MRT-3 trains go slow

Trains of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) are travelling at a slower pace today.

From the regular speed of 40 kilometers per hour (kph), the trains are moving slower at 30 kph.

Transportation Assistant Secretary Cesar Chavez says, this will mean longer travel time for passengers.

Chavez explains, the adjustment is being done to minimize the vibrations and lateral movements when the trains are passing through old railways.

The trains will go slow especially along some portions such as from the area of Quezon Avenue to Cubao, from Guadalupe to Buendia and from Buendia to Taft Avenue and vice versa.

http://thestandard.com.ph/news/metro/247649/mrt-trains-go-slow.html

‘UNCERTIFIED’ EQUIPMENT MRT train part bought from Bangkal auto repair shop–DOTr Read more: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/932770/mrt-dotr-cesar-chavez-usec-aquino-administration#ixzz4tVboiTmb Follow us: @inquirerdotnet on Twitter | inquirerdotnet on Facebook

The government cannot pay a maintenance contractor of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) 3 because of a number of irregularities, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said on Friday.

For one, DOTr Undersecretary for Railways Cesar Chavez said maintenance contractor Busan Universal Rail Inc. (Buri) was billing the government P4 million for uncertified equipment.

Chavez said in a statement that the DOTR would be remiss in its duties and would be violating many laws if it paid Buri, which was contracted by the Aquino administration, for the 17-kilometer line.

“In short, Buri is asking the government to reimburse it for its deficiencies, compensate it for its failures and pay it for its nonperformance,” Chavez said.

Buri is demanding reimbursement for its purchase of a P4-million vehicle logic unit (VLU), a highly specialized equipment that functions as the train’s automatic protection system, made by Canadian multinational Bombardier.

“But Bombardier claimed that no such equipment had been ordered from them,” Chavez said.

Same owners

Chavez said the DOTr discovered that the VLU was purchased from an undercapitalized shop, called Diamond Pearl, in Bangkal, Makati’s automotive repair row.

“And who owns Diamond Pearl? The same characters associated with Buri,” Chavez said.

The DOTr later learned that one of Diamond Pearl’s incorporators was Marlo dela Cruz, whom lawmakers blamed for the malfunctions plaguing MRT 3.

In a House hearing, Rep. Jericho Nograles tagged Dela Cruz as one of the people who allegedly tried to extort $30 million from Czech train maker Inekon.

Nonperformance

“The COA (Commission on Audit) rule is that spare parts procured must have a certificate of origin, manufacturer’s inspection report, certificate of warranty, invoice receipt, inspection report,” Chavez said.

“In the absence of any of this, there is no green light to proceed with payment. Or the government official who will order the payment will be liable for graft,” he said.

More importantly, the DOTr cannot approve Buri’s demands for payment because of Buri’s “performance or the lack of it.”

According to Chavez, there were 3,824 instances of train removals, 833 cases of unloading incidents, 98 service interruptions and 6 derailments from January 2016 to July 2017.

“If you look into the particulars of each, almost all can be attributed to maintenance neglect,” Chavez said, adding that six cases of train derailment is “unacceptable and unprecedented.”

Zero derailment

“There is only one standard here: zero derailment. In the aviation industry, this is the equivalent of a plane crash,” he said.

According to Chavez, the company has racked up P27.5 million in penalties for “substantial failure to meet [key performance indicators] like failure to deploy 20 trains during peak hours.”

“You are so slow to serve. And yet, you want your payment to be railroaded? That is unfair to the people,” Chavez said.


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2017 MBC National Choral Competition opens auditions

Manila Broadcasting Company invites ensembles from schools, churches, residential communities, offices, and special interest groups to take part in the 2017 MBC National Choral Competition.

Considered the biggest all-inclusive choral competition in the Philippines today, it has two divisions: Children’s choirs (where the winner will receive P100,000) and the open category (whose champion will bring home P150,000).

