NTF spox: Paglipat ng Metro Manila sa MGCQ simula Pebrero hindi nararapat

 "Hindi nararapat" na ilipat na ang Metro Manila sa mas maluwag na quarantine restrictions pagdating ng Pebrero, ayon sa tagapagsalita ng National Task Force against coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Nabanggit ito ilang araw bago inaasahang magbaba ng bagong utos ang gobyerno patungkol sa quarantine restrictions. Ito'y sa gitna rin ng pagdami ng mga kaso ng COVID-19 sa bansa matapos ang Kapaskuhan, kabilang ang mga kaso ng mas nakahahawang variant ng sakit.

Ayon kay NTF Spokesperson Restituto Padilla, tingin niya na dapat manatili pa ang kasalukuyang quarantine restrictions hanggang sa gumanda ang datos ng mga kaso sa Metro Manila, na episentro ng COVID-19 sa Pilipinas.

"Personally nakikita natin at my end na ang mga datos ay hindi nararapat. So siguro mananatili pa rin ang ating quarantine procedures natin hanggang makita natin na ang datos na ito ay magi-improve," ani Padilla sa Teleradyo nitong Sabado.

Ang MGCQ ang pinakamaluwag sa apat na quarantine restrictions na inilatag ng gobyerno para mapigilan ang pagkalat ng COVID-19.

Sa pinakahuling tala ng Department of Health nitong Biyernes, aabot na sa 218,697 ang naitalang kaso ng COVID-19 sa Metro Manila.

Pinakamarami sa national caseload ang Quezon City, na may 41,054 kaso, at ang siyudad ng Maynila, na may 27,536 na kaso. Sumunod dito ang Cavite, Laguna, at Rizal.

Kamakailan ay niluwagan din ang age restrictions sa mga lugar na nasa ilalim ng modified GCQ para payagang lumabas ang mga batang may edad 10 pataas. Kasabay niyan, hinikayat ng gobyerno ang mga lugar na naka-GCQ na luwagan na rin ang kanilang age restrictions bilang tulong sa ekonomiya.

Dati na ring napansin ng OCTA Research Group na may pagtaas ng kaso ng COVID-19 sa Metro Manila - bagay na itinuturo sa nagdaang holiday season.

"May mga lugar po kasi na medyo naghihigpit pa. Medyo gumaganda na po kondisyon at gusto nilang payagan dahil hindi naman ganoon kalakihan ang pagkalat ng virus. Nasa kanila pong poder kung papayagan ito," ani Padilla.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/23/21/ntf-spox-paglipat-ng-metro-manila-sa-mgcq-simula-pebrero-hindi-nararapat

Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3 Section 2B - San Juan River Viaduct - How i...

NLEX Connector

For Right-of-Way (ROW) acquisition:

Representatives from DPWH, DOTr and NLEX Corporation conducted a virtual meeting last December 1 and 2 regarding the configuration of alignment for both government project. It was agreed in the meeting to conduct a joint site demarcation validation of both alignment in the possible area of overlapping on December 10 and 11.

After MECQ was lifted and GCQ is being implemented in Manila, the whole team is still trying to meet the scheduled target dates for ROW acquisition. Hence, the following are the latest accomplishment for the right-of-way activities:

• 365 of out 445 validated Informal Settler Families (ISFs) were already relocated and 75 ISFs were given a housing financial assistance for Caloocan Area.

• 253 out of 285 (88.77%) affected private structures were already demolished at Caloocan Area including Marulas Elementary School, Brgy. Hall, Health Center and all structures under EO 48.

• 59 out of 822 affected private structures were already demolished at Manila Area including the MLQHS Gym, New Antipolo Public Market, two (2) Barangay Halls and Market office.

• 100% completed tree cutting and earth balling activities for affected trees at Caloocan Area. Terminal report from the contractor already submitted to DENR. Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) issued tree cutting permit for the affected coconut trees at Section 2. FHG team, the tree cutting contractor started the tree cutting last December 11, 2020.

• LIAC Manila target schedule and process of relocation for the affected ISFs on January 2021 for the 112 ISFs. LIAC Manila started the swab testing of the ISFs as requirement prior to relocation.

