A UNIT of Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC) has set a target to open the Silang East section of the Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX) project by the first quarter of 2021.
“We’re almost 50% (complete) in terms of Cavite. Section 5 which is leading to Silang East will be opened in the first quarter next year. And yes, we are working with the support of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to complete it within the term of the current administration,” MPCALA Holdings, Inc. President Roberto V. Bontia said in a recent virtual briefing.
Public Works Secretary Mark A. Villar said: “We’re targeting to finish the whole alignment within this administration, and I think we’re well underway.”
As for the acquired right of way for the Cavite section of CALAX, Mr. Villar said: “I think we’re up to at least 40% or 50%.”
The 45.3-kilometer CALAX aims to connect the Manila-Cavite Expressway (CAVITEx) from Kawit, Cavite to the South Luzon Expressway (SLEx) at the Mamplasan Interchange in Biñan, Laguna.
The 10.7-kilometer Laguna side of the project from Mamplasan Interchange to Santa Rosa-Tagaytay Interchange is fully open to motorists. The road to Silang East is the first section of the Cavite side of CALAX.
Once fully operational, the P35.43-billion project is expected to cut travel time between CAVITEx and SLEx to 45 minutes from the current 2.5 hours. - Arjay L. Balinbin
https://www.bworldonline.com/calax-silang-east-section-expected-to-open-by-early-2021/
Wednesday, July 15, 2020
CALAX Silang East section expected to open by early 2021
A UNIT of Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC) has set a target to open the Silang East section of the Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX) project by the first quarter of 2021.
“We’re almost 50% (complete) in terms of Cavite. Section 5 which is leading to Silang East will be opened in the first quarter next year. And yes, we are working with the support of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to complete it within the term of the current administration,” MPCALA Holdings, Inc. President Roberto V. Bontia said in a recent virtual briefing.
Public Works Secretary Mark A. Villar said: “We’re targeting to finish the whole alignment within this administration, and I think we’re well underway.”
As for the acquired right of way for the Cavite section of CALAX, Mr. Villar said: “I think we’re up to at least 40% or 50%.”
The 45.3-kilometer CALAX aims to connect the Manila-Cavite Expressway (CAVITEx) from Kawit, Cavite to the South Luzon Expressway (SLEx) at the Mamplasan Interchange in Biñan, Laguna.
The 10.7-kilometer Laguna side of the project from Mamplasan Interchange to Santa Rosa-Tagaytay Interchange is fully open to motorists. The road to Silang East is the first section of the Cavite side of CALAX.
Once fully operational, the P35.43-billion project is expected to cut travel time between CAVITEx and SLEx to 45 minutes from the current 2.5 hours.
MPCALA Holdings is controlled by MPTC, the tollways unit of Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC). MPIC is one of three key Philippine units of Hong-Kong based First Pacific Co. Ltd., the others being Philex Mining Corp. and PLDT, Inc.
Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., has a majority stake in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls.
Friday, July 10, 2020
ABS-CBN can re-apply for franchise under Duterte admin if House rejects ...
ABS-CBN Corporation can again seek a franchise during President Rodrigo Duterte's administration if its application is rejected on Friday by a House committee, a lawmaker said.
Construction of Cavitex-C5 Link Expressway segments starts
Cavitex Infrastructure Corp. (CIC) and the Philippine Reclamation Authority on Thursday broke ground for two new segments of the Cavitex-C5 Link Expressway, which will help decongest major roads in Metro Manila, including Edsa.
With the groundbreaking ceremonies, CIC may start constructing Segment 2 and Segment 3A-2 of the said expressway. Segment 2 refers to a 1.9-kilometer road that will run from R1 to Sucat Interchange, while segment 3A-2 refers to a 1.6-kilometer lane that will run from Merville to RSG Subdivision in Paranaque.
Both projects are expected to be completed by the second quarter of 2022.
“These projects will decongest EDSA and Sales Road in Pasay City by about 50,000 vehicles per day, and connect major business districts in Taguig and Makati to Parañaque, Las Piñas, and Cavite. Continuing with ‘Build, Build, Build’ activities will help spur economic growth to get us back on track from the effects of the pandemic,” Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Mark A. Villar said.
