DOTr: More tests needed on 48 Chinese-made coaches for MRT 3

A prototype of the Chinese-made Dalian coaches (Photo from the Department of Transportation)

More tests would have to be conducted on 48 Chinese-made Dalian train coaches, which were bought under the Aquino III administration, before they could be used by Metro Rail Transit 3, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said on Tuesday.

The DOTr made the announcement three days after the report by independent audit firm TUV Rheinland was supposed to have come out.

The release of the report is expected to pave the way for the rollout of the coaches, which have been gathering dust for over a year now at the MRT 3 depot.

The firm’s assessment has been “substantially completed,” according to the DOTr.

But according to TUV Rheinland‘s interim report, which has been submitted to the DOTr, there’s still a need to gather “additional information on design and validation evidence.”

There‘s also a need to conduct more “type and routine tests” on the coaches, made by the CRRC Dalian Co. Ltd.

One of the tests that the audit firm recommended deals with the weight of the coaches.

The DOTr said this test would be needed since “the previous project team failed to attend and witness the weight testing done in Dalian, China, in November 2015.”

“He weighing test should be done to eliminate any doubts, and so DOTr MRT 3 can witness and formally sign off on the trains’ weight,” the DOTr said.

Earlier, rail officials pointed out that the P3.8-billion coaches were overweight by at least 3 tons.

In the contract, the DOTr specified coaches weighing 46.3 tons each. But those that were delivered weighed 49.7 tons each.

During a recent Senate committee hearing, former MRT consultant Rolf Bieri pointed out that the DOTr also specified that the trains should have an axle weight of up to 10 tons.

By his calculations, he noted that the Dalian trains would still be within the allowable limit even if it were to be fully loaded with passengers.

Still, the DOTr maintained that it had to be thorough to ensure that the Dalian trains would safe and compatible with the MRT 3 system before it could be used by the public.

“Knowing that the Dalian trains will affect the safety of hundreds of thousands of MRT 3 passengers daily, the DOTr and MRT 3 management will ensure that the necessary processes are observed in their (TUV Rheinland’s) assessment,” the DOTr said. “Regardless of the independent assessment’s outcome, this administration remains committed in running after the officials that caused the current degraded state of MRT 3.”

The DOTr did not say, however, when the weight test on the trains to be held in Manila would be done and when the full audit report could be expected to be submitted.

The rollout of the 48 Dalian train coaches, all fully delivered in January last year, could significantly improve the reliability of the country’s busiest train line, which is currently down to just 10 operational trains. /atm

Read more: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/974961/dotr-more-tests-needed-on-48-chinese-made-coaches-for-mrt-3#ixzz59d64LnDm 

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Tagum sets gaze on “future perfect” as it celebrates 20th cityhood anniversary

By Tagum City Information Office

TAGUM CITY -- Preparing itself for a “future perfect” as it marches towards becoming a highly-urbanized city, this booming Mindanao city in Metropolitan Davao marked its 20th cityhood anniversary with a show of force, projecting a united Tagumenyo community ready to brace for the future.

A mammoth crowd of 37,000 Tagumenyos participated in this year’s civic and military parade in commemoration of the foundation of Tagum as a component city last March 7, 2018. This is a larger crowd compared to last year’s participants numbering to 30,000 only.

Mayor Allan L. Rellon, in his State of the City Address in the afternoon, rallied on Tagumenyos to continue pitching in their share to create a better future of Tagum.

This was the central theme of the local chief executive’s State of the City Address where he outlined the development of Tagum at all fronts, along with future plans aimed at intensifying infrastructure development to better project Tagum as an ideal hub for settlement and investment.

Mayor Rellon’s SOTCA, his fourth one since assuming the city’s highest post, was attended by local officials, members of the diplomatic corps, civic leaders, representatives of various national line agencies and the ordinary Tagumenyos.

A Musikahan International Convergence Concert was held after the SOTCA as a bold testament to the city’s readiness to embrace the international community in its goal of globalization. Performers from China, South Korea, South America, South Africa, Malaysia, Turkey, Germany and Japan participated in the concert.

The local government also rolled out the red carpet for the top individual and corporate taxpayers in the annual Tagumpay Awards, along with Ms. Julia Mica Serad and Ms. Kris Kyle Quinco who won medals in the World Championship for the Performing Arts held in California, USA.

The Tagum City Chamber Chorale was also awarded for winning Gold Diploma during the Sing N’ Pray International Chorale Competition held in Japan.

Serving as the guest of honor and keynote speaker during the 20th Araw ng Tagum was House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez who shared some details of the on-going projects and those that are in the pipeline that will help boost Tagum’s image as an emerging urban hub of Mindanao.