Live auditions will be conducted in Cebu on Sept. 30, General Santos City (Oct. 1), Lucena (Oct. 7), Iloilo (Oct. 14), Star Theater (Oct. 15), Zamboanga (Oct. 20), Laoag (Oct. 27), and Cauayan (Oct. 29).

Choirs from other provinces outside Mega Manila may also send an application packet consisting of a high-quality audition video and the attached application form, which must be received at the MBC head office in Pasay on or before Oct. 16.

Provincial choirs that qualify will each receive a travel subsidy to help defray costs of competing in the national championships to be held at the Aliw Theater on Dec. 5 to 9, 2017.

Detailed mechanics are downloadable from the official Facebook page of the MBC National Choral Competitions.

Last year’s winners were Voices Of The South Children’s Choir and Ligao National High School Voice Chorale.

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New venue for ‘Best Of Aliw’

Aliw Awards Foundation’s “Best Of Aliw,” set on Oct. 10, will be presented at the Star Theater instead of the CCP Main Theater as announced earlier. This is according to AAFI Founding and current President Alice H. Reyes and the 40th anniversary Executive Committee Chairman Bing N. Carreon.

Directed by Freddie Santos, and opening AAFI’s 40th anniversary festivities, it features some of the country’s top entertainers such as Celeste Legaspi, Rico J. Puno, Freddie Aguilar, Jose Mari Chan, Imelda Papin, Sarah Geronimo, John Lesaca, Mitoy Yonting, Spirit of ’67, Merjohn Lagaya, the Halili-Cruz Dance Company. It is supported by PAGCOR and the Quezon City government under Mayor Herbert Bautista.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings today, Sept. 23, go to Mrs. Socorro Ramos of National Book Store, Jenine Desiderio, Lynnette Punzalan, Zenia Co, Grace de Asis Ilagan, Rose S. Vellas, Avelino P. Basa, Danny Carvajal, Salve Asis, Dr. Mariano Co, Johnelle Marie M. Galigaro, Elmer Reyes, Arjhay Dilan, Arnold Hernandez, Erica Montano, Ed Mercuryo, Roger German, Rizabel Gonzales Zafe, Trixia Mae, Thomas Lee of Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City, Kitkat and Mikee Tanael…Sept. 24: Manila Bulletin Chairman Dr. Emilio Yap, Sen. Edgardo Angara, Gerry Katigbak, Larry Silva, Julia Clarete, Mercedes S. David, Susan Priscilla Reyes, Lydia Astudillo, Lorna Viernes, Malie Gatchalian, Merceditas Cruz, Emma Yuhico, Baby Alfonso, Mi Enriquez, Jose Dizon Jr., Nonietta Diga, Dr. Gem Reyes, Nena Rodriguez, Noel Valenzuela, Bulgin Manapat, Isabel Tapia Bernal, Avon Dadang of Cagayan de Oro City, Ivy Lo of PSBank, Pearlie Arcachie Morales, Ronald Arguelles, Sammy Taunan, Dave Valerio, Cedes Brin, and Zia Quizon... Happy wedding anniversary to Bong and Cecilia Aquino, and Tots and Babic Tolentino...Sept. 25: Sen. Bong Revilla, Bobby Velasco of Café de Malate, Carla Martinez, Sandra Garcia, Salvador Bigay, Guia Castillo, Tess Lapuz-Lardizabal, Jimmy Vicente, Cory Elizabeth Endozo, Aldin B. Pastrano, Edwin Galvez, Jun Nardo, Carlo Guevarra, Alex Roces, Angelo Luis Manlapaz, Mercy S. Duran, Ellaine Amora, Enj Millar, Jelo Honrado, and Orlando Q. Yaneza of SEC… Happy wedding anniversary to Mr. and Mrs. Ernie Pilapil…Belated b-day greetings to Marina Zulueta Pates and Dona Zulueta Pates (Sept. 20) and Paul Manto, Hazel Anne Lopez-Ferrer, Juan Gabriel Ma. Guerrero, Dessiree Lubiano-Jusayan (Sept. 22)…