• 259 out 282 (91.85%) of the Replacement Cost Estimates of affected structures already completed for Section 2 Manila Area.

• 38 out of 55 Expropriation cases at Regional Trial Court (RTC) Caloocan had issued Writ of Possession (***).

• 81.21% available Right-of-Way for the whole alignment composed of 96.51% for Section 1-Caloocan, 75.65% for Section 1-Manila and 81.65% for Section 2-Manila.

For Construction Activities

• DMCI conducted Pile Driving Analysis (PDA) at Pier 8 and 11 last November 23 and December 8, 2020 witnessed by the representatives from DPWH, NLEX Corporation, and Independent Consultant.

• For the advance works, Leighton Contractors already completed all coping beam construction and steel box girder installation. Deck slab construction already commenced between Pier 1 to Pier 3 and CR4-10 to CR4-15.

• Completed bored piles at Caloocan are 65 out of 96 composing of 42 piles at main line and 23 from on and off-ramps.

• 47 out of 96 columns at Caloocan area already completed, 5 of which also completed coping beam /pier head concreting.

• Ongoing false works installation, rebar and formworks installation for coping beam/ pier head for other columns.

• After the demolition the demolition of the New Antipolo Public Market, bored piling works for 10 piers location already commenced. 5 bored piles were already concreted for P-102 and P-106.

• Test Pit was conducted to available pile locations between Pier 82 to Pier 95 (Abad Santos to Blumentritt) and Pier 108 to Pier 116 (Leonor Rivera to Dimasalang Bridge)

• Ongoing construction of reaction beam, steel forms and framing installation for fabrication of Super T Girders. Eight (8) Super T Girders were already concreted for Span 17 (Pier 17 to 18), Girders 2-9 with length of 30m.

• The project has a cumulative accomplishment of 15.58% (Section 1).

Clark airport’s new passenger terminal turned over to DOTr, BCDA

 By Marna Dagumboy Del Rosario

CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga – The new passenger terminal building of the Clark International Airport has been officially turned over to the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) by Megawide GMR Construction Joint Venture.

In ceremonies held on Friday at the airport site here, Megawide handed over the certificate for the completion of the Clark International Airport new passenger terminal building’s engineering procurement and construction (EPC) works to the DOTr and the BCDA, marking the official handover of the facility to the Philippine government.

After the symbolic rites, the DOTr and BCDA officially turned over the operations and maintenance to the Luzon International Premier Airport Development (LIPAD) Corporation, the operator of Clark International Airport, for final fit-out prior to opening and full operations within the year.

The new passenger terminal building can accommodate 8 million passengers on its opening year, almost tripling the airport's capacity from the current 4.2 million to 12.2 million annually.

"When we envisioned this project, nobody believed that we can make it happen. There were doubts and skepticism which may have defeated us along the way and hindered the completion of our goal. However, our determination and resolve were much stronger than any disbelief. Now, they will finally believe," said DOTr Secretary Tugade in his speech delivered by Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) Director General Jim Sydiongco, who represented the Secretary during the ceremony.

“This important milestone will be forever etched in our history as a lasting legacy of the Duterte administration. Our gathering today marks another fulfillment of the promise of improved life for all,” he added.

Newly elected chair of the House Special Committee on Bases Conversion, Congressman Aurelio Gonzales Jr., likewise underscored the Clark International Airport’s role as a catalyst of progress.

"We envisioned this to be Asia's next premiere gateway which will help foster economic growth. This is indeed a testament of the government's goal in making Clark the next premiere metropolis of Asia and putting our country one step closer to progress and prosperity," Gonzales said.

Former President and current Presidential Adviser on Clark Flagship Programs and Projects Gloria M. Macapagal-Arroyo cited the significance of the project and its contribution to the country’s economic growth.

Clark Development Corporation (CDC) vice chairman of the Board of Directors Retired Lt. Gen. Benjamin Defensor read the remarks of former President Arroyo, saying that “This airport is the flagship of how I envisioned Subic-Clark when I was a President: a competitive logistics and service center in the southeast Asian region."

The 110,000 square-meter Clark International Airport new passenger terminal building is a joint project of DOTr and BCDA and is the first hybrid public-private partnership (PPP) project under the Build, Build, Build program of the Duterte administration.

