Veteran broadcaster Joe Taruc dies

Industry colleagues and politicians pay tribute to the 'legendary' Joe Taruc, who passed away at age 70

After decades of interviews and reports on air, veteran radio broadcaster Jose "Joe" M. Taruc, Jr. signed off for the last time on Saturday, September 30.

Taruc anchored Damdaming Bayan and Pangunahing Balita on dzRH, where he was vice president. He just turned 70 on September 17.

In a tweet, Senator Juan Edgardo Angara remembered Taruc as an "institution in the broadcast industry."

"As someone undergoing dialysis, he supported our free dialysis bill," Angara said.

Senator Grace Poe remembered Taruc as a "sharp" commentator whose reports always sided with the ordinary Filipino.

"Sana'y magsilbing inspirasyon sa mga mamamahayag ng kasalukuyan at hinaharap si Manong Joe. Nakikiramay po kami sa kanyang naulilang pamilya at mga tagapakinig sa buong bansa," Poe said in a statement.

(May he serve as an inspiration to present and future journalists. We offer our condolences to his family and listeners nationwide.)

Communications Secretary Martin Andanar remembered the broadcaster as "legendary."

"I will forever be grateful," said Andanar, himself a broadcaster before joining government.

ABS-CBN leads nationwide ratings

ABS-CBN kept its lead in nationwide TV ratings in August, bringing values-oriented programs and relevant news stories to more viewers in the country.

ABS-CBN said in a statement that it remained unbeatable nationwide with an average audience share of 46 percent compared to GMA’s 33 percent, based on data from Kantar Media.

ABS-CBN said it ruled the primetime block (6 p.m. to 12 a.m.) with an audience share of 50 percent, 19 points higher than GMA’s 31 percent.

According to ABS-CBN, it continued to strengthen its lead with its morning (6 a.m. to 12 noon) and afternoon blocks (12 noon to 3 p.m.) that scored average audience shares of 40 percent an 43 percent, respectively, against GMA’s 30 percent and 38 percent.

ABS-CBN said it also kept its total day lead in other areas such as Total Luzon as it hit 42 percent versus GMA’s 35 percent; in Total Visayas with 55 percent versus GMA’s 26 percent; and in Total Mindanao with 54 percent versus GMA’s 29 percent.

“FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano” (38.6%) still led the list of most watched programs in August, followed by “Little Big Shots” (35.9%), KathNiel-starrer “La Luna Sangre” (33.7%), “A Love to Last” and “TV Patrol” (32.5%), “Wansapanataym” (28.1%); “MMK” (27.4%); and “Wildflower” (25.3%).

Also landing on the Top 20 list were “Ikaw Lang ang Iibigin”, “It's Showtime”, “Pusong Ligaw”, “The Better Half”, “Home Sweetie Home” (24.9%) and “Goin’ Bulilit” (22.7%), which is currently celebrating a decade of bringing fun and laughter to viewers.

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What’s super in Marian?

In a recent interview, Meg Imperial and Kim Domingo, two of the stars of the GMA primetime series “Super Ma’am” were asked what they find “super” in the Kapuso Primetime Queen Marian Rivera.

Kim answered quickly it’s Marian’s being “Super totoo!” And Meg said “Super mom,” referring to her doing perfect role as mother to her and Dingdong Dantes’ daughter Zia.

Fans are thrilled that the three actresses wand respectful relationship off-cam; after all this is important to establish good working chemistry on the set.

This early, viewers are hooked on the primetime series because of its unique story, and the exciting elements like the actionpacked initial scenes, the fantasy and even comic parts.