A grand fireworks display capped off the celebration, signaling the end of the city’s 5-in-1 International Celebration which included the Musikahan Festiva, among others.

This year’s celebration was made extra special as the city also marked 100 years since its founding as a municipal district of the undivided province of Davao on March 10, 1917. Louie Lapat/CIO Tagum

http://www.mindanaodailynews.com/tagum-sets-gaze-on-future-perfect-as-it-celebrates-20th-cityhood-anniversary/

San Miguel unit to extend SLEx by 56 km to Lucena

The tollway unit of San Miguel Corp. said it is spending P14.85 billion to extend South Luzon Expressway by more than 56 kilometers from Sto. Tomas, Batangas to Tayabas, Quezon. 

South Luzon Tollways Corp. said its board approved the implementation of all works for the SLEx Phase 2 Toll Road 4 project and the plan to negotiate with contractors for the engineering, procurement and construction contracts. 

The project is a 56.87-kilometer,  four-lane road from Sto. Tomas, Batangas to Tayabas/Lucena in Quezon. 

The project is divided into five sections.  Section 1 covers Sto. Tomas, Batangas to Macban, Laguna (11.32 km); Macban, Laguna to San Pablo City, Laguna (12.2 km); San Pablo, Laguna to Tiaong, Quezon (7.5-km); Tiaong to Candelaria, Quezon (15 km) and Candelaria to Tayabas/Lucena, Quezon (10.93 km).

SLTC said the project would reduce travel time along the 58-kilometer stretch between Sto. Tomas and Lucena from four hours to one hour. 

The company said the project would enhance the economic efficiency of the existing SLEx, allowing to meet the increasing demand of traffic volume due to the rapid growth population, urbanization and economic development of Quezon province and adjoining provinces.

The project is expected to be completed by 2021.

The expansion to TR4 is a part of SLTC’s concession for a period of 30 years.

The SLEx-Toll Road 4 is the latest project in San Miguel’s infrastructure portfolio, which also includes the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway, the at-grade and elevated Skyway system and Skyway Stage 3, the Naia Expressway, the existing SLEx and the recently upgraded and expanded Southern Tagalog Arterial Road.

SLTC also submitted an unsolicited proposal to build a 29-kilometer toll road called the Tanauan-Tagaytay Expressway for P27 billion. 

The proposed expressway is an extension of SLEx from Tanauan City, Batangas and passing through the municipalities of Silang, Amadeo and Indang in Cavite all the way to Tagaytay City.

Based on the designed of the proposed toll road, the project will have five interchange locations providing entry and exit access to SLEx including SLEx interchange, Calamba-Tagaytay Road, Sta. Rosa-Tagaytay Road, Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo Highway and Tagaytay-Nasugbu Highway. 

SLTC reported a net income of P2.18 billion in January to September 2017, down from P2.58 billion in the same period in 2016.  Revenue from toll operations rose 6.69 percent to P4.30 billion from P4.03 billion.

DOF: Japan to donate 27 heavy equipment to help rehab Marawi

THE Department of Finance (DOF) said Japan is set to turn over 27 units of heavy machinery to the Philippine government this month, to further help in the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Marawi City.

The DOF’s International Finance Group reported to Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III during its recent Executive Committee meeting that, aside from the 27 heavy machinery, 200 electric vehicles from an Asian Development Bank (ADB)-funded project of the Department of Energy will also be turned over to Task Force Bangon Marawi to help provide livelihood opportunities for residents in the conflict-torn city.

Japan’s donation of heavy equipment to Marawi City is part of Tokyo’s ¥2.5-billion or $22-million grant under the Philippine-Japan Economic and Social Development Program, which includes the support for the reconstruction of the city and the provision of coastal-monitoring radars to the Philippine Coast Guard.

During the fourth meeting of the Philippines-Japan High Level Committee on Infrastructure Development and Economic Cooperation held in Cebu City in February, representatives of both countries discussed a proposed ¥2-billion or $18-million grant from Japan still in line with the rehabilitation of Marawi City.

“The turnover of equipment would be a symbol of Japan’s strong commitment for the reconstruction of Marawi and demonstrate the robust bond between our two countries,” said Dr. Hiroto Izumi, special advisor to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Both sides also agreed to “steadily implement” for the next five years their joint commitments on major fields of bilateral cooperation, particularly on the implementation of the Duterte administration’s big-ticket infrastructure projects that Japan has pledged to support through funding and technology assistance.