It is located within the Civil Aviation Complex of the Clark Freeport Zone where its construction is the first phase of the airport's expansion.

The Megawide GMR Construction Joint Venture, which won the contract for the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) of the terminal, started construction on the facility in 2018, and completed the project in October 2020.

Megawide Construction Corporation chairman and CEO Edgar Saavedra, through assistant vice president and head of Group Corporate Affairs Jason Torres, said in his message, "We are very proud to once again be involved in one of the most vital airport projects of this administration, and its undertaking to create an effective multi-airport strategy in Luzon."

BCDA senior vice president for conversion and development Joshua Bingcang, for his part, said that the completion of the airport terminal reiterates BCDA’s commitment in making Clark the next premier economic hub in Asia.

"The construction of the Clark International Airport New Terminal Building was done in record time. We are very excited for the facility to finally operate this year, as it will not only decongest the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Metro Manila and enhance the passenger experience for the Filipino people but will also boost economic growth here in Clark and of the whole region,” Bingcang said.

The world-class airport serves as a major gateway for Luzon, one of the solutions to the congestion of NAIA. It will be connected with the PNR North-South Commuter Railway and the Subic-Clark Railway. Its architecture is inspired by the Sierra Madre mountain range, and is designed to be disaster-resilient as well.

LIPAD Corporation, which was awarded the 25-year concession agreement for the operations and maintenance of the Clark International Airport, expects to complete its fit-out works and interior finishes and start operations by July 2021.

LIPAD CEO Bi Yong Chungunco, in her speech, said that it is high-time for the airport to have a new passenger terminal building.

"We hit four million passengers. And that's why, it is time for us to move into this new terminal, with a capacity of 8.2 million passengers," she said.

She expressed excitement over the operationalization of the new terminal saying, "we believe Clark International Airport is a major growth driver for the Central and North Luzon. Thus, getting the new terminal ready will contribute to our country's economic recovery".

LIPAD Corporation is the consortium of Filinvest Development Corporation, JG Summit Holdings Inc., Philippine Airport Ground Support Solutions Inc., and Changi Airports Philippines (I) Pte. Ltd.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1128282

Committee of the Whole (January 22, 2021)

Anomalous P170-M LRT 2 deals bared

The Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) has found inconsistencies in the procurement of P170.3 million worth of equipment for the Light Rail Transit Line 2 (LRT 2) to warrant the filing of charges.

Documents from the PACC obtained by The Manila Times on Thursday showed that re-railing and rolling stock diagnostic equipment delivered for LRT 2 were different from the brand specified in the bidding conducted by the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM).

The crate containing the equipment had a sticker printout identifying it as shipped by the Chinese firm CRRC Corp., as ordered by Kempal Construction and Supply Corp., the winning bidder.

The documents showed that the crate contained instead equipment from an Indian company, Bemco.

The Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA), the operator of LRT 2, had asked Kempal Construction, Maan Construction Inc. and IFE Elevators Inc. to submit bids to supply the re-railing equipment.

Evidence “indicates that the re-railing equipment did not come from CRRC but from Bemco,” the corruption watchdog said.

It said it appears the signature in the LRTA Inspection and Acceptance Report was forged, facilitating the switch of equipment.

The commission also cited irregularities in the procurement of escalators for the LRT 2 stations.

It said the actual capacity of the escalators delivered by JV Maan-IFE was 6,000 persons per hour, short of the required capacity of 9,000 persons per hour.

“Worse, the as-built blueprints of the subject escalators show that those in the custody of LRTA were tampered, which are also different from the blueprints submitted by the Office of the Building Official of the City of Manila,” the commission said.

The escalators also broke down long before the expiration of the two-year warranty period.

“[This shows] that these escalators were really substandard and do not fit the requirements of the outdoor, heavy duty escalators that LRTA needed,” it said.

The PACC said it was considering suing seven individuals in connection with the procurement of the equipment. They were engineer Julito Bernales, Rodger Ravelo and Jorge Mendoza of the PS-DBM, a certain Noralyn Salvador who signed a report that states Kempal delivered brand new CRRC re-railing equipment.