“Super Ma’am” airs weeknights on GMA Telebabad.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings today, Sept. 30, go to former Senator Leticia Ramos-Shahani, former beauty queen and DOT Sec. Gemma Cruz, PDI lifestyle editor Thelma San Juan, Ruth Abao, Virgilio Gonzales, Gerry Contreras, Arthur R. Lingad, Baby Canales Santamaria, Leonida Andrade, Dr. Adora P. Veal, Aida Arceo, Theresita Brazil, Baby Vidal Lavarro, Ruben Silvestre, Ma. Cristina Maralit, Sari Paz Villar Tan, Edwin G. Trumpeta, Mike Sandejas, Raquel Monteza, Danny Jamora of Malacañang, Michael Fernando and Denise Laurel of Star Magic…Oct. 1: Fr. Gerry Orbos, GMA-7’s Marivin Arayata, Charito Makalintal, Charo G. Yu. Reginald A. Oben, Vikki Lizzi, Ma. Elena Sen Lim, Remy Umerez, Angelita Consignado-Lim, Jap Uminga, Juliet Lee-uy, Mario A. Somera, US-based Rhoeda Farolan, Shirlee S. Castro, Jojo Lasaga Labrador of California, Reynald Oro and Mico del Rosario of Star Cinema…Oct. 2: Ma. Theresa “Maite” T. Defensor, Almond N. Aguila, Rose Hilario-Libongco, Emily Joy Legados, Angie Favis, US-based Terry Aldeguer, Anna Josefil “Jojo” B. Cadiente, Edgardo Cepe, Graiebelle Banaria Espiritu, Zeny Yumol-Sato, Angelita Villena-Castllo, Chit Guerrero and Atty. Adel Tamano…

LRT-MRT common station operational in 2-3 years: Tugade

The Common Station linking the Light Rail Transit (LRT) and Metro Rail Transit (MRT) system is expected to start operating in two to three years after its construction began Friday.

“We want to thank our private sector partners for making the Common Station a reality. They have set aside their private interests for the good of the country,” Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said in his address during the groundbreaking ceremony held in Quezon City.

Tugade said building the Common Station is a manifestation of the government’s commitment to ensure the comfort of commuters.

“We will finish this project for the convenience of the riding public,” he said.

The Common Station will connect the LRT-1, MRT-3, and MRT-7, as well as the proposed Mega Manila Subway System.

The 13,700-square meter station will be built between The Annex at SM City North EDSA and Landmark Trinoma with a spacious concourse area that will facilitate the seamless transfer of passengers from one line to another.

Light Rail Manila Corp. (LRMC) President Rogelio Singson described the location as ideal for the expected volume of passengers.

“Passengers of LRT-1, of which LRMC is a shareholder, can now travel from Quezon City to Baclaran in under an hour. And when the extension project is completed, passengers from Cavite may reach Quezon City in an hour,” Singson said.

The Common Station is expected to serve approximately 478,000 passengers daily by 2020.

Ayala Corp. likewise committed to start the construction of the concourse by next month.

“The Common Station will provide safety and convenience to hundreds of thousands of passengers. We are glad to be a step closer to completion and we promise to go full blast with construction,” said Bobby Dy, President and CEO of Ayala Land Inc.

Among those who attended the ceremony were Presidential Communications and Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Chief Representative Susumu Ito, Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) Administrator Reynaldo Berroya, MRT-3 General Manager Rodolfo Garcia, Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista, Ayala Corp. President and CEO Fernando Zobel de Ayala, and SM Prime Holdings Inc. (SMPHI) President Jeffrey Sy Lim.

It is a joint project of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Department of Transportation (DOTr), SMPHI, San Miguel Corp., LRMC, North Triangle Depot Commercial Corp., Department of Public Works and Highways, and the LRTA.

Last January, a memorandum of agreement was signed by the government, Metro Pacific Investments Corp. Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan, SMPH Director Hans T. Sy, Ayala Corp. CEO Jaime Zobel de Ayala, and SMC President and CEO Ramon S. Ang, ending a deadlock spanning nearly eight years.

The government will shell out PHP2.8 billion for the construction of the Common Station’s Area A where the head-to-head platform for LRT-1 and MRT-3 will be located between Landmark and Trinoma Mall.

The Detailed Engineering Design by the Independent Consultant and finalization of the Parcellary Survey Plan with the help of Google Maps, while the 3D renders by a Hong Kong-based international firm, while the station drawings are: Landmark Station street level, concourse (2nd floor) and platform levels (3rd floor) floor plan cross section, existing North Avenue MRT-3 station with footbridge street level, concourse and platform level floor plan and cross section.