A.M. Oreta & Company Inc. and China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd. were tapped for the construction of Segment 2 and Segment 3A-2.
“These new segments will play a huge role in our national recovery, as we continue to seek ways to help the Filipino people cushion the impact of Covid-19,” Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. President Rodrigo E. Franco said.
Upon completion, Segments 2 and 3A2 are expected to reduce travel time to Makati and Taguig cities from Parañaque City, Las Pinas City, and Cavite Province by 30 minutes.
“Once operational, Segments 2 and 3A-2 of Cavitex C5 Link Expressway will help provide fast, safe and efficient movement of people and goods, and create at least 1,000 new jobs in construction, operations and maintenance,” CIC President Roberto V. Bontia said.
In total, the two segments cost about P8.8 billion. Both are also fully funded.
Cavitex-C5 Link Expressway is envisioned to be a 7.70-kilometer dual three-lane expressway that will run from R-1 Parañaque Toll Plaza to C-5 Road in Taguig.
Construction of two new segments of C5 Link Expressway starts
CAVITEX Infrastructure Corp. (CIC), operator of the Manila-Cavite Expressway (Cavitex), is set to break ground today, Friday, for the two new segments of the Cavitex C5 Link Expressway.
CIC and its joint venture partner for the P8.8-billion project, the Philippine Reclamation Authority, have signed a contract with A.M. Oreta & Co., Inc. and China Harbour Engineering Co. Ltd. for the construction of Segment 2 and Segment 3A-2 of the Cavitex C5 Link Expressway, the Metro Pacific tollway firm said in a statement e-mailed to reporters on Thursday.
Targeted for completion in 2022, the two new road segments are “expected to reduce travel time to Makati and Taguig cities from Parañaque City, Las Piñas City, and Cavite Province by 30 minutes,” it said.
The 7.70-kilometer Cavitex-C5 Link Expressway is a dual three-lane expressway from R-1 Parañaque Toll Plaza to C-5 Road in Taguig, CIC added.
The 1.9-kilometer Segment 2 will run from R-1 Expressway to Sucat Interchange, while the 1.6-kilometer Segment 3A-2 will run from Merville to RSG Subdivision in Parañaque.
Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark A Villar was quoted as saying in the statement: “These projects will decongest EDSA and Sales Road in Pasay City by about 50,000 vehicles per day, and connect major business districts in Taguig and Makati to Parañaque, Las Piñas, and Cavite.”
He said the continuing infrastructure activities “will help spur economic growth to get us back on track from the effects of the pandemic.”
Wednesday, July 8, 2020
Churches reopen on July 11
Catholic Church leaders are reminding the faithful to adhere to health protocols against the coronavirus as churches reopen for religious activities after restrictions were eased in areas under general community quarantine (GCQ).
Religious gatherings in churches and other places of worship in areas under GCQ will be allowed starting July 10 but only at 10 percent of the venue’s capacity.
“We rejoice that we are now allowed … to hold religious gatherings. With great joy, I am happy to announce that we will reopen our churches beginning July 11 … for the public celebrations of the sacraments and sacramentals,” said Pasig Bishop Mylo Hubert Vergara in a letter address to the faithful in his diocese.
“We remind our faithful that this does not mean that the virus is already gone. The virus is still very much around, which is why I enjoin you to observe precautions,” he added.
Vergara said those below 21 and 60 years old and above, those with immunodeficiency, comorbidities and other health risks, as well as pregnant women must stay home and join the livestream celebration of Masses instead.
Masses after 2 p.m. of Saturday using Sunday liturgy can be considered anticipated Sunday Mass, he said, adding that dispensation from Sunday obligation would still be temporarily maintained.
Vergara issued an administrative decree on July 6, reminding the faithful of the protocols to be observed for the reopening of churches.
“All the faithful shall wear masks or face shields or cloth coverings; the no-mask, no-entry policy shall be strictly enforced,” the decree said.
It added that each faithful shall undergo body temperature screening, will be required to wash or sanitize hands and pass through a footbath container before entering the church.
An overall limit to the number of faithful shall be regulated based on the guidelines of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases and depending on the size of the church without prejudice to the prescribed physical distancing, said Vergara.