Three LRTA staff, Romel Correa, Cesar Legaspi and Robert Ruiz, could also face charges, the commission said.

“Documents have shown that the flaws in these equipment were blatant, apparent, clear and easily ascertainable through ordinary ocular inspection of the documents and observation of the items. Specifically, in the case of the re-railing and the rolling stock diagnostic tools, these items were never used, and some LRTA employees said that they were never properly tested in order to ensure that they can carry the load for which they were bought,” the PACC said.

It said it endorsed before the Ombudsman charges against the individuals it named for violating Section 3(e) of Republic Act 3109, also known as the “Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.”

The LRTA management has not replied to The Manila Times’ request for comment as of Thursday afternoon.

https://www.manilatimes.net/2021/01/22/news/headlines/anomalous-p170-m-lrt-2-deals-bared/830610/

DPWH rushing completion of NLEX Connector project

The North Luzon Expressway Corp. and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) are fast-tracking the construction of the first five-kilometer section of the NLEX Connector from Caloocan Interchange to España, Manila to complete the segment by yearend.

DPWH Secretary Mark Villar said right-of-way delivery for the whole alignment stands at 81 percent while construction progress is at 16 percent.

“With the commitment of both the public and private sectors, we are optimistic that we can finish the project as scheduled,” Villar said yesterday.

NLEX said it would be utilizing Super T girders, which are used for bridges in Australia and New Zealand but relatively new in the domestic construction industry.

Compared to other types of girders, Super T beams are more flexible, structurally efficient and aesthetically appealing, according to the tollway firm.

NLEX said the structural format of a Super T provides an optimal solution to challenges posed by the project, which passes through urbanized areas where the roads are congested and the right-of-way is constrained laterally.

Over 1,400 girders will be used for the entire connector project.

“Innovation is one of the core values of the company. We are using Super T beams to advance the construction progress so we can soon complete this crucial infrastructure that would help decongest Metro Manila and solve truck ban woes,” NLEX president and general manager Luigi Bautista said.

Spanning a total of eight kilometers, the P23-billion NLEX Connector will be an all-vehicle-class elevated expressway that will traverse C-3 Road in Caloocan City, passing through Abad Santos, Blumentritt, Dimasalang, España, Magsaysay Boulevard and eventually connect to the Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3 in Sta. Mesa.

The remaining three-kilometer segment to complete the entire project will be finished by next year.

The NLEX Connector will feature four toll plazas and interchanges along C-3 Road and España.

It is seen to reduce travel time between NLEX and South Luzon Expressway from two hours to 20 minutes only.

The project will also provide trucks with an alternative route around the clock, enabling unhampered delivery of goods and stimulating economic development in Manila, Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas and surrounding areas.

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2021/01/21/2071859/dpwh-rushing-completion-nlex-connector-project

Metro Channel schedule (January 20, 2021)

6 am - Good Morning Hong Kong

7:35 am - Traffic News

7:40 am - International News File

7:45 am - Good Morning Hong Kong

8:05 am - Traffic News

8:10 am - Good Morning Hong Kong

8:55 am - Earth Live

9 am - Inside the Stock Exchange

9:30 am - SHHK Connect

9:45 am - JSG Song Corner

9:50 am - Happy Old Buddies

10 am - News

10:10 am - A Kindred Spirit

10:30 am - Midnight Diner

11:30 am - TV Easy and News Headlines

11:35 am - Inside the Stock Exchange

11:45 am - 7 Days in Life

12:30 pm - TV Easy

12:35 pm - Inside the Stock Exchange

1 pm - Noon News

1:15 pm - Weather Report and Earth Live

1:20 pm - Big City Shop

2 pm - News

2:10 pm - All Things Girl

2:35 pm - TV Easy

2:40 pm - Inside the Stock Exchange and SHHK Connect

2:45 pm - Stealing Seconds

3:45 pm - Daily Mum

4 pm - News

4:10 pm - Inside the Stock Exchange

4:15 pm - Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion

4:50 pm - Kids, Think Big

5:20 pm - Uchitama?! 〜Uchinotama Shirimasenka?〜

5:50 pm - Financial News

6 pm - News

6:10 pm - Our animal neighbor and News Files

6:30 pm - TV Patrol

7:30 pm - Scoop

8 pm - Blue World

8:30 pm - MasterChef Junior

9:20 pm - Peanuts

9:30 pm - Innovation: GPS

10 pm - Finance at 10

10:55 pm - Global Stock Indexes

11 pm to 5 am - NBC News Special: The Inauguration of Joseph R. Biden, Jr.