The station will be financed and built by the DOTr, while its operation, maintenance, and development will be split between LRMC for LRT-1 and DOTr for MRT-3.

Eat Bulaga OBB | September 30, 2017

Hitachi eyes Manila subway, railway to Clark

Japanese conglomerate Hitachi Ltd. is interested in the Mega Manila Subway and Manila-Clark railway projects as it looks to exand its business in the Philippines..

“We have a very strong turnkey engineering solutions,” Asia Pacific Hitachi Ltd., Railway Systems Business Unit Shinya Mitsudomi said in a press briefing on Friday.

Mitsudomi said the company had met with government officials about participation in several infrastructure projects. He also said that Hitachi was in talks with “several” Philippine business groups that are interested in investing in the rail sector.

Both the proposed Mega Manila Subway and Manila-Clark railway projects will be funded by official development assistance from Japan.

“The rail project is a massive project…We have to employ a lot of Philippine people in order to execute the project,” Mitsudomi said.

Hitachi has previously said that it was keen on public-private partnership projects in the Philippines, particulary for transportation, either as a supplier or contractor.

Where Duterte is doing better than Aquino

Last of 2 parts

AS recounted in the first part published Tuesday, President Rodrigo Duterte has been quick to address the runaway crime and massive underspending under his predecessor Benigno Aquino 3rd. That has given Duterte public approval ratings nearing or exceeding 80 percent in all major polls.

After tripling under Aquino, overall crime incidence fell by about one-third within months of Duterte’s takeover. And from 13 percent of national budgets unspent in 2014-2015, leaving some ₱1 trillion unused when Aquino stepped down, nearly all allocations were utilized this year.

Now, let’s look at corruption and national security. On sleaze, Duterte avoided one Aquino trait that abetted graft: cronyism.

Aquino jailed perceived opponents, including his predecessor Gloria Arroyo over charges the United Nations called politically motivated. But Aquino defended appointees, starting with shooting buddy Rico Puno, accused of getting jueteng payoffs and mishandling the August 2010 Luneta hostage crisis.

This despite dubious contracts in train maintenance and upgrading, vehicle plates and driver’s licenses; drug trafficking and illegal furloughs in the national penitentiary; and police firearms overpricing, which Aquino himself uncovered but never punished. He even paid the bail for Liberal Party mates indicted for graft.

And when more than 2,000 uninspected and untaxed cargo containers went missing in 2011—the biggest spate of smuggling in the country ever—Aquino ordered no investigation, and the Palace even suspended a Customs deputy commissioner who blew the whistle after 600 boxes had vanished.

Result: contraband tripled to an unprecedented $26.6 billion in 2014, from $7.9 billion in 2009, based on International Monetary Fund data. The estimated undeclared or misdeclared value of imports topped ₱4 trillion under Aquino, with evaded value-added tax alone exceeding ₱700 billion.

Contrast all that with Duterte’s firing of two longtime supporters over reported irregularities, including a stalwart of his PDP-Laban party then handling police and local governments. And he has promised to resign if his children are proven corrupt. No wonder two-thirds of Filipinos approve of his anti-graft campaign, as surveyed by US pollster Pew Research Center.

For sure, like drugs, corruption will take forever to eradicate, as Duterte himself admits. But swift action on drug smuggling through customs and trafficking at New Bilibid Prison, in stark contrast to Aquino’s inaction, are reversing past ills.

The war on terror

On terrorism, some experts blame President Duterte and his security chiefs for not moving fast and strong enough against extremists. No matter that he instantly declared martial law over all Mindanao when told of the Marawi assault while visiting Moscow, even without such recommendation from the Department of National Defense or the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

What belies critics claiming Duterte, DND and AFP complacency are the months of offensives waged against Islamic State-linked extremists, including the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), which broke away from the main Muslim insurgency, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, when the MILF shelved secession and began talks for autonomy in the 1990s.

Aquino too faced Muslim rebel attack: the siege of Zamboanga City by the Moro National Liberation Front, from which the MILF broke away after the MNLF accepted autonomy in a 1996 peace accord. The older Front felt excluded and disadvantaged by Aquino’s MILF negotiations.

