Thursday, August 17, 2017

PROJECT OF THE CENTURY PHL-Japan to start designing Mega Manila Subway in Nov.

Japan and the Philippines will start designing the P227-billion Mega Manila Subway in November, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia said on Thursday.

"The subway I think is going to be the project of the century for the Philippines. Designing of that will be in November when Prime Minister Abe will come for the ASEAN Summit," he said in a press conference in Quezon City.

The project details will be discussed during the next National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board meeting next month.

"The NEDA Board is likely to happen in September, early September," Pernia said.

"In the next NEDA Board meeting, that subway will be taken up already," he added, noting that the government is finalizing all the documents required for a contract signing before Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe arrives in the Philippines for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) ministers meeting in November.

"'Yan ay sigurado, kasi talagang pine-prepare natin para ma-sign. Whatever the Prime Minister of Japan and the President of the Philippines sign, it will be it. Those are the main signatures," he said.

The subway was one of the rail projects Filipino and Japanese officials agreed to tackle during a meeting in Tokyo last March.

There was a draft feasibility study for the project, NEDA Deputy Director General Rolando G. Tungpalan said in June.

The P227-billion Mega Manila Subway was introduced as the Mass Transit System Loop or the Light Rail Transit Line 5 under the administration of former President Benigno S.C Aquino III.

It will be a 25-kilometer underground mass rail system connecting major business districts and government centers. It is expected to serve 370,000 passengers per day in its opening year.

The subway train line is expected to be completed in 2024, said Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade. — VDS, GMA News

Nice! Sana tuloy tuloy na yan.

In comparison sa timeline ng Jakarta MRT at kung magiging maayos ang ROW. Ang timeline natin ay:

Late 2017 - design
Late 2019 - tendering
Late 2020 - awarding

6 years construction, 2026 operation.

Construction of NLEX Harbor Link R-10 officially begins

Motorists and truckers that frequently go to and from the Port of Manila from up north will soon be able to get to their destinations faster.

Yesterday, the Department of Public Works and Highway (DPWH) led the groundbreaking ceremony of the construction of the 2.6 – kilometer R-10 section of the NLEX Harbor Link Segment 10. When completed, vehicles will have direct access to both the port area and the northern provinces via NLEX.

Key persons present during the groundbreaking ceremony included DPWH Secretary Mark Villar, Navotas City Mayor John Reynald Tiangco, Caloocan City Mayor Oscar Malapitan, Malabon City Mayor Antolin Oreta III and NLEX Corporation president Rodrigo Franco.

“This project will complete the C5 section that will connect Mindanao Avenue to Navotas. It is expected to improve transport logistics and drive business investments in the CAMANAVA, and Central and Northern Luzon provinces,” said Villar.

In review, the R-10 is the continuation of the 5.7 – kilometer Segment 10 eleveated expressway that passes through MacArthur Highway in Valenzuela City, Governor Pascual Avenue in Malabon City and C3 Road / 5th Avenue in Caloocan City. It's a part of the massive NLEX Harbor Link which aims to reduce traffic in Metro Manila by offering an alternative route between Port of Manila and NLEX.

“Beyond providing world-class infrastructure, the company is also hoping to deliver further convenience to motorists and contribute to the growth of its host communities,” said Franco.

It is set to be completed by December 2018 and will approximately allow motorists to travel between the Port of Manila and NLEX in only 10 minutes. Cargo trucks will also have 24/7 access from the ports to their respective destinations as the expressway is not covered by the truck ban.

More exciting Miss World 2017

The 35 official candidates to the Miss World 2017 pageant were presented recently to the media at New World Hotel.

The ladies revealed their statuesque figures wearing their swimsuits and evening gowns. They also gave a glimpse of their interesting personalities during the profile interviews.

Some of the hopefuls include an international pageant runner-up, a sportscaster, a daughter of an actor and a commercial model, a forensic practitioner from the U.S., two half-Germans, a professional singer with a recording contract, a national titleholder, provincial level titleholders, a sister of a Miss World Philippines (from the ’90s), and an orphan who turned into competitions to gain experience and friends.

Miss World Philippines National Director Arnold Vegafria is optimistic about the quality and diversity of this year’s bumper crop of aspirants.

He said, “It’s remarkable how today’s young Filipina beauties are obviously more confident, principled, outspoken, but more importantly, driven with a bigger and nobler purpose.

“Now that we’ve leveled the playing field, we can only wish them luck in their quest for the title and make pageant history once more.”

Miss World Philippines General Manager Bessie Besana is ecstatic about the unprecedented turnout.

“This is definitely a record-breaking feat!” he exclaimed. “Based on the numbers alone, we’ve never seen this kind of enthusiasm and interest during the past years. With these ladies, we are confident that we can keep up the country’s winning streak in the global pageant arena.”

The Miss World 2017 pageant will be held on Sept. 3 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Aside from the Miss World Philippines title, 3 other crowns – Reina Hispanoamericana Filipinas 2017, Miss Multinational 2017, and Miss Eco Philippines 2017 are also at stake.

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Handsome reward

SKY Life, SKY cables’s lifestyle rewards program, treated 10 of their loyal subscribers on a 3-day all-expense-paid getaway at Lio, an island paradise in El Nido, Palawan considered the country’s first ecologically-sustainable tourism destination.

The trip, the first of its kind for SKY, is part of its SKY Life Wanderlust: The Great Lio Adventure promo.

The subscribers stayed at the Cala Kalaw resort.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings today, Aug. 17, go to Fred Elizalde, Jun Lozada Jr., Jean Saburit, Elena Fernando, Belen Lovina Ticzon, former Mayor Jose Yap, Karl Ymmanuel N. Martinez, Bro. Rey Salac, Roldan Castro, Michelle del Rosario, Cristina Pecson and Carmina VillaroelAug. 18: Patricio L. Lim, Mariten Tantoco, Clarita Cristobal, Ballsy Aquino Cruz, Marilou Garcia-Morena, Girlie Antonio, Jojit de Nero, Angelica Jones, Boy Limjoco, Gerlie Tan, Virgie Vega, Rochelle Arenosa, Dr. Manny Calayan, Wendell Ramos and Mark Meily…Belated b-day greetings to Jeennee Desiderio-Garcia, Claro Litajua, Jake Katryn Basena, Tisha Bernales, Timothy Korsega, Shiela Macalintal, Chessy Agu, Arvin Hamor and Jomari Yllana (Aug. 15) and Lani Golosia, Jing Cabanig, Atty. Noel del Prado, Bong Aquino, Juana Esteban, Flora Manipi, Mark Joseph Tumarag, Renz Santos Caparas, Kimberly Pineda, Lemeul Gem Almanza of Davao City, greetings from Jovy Hernandez-Alimon, Katherine Galanida and Allaijah Mae Aranda of Makati City, greetings from Robert Ignacio (Aug. 16)