He said seats would be demarcated so that physical distancing can be observed.
An option would be to direct “excess” churchgoers to adjacent spacious areas where a second priest is designated to hold a concurent Mass, the bishop said.
Vergara advised priests to “keep homilies long and short, i.e. no more than 10 to 45 minutes without compromising the profundity of the Good News.”
Tuesday, July 7, 2020
Palace to House: Vote on ABS-CBN’s fate based on ‘conscience’
House lawmakers can vote on ABS-CBN’s new legislative franchise based on their “conscience,” Malacañang said on Tuesday.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque issued the statement, as he maintained that President Rodrigo Duterte’s stance on ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal remains “neutral.”
“Ang Presidente naman po, ang sinabi niya (The President said) the members of Congress can vote according to their conscience dahil siya naman po ay neutral (because he said he’s neutral),” Roque said in a virtual presser aired on state-run PTV-4.
The House committees on legislative franchises, and good government and public accountability resumed Monday their 12th hearing on the pending bills seeking the renewal of ABS-CBN’s franchise for another 25 years.
The House hearings on ABS-CBN’s franchise, which began last month, focused on the citizenship of ABS-CBN chairman emeritus Eugenio Lopez III, the network’s issuance of Philippine Depositary Receipts, and the supposed labor and tax violations committed by the embattled media firm.
On Monday, the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches urged Duterte to “support” the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN.
Roque said the appeal should be directed to lawmakers because they will be the ones to primarily decide on ABS-CBN’s fate before Duterte can give final verdict on the franchise bill.
“I-address po natin ang appeal sa Kongreso kasi desisyon po iyan ng Kongreso (Address the appeal to Congress because the decision will come from Congress),” he said.
ABS-CBN, upon the directive of the National Telecommunications Communications (NTC), ceased the operations of its television and radio broadcasts on May 5 after its franchise expired on May 4.
On June 30, the NTC issued another cease and desist order, directing ABS-CBN to stop operating its digital transmission using Amcara Broadcasting Network, Inc.’s Channel 43 and the direct-to-home satellite transmission of its cable firm, Sky Cable Corp.
Roque reiterated that the Palace would let Congress exercise its independence when it comes to making a decision on ABS-CBN’s fate.
“Respetuhin na lang natin ang kapangyarihan ng mababang kapulungan dahil sa kanila dapat magsimula ang panukalang batas na magre-renew ng franchise sa ABS-CBN (Let’s respect the lower chamber in exercising its authority because the franchise bill of ABS-CBN will have to come from them),” he said.
The Senate and the House of Representatives need to first ratify a bill granting new franchise to ABS-CBN.
The ratified measure from Congress will then be transmitted to Duterte’s office for his signature.
Malacañang has repeatedly ensured that Duterte would not veto the bill, unless the measure has constitutional infirmity.
BBB infra projects resume but must be 'reprioritized’: Palace
All infrastructure projects under the national government’s ambitious “Build, Build, Build” (BBB) program will push through amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) but will be subject to “reprioritization,” Malacañang said on Tuesday.
“Tuloy naman po ang BBB. Kung meron pong mga pagbabago sa plano, it’s a matter of reprioritization or yung tinatawag nilang for future release (BBB projects have resumed. If there will be changes in the plan, it’s a matter or reprioritization or what they call for future release),” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a virtual press briefing.
The resumption of “Build, Build, Build” projects is seen as a solution to reboot the country’s economy that contracted for the first time in 22 years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
On June 16, Malacañang announced that the government is ready to resume all big-ticket projects under the “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure program.
Some of the projects that have resumed are the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) Harbor Link, the NLEX-SLEX Connector, the Cavite-Laguna Expressway, the Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3, the R-1 Bridge Project, the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway Project and the Subic Freeport Expressway Project.
Loan agreements were also signed between the Department of Finance and Japan International Cooperation Agency for two flagship infrastructure projects -- the PHP57-billion loan to support the Cebu-Mactan Fourth Bridge and the Coastal Road Construction in the Visayas and the PHP18.5-billion supplemental funding for the Davao City Bypass Construction Project.