Which leader fought terrorism more effectively? One can’t compare two different situations, but in one crucial respect, Duterte may have done better. The MILF is now mounting offensives against the BIFF with AFP support.

That’s the exact opposite of what happened in the January 2015 police commando raid to kill Malaysian bomb terrorist Marwan in a BIFF lair in Mamasapano, Maguindanao province, central Mindanao. MILF and BIFF rebels wiped out 44 troopers of the elite Philippine National Police Special Action Force.

In the massacre—the worst in PNP history—the AFP did not fire artillery or send reinforcements to save the SAF 44, apparently for fear of scuttling the MILF accord, the concern cited by a senior general in command of units that could have responded. The Manila Times also reported that Aquino, worried over the peace pact, ordered the military to stand down.

Plainly, having the MILF battling terrorists with the AFP is far better than the insurgents joining extremists in decimating our troops. And if Filipinos were asked if they approved of Aquino’s counter-terrorism strategy, he would score far below Duterte’s 64 percent Pew rating.

Dealing with the world

The final comparison has to be foreign affairs: Aquino’s pro-American, anti-Chinese stance vs Duterte’s “independent” policy ratcheting down ties with the US, while leveling up with China and Russia.

With Aquino’s adversarial approach, there were Chinese encroachments on Philippine-claimed waters and islets. His Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement would escalate US military presence and give America access to Philippine bases. In response, Beijing built up military-capable facilities in the South China Sea.

President Duterte’s approach, on the other hand, has seen Filipino fishermen return to Panatag Shoal. The Chinese have largely ceased reclamation in the Spratlys. And Beijing has been quick to defuse tensions.

Indeed, Western experts concede that China, in practice, is complying with last year’s ruling on the Philippine case in The Hague’s Permanent Court of Arbitration against Chinese maritime encroachments, even as Beijing formally rejects the PCA decision.

As for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Asian and China have agreed on the framework for the Code of Conduct on activities and issues in the South China Sea.

Lastly, the Philippines is set to receive much more foreign aid and investment, as China, Japan and the US vie for Duterte’s favor. As the economy surges, we can in time acquire the maritime surveillance aircraft, anti-ship missiles, and anti-aircraft systems urged by US defense experts to defend our territorial interests.

In the Pew survey, most Filipinos approve of President Duterte’s handling of relations with both China and America. And if surveyed whether we would like Aquino’s camp to replace Duterte’s at the nation’s helm, it would be no contest.

MRT team readies takeover

The management of Metro Rail Transit (MRT) Line 3 on Friday said it is prepared to take over the maintenance of the mass rail system if the Department of Transportation decides to terminate the contract of Busan Universal Rail Inc. (BURI).

“Actually, we are preparing just in case Secretary Tugade will cancel. We are prepared to take over and have a continuity in the maintenance of the line,” MRT3 general manager Rodolfo Garcia said on the sidelines of the groundbreaking ceremony of the Common Station for LRT1, MRT3, MRT7 and Metro Manila Subway.

Garcia said the management of MRT3 was preparing a transition team to take over the maintenance of the system.

Groundbreaking held for common station

Groundbreaking for a common station that will connect key Metro Manila railway lines was held on Friday and officials said the project — deferred and delayed for nearly a decade due to a dispute over its location — would finally be completed in 2019.

“We will finish this for the benefit of the majority,” Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said in the vernacular during ceremonies in Quezon City.

The common station will connect the Light Rail Transit-1, Metro Rail Transit-3, the upcoming MRT-7 and the just-approved Metro Manila subway.

To be built at a cost of P2.8 billion, the 13,700-square meter facility is expected to serve 478,000 passengers daily by January 2020.

The SM Group was awarded rights to the common station on September 28, 2009 after it paid the government P200 million in exchange for locating it beside, and naming it after, the SM City North EDSA mall.

A change in government when Benigno Aquino III took over from Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on June 30, 2010, however, led to a decision to relocate the station to the nearby TriNoma mall as this would reportedly lead to some P1.4 billion in savings.

"We intend to bid out the project in another three to four months and will take one year to construct. Hopefully, it will be finished within the term of the President," he said.

