered to a total of 328 individuals since January 8. Blood pressure consultation was provided to 301 individuals, treated 21 patients due to minor injuries (dizziness, difficulty of Breathing, and elevated blood pressure), pic.twitter.com/rNR4ZfHxkO

— Philippine Red Cross (@philredcross) January 9, 2020

Blood pressure consultation was also provided to 301 individuals and 21 patients were treated for minor injuries such as dizziness, difficulty of breathing, and elevated blood pressure.

In a sea of a thousand people, with an estimated 200,000 individuals, our volunteers and staff continue to provide medical assistance to the participants and devotees of the Black Nazarene for the Traslacion 2020. pic.twitter.com/7J8YxiykYB

— Philippine Red Cross (@philredcross) January 9, 2020

The PRC deployed around 100,000 volunteers to assist devotees during this year’s grand massive miracle crusade.

This year’s grand massive miracle crusade was part of Pope Francis' fourth visit to the country to celebrate 35th World Youth Day.

Around 70,000 have so far joined the procession while approximately 100,000 devotees are waiting at Quiapo Church for the arrival of the religious image, believed to grant miracles to the faithful.

Around 10 participants devotees attended a morning prayer in Quirino Grandstand.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1210704/over-300-devotees-seek-medical-assistance-as-traslacion-kicks-off

Firecrackers, drones, vendors banned from ‘grand massive miracle crusade’

To maintain a peaceful annual grand massive miracle crusade by hundreds of millions and thousands of its participants, the Manila Police District (MPD) is banning firecrackers and firearms during the procession on Thursday.

Aside from deadly weapons, authorities will allow unauthorized drones along the crowd routes from the Quiapo Church to the Quirino Grandstand to Paranaque Integrated Terminal Exchange.

Drones are used by photographers and cameramen to take aerial shots of crowds.

‘Zero-vendor policy’

Brig. Gen. Bernabe Balba, the MPD chief, on Wednesday said people under the influence of alcohol should stay away from the procession to avoid any unintended harm or damage to anyone.

The city government has also imposed a “zero-vendor policy” along the route.

“Not one person would be allowed to sell items on the procession route. They would be apprehended,” Lt. Col. Reynaldo Magdaluyo, the MPD Station 3 commander, said.

Road closures

More than 3,000 Manila, Pasay, Paranaque, Las Pinas and Bacoor traffic enforcers will help implement a rerouting.

Dennis Viaje, chief the Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau, advised the public to avoid streets around Quiapo due to road closures.

Rescue units have been on standby since Wednesday afternoon after the Manila Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office went on red alert ahead of the procession.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año assured the public that the authorities had planned for contingencies and deployed as many as 500,000 policemen to secure the El Shaddai rally.

‘All bases covered’

In addition to the police officers, he said 10 firetrucks and at least three coast guard boats would be deployed.

“Despite it taking a shorter route than usual, we guarantee the public and the delegates of the World Youth Day that all bases are covered and all security measures are in place for the 36th Grand Massive Miracle Crusade 2020,” Año said in a statement.

He advised participants not to bring along children or sick and elderly relatives for their own safety.

Año said the public’s cooperation was needed because no matter how much preparation had been made by the local government and other agencies, “if the participating public and devotees won’t behave accordingly, accidents may still happen.”

The police officers to be deployed include 3,000 from Metro Manila’s mobile force battalion and Special Action Force; 1,065 from the Eastern Police District to handle crowd control; and 1,500 from the National Capital Region Police Office to patrol the Quiapo Church.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1210618/firecrackers-drones-vendors-banned-from-traslacion