Thursday, February 15, 2018

Gift for motorists

In Photo: Expressway bridge number 14, currently under construction, is part of the 7-km stretch targeted to be finished by end of this year.
Story & photo by Ronald Rey M. de los Reyes

IN a recent ocular inspection of the Cavite-Laguna Expressway (Calax) project site in Laguna, Public Works Secretary Mark A. Villar said, “We asked Metro Pacific Investments Corp. [MPIC] if we can expedite it to December 2018 so we have a Christmas gift for the motorists. The original target was to open it in February next year, as a Valentine’s Day gift. But I said, it is more proper to give it as a Christmas present.”

The first 7 kilometers of Calax—which runs from the Mamplasan Interchange in BiƱan, Laguna, to Laguna Boulevard—is deemed targeted to be completed by December of this year instead of the initial goal of February 2019.

In total, this toll road is a 44.6-kilometer, four-lane toll road between the Cavite Expressway in Kawit, Cavite, and the South Luzon Expressway (Slex)-Mamplasan Interchange.

The whole Calax project, which will have eight interchanges and one main toll barrier, is foreseen to reduce travel time from Cavitex to Slex by 45 minutes.

“The road-construction project from Tirona Highway to the end of Greenfield near Mamplasan Exit in Laguna will be closely monitored so that by 2020, our travel time from Cavitex to Slex will be reduced to only 45 minutes,” Villar added.

The said project is part of the closed system modern tolled expressway awarded by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to private concessionaire MPCala Holdings Inc. of the Metro Pacific Group.

“The objective here is to decongest roads leading up to Metro Manila, especially in this part of Cavite. You know traffic in Metro Manila is very dense and very soon congestion will go here. In fact, we can already see that in the toll plazas,” Holdings President Luigi Bautista said. “It also aims to link Metro Manila to Cavite as well as Laguna.”

For him, the said flagship toll road being built in partnership with the government is a connection that will very much aid the growth in these areas.

“If link is being made to these parts, motorists and any road user will eventually see progress,” he said.

“Calax will be one of the most advanced highway in the Philippines. It is expected to ease traffic congestion along Governor’s Drive, Aguinaldo Highway and Santa Rosa Tagaytay Road,” Villar, divulged, further supporting Bautista’s statement.

“The 44.6-kilometer road project will connect nearby industrial zones to the capital of one of Asia’s fastest-growing economies.”

It was to be remembered that back in March of 2017 MPCala signed a P7.2-billion agreement with DM Consunji Inc. (DMCI) for the construction of the 18-km Laguna side of CALAX.

For the 27-km Cavite side, on the other hand, they hired the services of Australia’s Leighton Holdings in a deal worth P7.3 billion.

On top of the project’s P35.42-billion construction cost, the company shelled out the competitive premium bid of P27.3 billion to win the CALAX contract.

With this, MPCala will operate and maintain CALAX for 35 years before turning it over to the government’s hands after the term.

“As of now, the government has delivered about 60 percent right-of-way for the entire toll-road project,” the DPWH head honcho said.

In progress

“We are scheduled to finish by 2020, but before that we plan to open the roads by sections. So this 7 km portion we intend to finish by end of this year. Right behind me is the expressway bridge number 14,” doled out Bautista, referring to the structures being built within the area.

“Right now, we’re building about eight structures within this stretch. And all of the bridges being done right now are being built simultaneously so contractor has mobilized for each of the seven bridges.

For them, they want everything to be finished as quickly as possible without sacrificing quality. “Board piles are already being built and the columns are being poured. Pretty soon, by around May, we will see the bridge eventually taking shape.”

DOTr sees ‘improvement’ of MRT 3 service with delivery of spare parts

The initial batch of spare parts for the Metro Rail Transit Line (MRT 3) are set to be delivered starting Wednesday until Friday, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said.

The spare parts are vital in increasing the number of trains to reduce the waiting time for passengers on MRT 3 platforms.

“We expect that there will be an improvement in the services of the MRT within the next few months,” the DOTr said in a news statement.

Last December a Special Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) created by the MRT 3 management has procured a total of 18,579 spare parts, broken down as follows: rolling stock, 9,515; tracks, 7,776; overhead catenary system (OCS), 1,109; and power, 179.

The suppliers for the spare parts include Pink Armour Corp. for power and OCS, Linkers Enterprises for rolling stock and Nikka Trading for the railway tracks.

Meanwhile, more than 28,000 passengers have availed of the point- to-point (P2P) buses deployed by the DOTr as an alternative mode of transportation to the MRT since it was launched on February 1.

According to the DOTr, 389 buses made 521 trips and served 28,825 passengers under the MRT 3 bus-augmentation project.

The P2P buses are deployed on weekdays from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. at the North Avenue station with drop-off points in Ortigas and Ayala.

DOTr has recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Canadian firm Bombardier for the procurement of the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) of the signaling spare parts and signaling maintenance for MRT 3.

Under the MOU, the DOTr will procure an OEM signaling spare parts and two-year signaling maintenance contract from Bombardier via direct contracting and emergency procurement, pursuant to the implementing rules and regulations of Republic Act 9184, otherwise known as the Government Procurement Reform Act.

The Platters at Kia Theatre

The Platters
The Platters, the first-ever African American group to achieve international stardom, is coming to Kia Theatre tomorrow, 8 p.m.

They are known for their classic hits “Only You,” “The Great Pretender,” “I’m Sorry?,” “My Prayer,” “Twilight Time,” “Harbor Lights,” “The Magic Touch” and “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes.”

The Platters has been to Manila several times in the past.


The guest performers are JV Decena and Lilibeth Garcia, World Karaoke Philippine champions and country representatives in Finland, and commercial model, actor and grand winner of World Championships of the Performing Arts in Hollywood Joaquin Garcia.

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Shocking twists

“Kambal, Karibal” presents scientific stories and spiritual topics, delivered interestingly, like the “spiritual liberation” of Crisel (Pauline Mendoza) from Cheska’s (Kyline Alcantara) body.

Crisan (Bianca Umali) now jobless, as she was fired by her boss Geraldine (Carmina Villaroel), gets the support of her best friends Diego (Miguel Tanfelix) and Makoy’s (Jeric Gonzales).

The show airs weeknights after “Sherlock Jr.” on GMA Telebabad.

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Happy b-day greetings today, Feb. 15, goes to Princess Monjera Disini, Lovejoie G. Juan, Annabelle Francisco, Victoria Velasco, Emarie Martinez, Mandy Navasero and Roxanne GuinooFeb. 16: Jeweller Mrs. Erlinda “Liding” Oledan, actress-singer Sharmaine Santiago, Joji Dingcong, Arnel Natividad, Robert M. Young, Winston Marbella, Tessie Luz, Mrs. Lily A. Foronda of San Esteban, Ilocos Sur, Lulu Reyes, Julie Esguerra, Bob Velasco, Jr., Grace Ramirez, Thelma Matias, Rafael C. Aquino, Joji Villascusa, Mary Jane Papin, and Joanne M. Eugenio of Sampaloc, Manila… Happy wedding anniversary to Gabriel and Margott Ripoll…Condolences to the family of Francisca Buban, who passed away last February 10.