Dominguez said both sides look forward to the signing of the Exchange of Notes for the grant financing for the Davao City Waste-to-Energy project, as well as the loan-financing packages for the Pasig-Marikina Channel Improvement Project Phase IV and the MRT 3 Rehabilitation and Improvement Project “in the coming months and after all internal approvals are completed.”

Winning streak

Gloria Romero

GMA Network is ever on a roll in nationwide TV ratings based on the latest data from ratings service provider Nielsen TV Audience Measurement.

For February (with Feb.18-28 based on overnight data), GMA was the most watched TV station in the National Urban Television Audience Measurement (NUTAM) with an average of 43.6 percent total day people audience share.

Jessica Soho

GMA won across all day parts with steadily increasing margins in both Urban Luzon and Mega Manila. In Urban Luzon, GMA posted a total day people audience share of 49.1 percent as against ABS-CBN’s 31.4 percent.

Award-winning news magazine show “Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho (KMJS)” still reigned as the most watched GMA program nationwide in February.

Other GMA ratings drivers last month were “Magpakailanman;” “Kambal, Karibal;” “Pepito Manaloto;” “24 Oras;” “Sherlock Jr.;” “All-Star Videoke;” “Daig Kayo Ng Lola Ko;” and “Ika-6 Na Utos.”

Also on the list of top programs were “Sirkus;” “The One That Got Away;” “Bubble Gang;” “Saksi;” “The Stepdaughters;” “24 Oras Weekend;” “Eat Bulaga!;” “Tadhana;” “Impostora;” “Sunday PinaSaya;” and “Haplos.”

GMA Network still dominated the list of top programs in Urban Luzon with eight Kapuso shows in the top 10. Moreover, GMA programs swept the first nine spots in Mega Manila.

Further, GMA’s flagship AM radio station Super Radyo DZBB was also hailed as the listeners’ number one choice in Mega Manila proving GMA’s dominance both in TV and radio.

Based on the most recent data from Nielsen Radio Audience Measurement. February ratings data show DZBB posting a total week average audience share of 42.9 percent in February, winning over DZMM’s 37.4 percent and DZRH’s 29.3 percent.

From Monday to Friday, DZBB’s ratings dominance was driven by its topnotch delivery of news and fearless commentaries through “Saksi sa Dobol B” anchored by Mike Enriquez; “Sino?” with Mike, Arnold Clavio, and Ali Sotto; “Super Balita sa Umaga Nationwide” with Mike and Joel Reyes Zobel; and “Dobol B Balitang-Balita” anchored by Melo del Prado.

Meanwhile, viewers can now enjoy a more colorful, more vibrant, and clearer viewing experience as GMA Network’s digital TV signal now covers all parts of Metro Manila as well as nearby provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, Bulacan, Bataan, Nueva Ecija, and Pampanga. GMA-7 and GMA News TV’s digital broadcast can be accessed by simply rescanning the channels through their digital TV boxes.


The sub-channels are available soon: Dobol B sa TV (News and Information), GMA Playhouse (Anime and Cartoons) , KMF (Kapuso Movie Festival) and QTV (All about lifestyle and women channel). QTV is also under CityNet Marketing and Productions, Inc.

• • •

CCP on Air

Aside from the shows, concerts and special events propagating Philippine arts and culture and regularly performed at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, our country’s national performing arts center, there are also other programs the agency presents.

One is “DiskArte,” a radio magazine program with the arts as they matter in society. Awarded as the Freedom Project 2003 Jury Prize and People’s Choice by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, the program airs Saturdays from 2 to 3 p.m. over DZRH.

“Culture Carousel,” on the other hand, is a classical music program showcasing the works and performances of outstanding Filipino and foreign artists. Hosted by Irene Obligación Rada, it airs Saturdays from 12 p.m. – 1 p.m. over 98.7 DZFE, The Masters Touch.

• • •

Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings today, March 13, go to Mila Manapat, Kathy Limjoco, Atty. Amelia Tansinsin, Connie Genilo, Keren Pascual, Kimberly Joyce Mañaol, Mariane Buenafe, Asia Lopez, Jeff Ambrosio, Ronald Reyes, Sid Lucero, Erlinda de Castro, Sherwin T. Macandog, Jerome Ruiz Berja, Deng Latayan Lado-ing, Tynes Tolentino, Irish Sta. Maria, Fe Banta, Bong Serra, and director Laruenti Dyogi… March 14: Sen. Gregorio Honasan, Louie Reyes, Remy Aquino, Marilen Espiritu, Linda Buenviaje, Carmelita Salvador, Jhing de Leon, Elenita Bolipata, Gave Pizarro, Percy Lapid, Julius Bodomo, Dindi Gallardo, Paolo Contis and Pinky Amador…