The government is reviewing where the "turn-back" system would be constructed. This is the area where the trains would maneuver and change directions.

The SM Group sued in June 2014 and the Supreme Court subsequently restrained the government from implementing the project on August 1, 2014. It was only when the Duterte government took over on June 30 last year that a compromise was reached on September 28.

The common station will now be located between and connect the Annex at SM City North EDSA and Landmark TriNoma malls.

Duterte's infrastructure drive: It's railing, it's pouring

A commentary

The World Economic Forum recently released its Global Competitiveness Report for 2017-2018, where it ranked 137 countries based on 12 categories. The Philippines ranked 56th overall, climbing up only one notch and still trailing behind its fellow members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). One of the 12 pillars is infrastructure, where the country's score remained the same but its rank dropped by two places. At 97th, the Philippines is well into the bottom half of all the countries covered.

What accounted for this drop? Several infrastructure sub-indicators are on the downward trend. To no surprise, these include the quality of our roads, railroads, ports, and airports. Once again, the country lagged behind its neighbors in the region. In the same report, infrastructure was cited as one of the top 5 most problematic factors for doing business in the country.

Silver lining in spending

Our infrastructure may be in dire straits, but at least the administration appears to be approaching the worsening situation with open eyes. It has committed to investing heavily in the sector to help compensate for the years of underinvestment that have plagued it. Earlier this year, the government launched its Build, Build, Build campaign, which promises to usher in a "golden age of infrastructure." As part of its plan, it intends to spend between P8 to P9 trillion in the next six years. That's almost double the proposed national budget for 2018, which was P3.7 trillion pesos. This year alone, it set aside around P850 billion, equivalent to 5.4 percent of GDP. In context, the World Bank recommends around 5 percent.

For 2018, the infrastructure budget is planned to increase to P1,097.5 billion. This is 6.3 percent of our projected GDP for next year. Fulfilling its promise to expand infrastructure investments, the Duterte administration has raised the budgets for the Department of Transportation and the Department of Public Works and Highways, two agencies primarily tasked with implementing infrastructure projects.

For example, the 2018 DOTr budget will increase by one third, or 33 percent, amounting to some P73.8 billion. Around 48 percent of the agency's budget will be spent on the proposed railways, around 24 percent will be spent on road-based transport projects, while 18.5 percent will be set aside for spending on aviation projects.

On the other hand, DPWH will get a 38 percent increase in its budget for next year, amounting to P6.43 billion, ranking second among all government agencies, next only to the Department of Education. Around 26 percent of the agency's budget is meant to be spent on projects geared toward improving the sustainability and resilience of communities nationwide—an especially important point for reducing our country's vulnerability to the hazards of climate change.

For those of us living in highly-clogged urban areas, another 25 percent of the DPWH budget will be used to reduce the congestion of traffic along our thoroughfares. Complementing this, 15 percent will be used to make our transport system more integrated and seamless. Examples of this are the Mindanao infrastructure logistics network, inter-island linkages nationwide, and connecting gaps along existing national roads. Geographically, almost half of the agency's budget will be spent for projects in Luzon, a third will be allocated for Mindanao, and the rest will be spent on projects in the Visayas region.

Alongside increasing infrastructure spending, the government has also taken strides to hasten and streamline the approval of various infrastructure projects in the pipeline, where some have stagnated since the Aquino administration. As of September 2017, the board of the National Economic Development Authority has already approved 35 projects worth some P1.2 trillion.

Varieties of financing

Unlike its predecessor, the Duterte administration has favored financing from Official Development Assistance loans over Public-Private Partnerships, arguing that the latter take longer to implement. ODAs have been a key resource for governments in implementing its priority projects. Under the Duterte administration, two-thirds of the NEDA-Board approved projects will reportedly be funded by ODA loans, amounting to P1.074 trillion.

Japan has been one of the country's longest developing partners, and for the first semester of the 2017, Japan still remains the Philippines' top ODA partner. In contrast, China is not even among our top 10 ODA partners. However, the warmer ties with China under the Duterte administration might change that sooner rather than later. The government is already negotiating with its Chinese counterpart to finance at least three projects.