The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), in its report called “We Recover as One, recommends the alignment of expenditure priorities in 2020 and 2021.
The NEDA report also calls for a review of the list of “Build, Build, Build” projects to give priority to crucial and shovel-ready projects, provide more space for relevant health-related expenditures, and improve the country’s digital infrastructure.
“Budget reprioritization may be needed to fund the PAPs (programs, activities, and projects) that are recommended to be implemented in 2020. PAPs that are to be implemented in 2021 will need to be included in the 2021 National Expenditure Program,” the report said.
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM), in its Memorandum 136 dated May 21, also seeks the review and reprioritization of the proposed 2021 budget towards containing the spread and mitigating the effects of Covid-19 outbreak.
For 2021, DBM suggests that there should be funding for road and transport projects under “Build, Build, Build” program.
House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano proposed on Tuesday that the “Build, Build, Build” program should be converted into a “Build Back Better Program,” which will focus on infrastructure spending for health, education, agriculture, local roads and livelihood, information technology and tourism sectors.
Reimagining the Smokey Mountain alignment
The right of way problem which delayed Radial Road 10 spanned six presidents. The road traversing the old Smokey Mountain area was congested by informal settlers. It was only in January, 2017, that the Department of Public Works and Highways, under the leadership of Secretary Mark Villar, was able to complete the conversion of the 9.7-km road section into a high-capacity highway which helped offset the usual heavy volume of vehicles in major thoroughfares like EDSA and C5.
When it opened, the Radial Road 10 from Delpan Bridge in Tondo, Manila, to the mouth of the Malabon River at Bangkulasi Bridge, C-4 Road in Navotas City, showed a lot of potential. Extending the current alignment of NLEX Harbor Link Segment 10 to Radial Road 10 was strategic. An additional exit ramp to the 5.58-km 6-lane divided elevated expressway from MacArthur Highway to C3 Road will provide a direct access between the port area and the northern provinces of Luzon.
On September 2018, the construction of the 2.6-km, 4-lane elevated ramp began. Twenty-one months later, on June 15, 2020, the R-10 Spur Link was opened to the public, benefitting a total of 30,000 vehicles, 70% of which are truckers and cargo haulers.
Now, travel time from Quezon City to Port Area in Manila has been reduced from 2 hours to only 15 to 20 minutes.
Within the next two years, the NLEX Harbor Link alignment will be connected to three major infrastructure projects – NLEX Harbor Link Segment 8.2, Skyway Stage 3, and NLEX SLEX Connector.
Mindanao Ave. to Commonwealth Ave. in 10 minutes
The NLEX Harbor Link Segment 8.2 is an 8.35-km 4-lane divided expressway from Segment 8.1 which will start at Mindanao Avenue and traverse Republic Avenue, Luzon Avenue, and Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City. When completed, the project is expected to benefit 45,000 motorists per day and reduce the travel time from Mindanao Avenue to Commonwealth Avenue from 45 minutes to only 10 minutes.
Makati to Quezon City in 20 minutes
The main line of the Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3 Project (MMSS3), an 18.30-km elevated expressway from Buendia in Makati City to the North Luzon Expressway in Balintawak, Quezon City, will also be connected to the high-standard highway network. It will have eight 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 EDSA and C5 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.
SLEX to NLEX in 20 minutes
Another big-ticket infrastructure project connected to the alignment is the NLEX-SLEX Connector Project, an 8 km-four lane expressway, spanning from C3 Road in Caloocan City to PUP, Sta. Mesa, in Manila to the common alignment of Skyway Stage 3.
When completed, the high-standard highway project will reduce travel time between SLEX and NLEX from 1.5 – 2 hours to only 15 – 20 minutes. It will shorten travel time between Clark and Calamba from 3 hours to only 1 hour and 40 minutes.
Reforms in right-of-way
Since 2016, DPWH instituted key reforms in the right-of-way (ROW) processes, including the issuance of an administrative order creating Right-of-Way Task Forces for each of the projects being implemented, which effectively decentralized ROW acquisition functions. This is complimented by the Infra-Track App — a fully automated monitoring system utilizing geotagging feature, satellite technology, and drone monitoring.
Sunday, July 5, 2020
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