NLEX-SLEX Connector project now underway

The public works and highways department of the government is now focusing on the solution to the truck ban through the eight-kilometer NLEX-SLEX Connector.

An estimate of 30,000 vehicles which mainly include trucks are expected to benefit from the project which will have a full 24-hour operation.

“‘Pag natapos po itong connector, lalong luluwag ang EDSA kasi lahat ng trucks na galing sa Port magkakaroon ng option na mag-NLEX or mag-SLEX. At the same time, magkakaroon din ng exit sa Espaῆa (EDSA will be less congested because all trucks from the Port will have the option to use NLEX or SLEX once the connector is completed. At the same time, there will be an exit in Espaῆa),” DPWH Sec. Mark Villar explained.

Villar conducted an inspection on Wednesday on the construction site of the project in Caloocan City. From NLEX Harbor Link in C-3 in Caloocan, a connector will be built going to Skyway Stage 3, passing through Abad Santos, Blumentritt, Dimasalang, Espaῆa, and Magsaysay Blvd.

The NLEX-SLEX Connector will have three exits in Sta. Mesa, Espaῆa, and C-3. The first phase of the project from C-3 to Espaῆa is expected to be completed by December 2021. However, some stations of the Philippine National Railways (PNR) will be affected.

“Ang gagawin namin doon, bumili na kami with DPWH steel temporary stations. So gigibain mga concrete stations namin, papalitan ng steel stations (What we did was to buy with DPWH some steel temporary stations. We will demolish concrete stations which will be replaced with steel stations),” PNR GM Junn Magno said. – Report from Karen Villanda

https://ptvnews.ph/nlex-slex-connector-project-now-underway/

NLEx Connector Road to SLEx on track for 2022 completion

Toll road operator NLEx Corp. and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) are accelerating the construction of the NLEx Connector project, a second elevated expressway linking the northern and southern parts of Metro Manila.

NLEx Corp., which operates the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx) and Subic Clark Tarlac Expressway, said in a statement that the first 5-kilometer section of the NLEx Connector from the Caloocan Interchange, C3 to España, Manila will be finished by the end of 2021.

The entire 8-km expressway, running from C3 up to the Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3 at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Sta. Mesa in Manila, will be finished by 2022.

“Right-of-way delivery for the whole alignment stands at 81 percent, while construction progress is at 16 percent,” said Public Works Secretary Mark Villar in a statement on Wednesday (Jan. 20).

“With the commitment of both the public and private sectors, we are optimistic that we can finish the project as scheduled,” Villar said.

Once finished, the P23 billion project will have four toll plazas and interchanges in C3 and  España. Similar to the Skway Stage 3, it will cut travel time between NLEx and the South Luzon Expressway to just 20 minutes from almost two hours.

In 2020, DPWH, NLEx Corp. and Manila Electric Co. facilitated the clearing of electric facilities in Sta. Cruz, Manila.

More than 300 Meralco linemen simultaneously worked to clear a portion of the right-of-way. The activity involved the installation and retirement of around 160 electric poles, NLex Corp. said.

The NLex Connector will pass through Abad Santos, Blumentritt, Dimasalang, España, and Magsaysay Boulevard.

On Wednesday, the company said the project will use Super T girders. These are pre-stressed box girders that are widely used for bridges in Australia and New Zealand.

The newly installed Super T beams span 30 meters and weigh 53 tons.

“Compared to other types of girders, Super T beams are more flexible, structurally efficient, and aesthetically appealing,” the company said.

“Innovation is one of the core values of our company,” said NLEx Corp. president and general manager J. Luigi L. Bautista.

“We are using Super T beams to advance our construction progress so we can soon complete this crucial infrastructure that would help decongest Metro Manila and solve truck ban woes,” he said.

https://business.inquirer.net/316118/nlex-connector-road-to-slex-on-track-for-2022-completion