Some of the administration's big-ticket ODA projects are the North and South commuter lines of the Philippine National Railway spearheaded by the DOTr. In November 2016, the NEDA Board approved the South Line Project of the PNR, worth around P299.4 billion. The government tapped China to finance the project, which will consist of a 72-kilometer commuter line between Solis-Hermosa station in Manila and Los Baños, Laguna and a 581-km long-haul line that will link Manila, Laguna, Batangas, Quezon, Albay, Camarines Sur and Sorsogon.

On the opposite end of the railway, last June 2017, the NEDA Board approved the Malolos-Clark Railway Project, the north line of the North-South Commuter Railway, which will run from Tutuban to Clark through Malolos, Bulacan. The project is worth an estimated P211.43 billion and will be financed by the Japanese. The 106-kilometer rail line will deliver passengers from one end to another in just 55 minutes. Once these projects are completed, perhaps we will no longer complain that the ride to the airport takes longer than most domestic flights. This must also be a relief for the people working at the Department of Transportation, which is moving its headquarters to Clark.

Conclusion

It's good news that the Philippines is attempting to climb out the hole that its infrastructure has been in for decades. In the short run, we should begin to turn our eyes into the implementation and operationalization of all of these projects. The future of this country deserves continued diligence from our parts to ensure that we are doing more than trapping ourselves in a debt burden.

To end, catching up with our neighbors is one thing, but transforming our transportation system into a fully functioning and integrated system is another.

More than the work of one administration, this could be a challenge for an entire generation.

Dindo Manhit is the president of think tank Stratbase Albert del Rosario Institute, a partner of Philstar.com.

http://www.philstar.com:8080/business/2017/09/29/1743884/dutertes-infrastructure-drive-its-railing-its-pouring

‘Eat, Bulaga!’ to crown ‘Miss Millennial Philippines’ on Sept. 30

After weeks of promoting the beauty and charm of her province, one young Filipina gets to wear the “Miss Millennial Philippines” crown.

Happening this Saturday, Sept. 30, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, the grand finale of “Eat, Bulaga!’s” anniversary segment is the culmination of the tourism campaign spearheaded by 38 millennials from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

The winner will not only get a condominium unit from Bria Homes, a Mitsubishi Montero Sport and cash prize, but also a special crown fit for a queen.

“Eat, Bulaga!” commissioned accessory designers Micki Olaguer and Arnel Papa to create a crown that would best represent a strong, independent and nurturing young Filipina.

A patriotic ode to Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, the crown design represents the hope, pride and ambition of the millennials who dream big and strive to become the best version of themselves.

It will also feature “38” swirl patterns inspired by the initials and anniversary year of “Eat, Bulaga!”.

Olaguer, a young jewelry designer, said it was an honor for her design to be part of the anniversary celebration of the longest running noontime variety program in the country.

She said it was challenging at first to come up with a crown that best represents the beauty and ambition of the young modern Pinays, but learning the objective and aspiration behind the segment made the project even more special.

“I’m very happy that they are celebrating our generation and giving them opportunities to help their hometowns. It makes me proud because it’s not just all frills, it’s not shallow. It’s a concrete way of really helping the province through tourism. I’m honored to play a small role in the design.”

Olaguer added that aside from coming up with the crown design, she’s grateful for the collaboration with Papa, a well-known international Filipino jewelry designer.

“It’s a first for me to design a pageant crown and I’m honored that I somehow got to collaborate with Arnel Papa because I look up to him very much. I’m honored that he agreed to produce my design.”

Papa, whose local clients are the who’s who of the entertainment and fashion world, made sure to source local products in the execution of Olaguer’s design. He used Philippine gems and mother of pearl for the Miss Millennial crown.

“I’m very happy and privileged that I was tapped to manufacture the crown. The ‘Miss Millennial’ winner is one very lucky lady because this is no ordinary headpiece. There’s a lot of thinking behind its design and it took us weeks and a couple of hands to create it.”

Both Papa and Olaguer said they are looking forward to the coronation and seeing the first Miss Millennial Philippines winner accomplish big things.

They hope the crown will not only serve as a symbol of beauty, but also a reminder of one’s love for the motherland.

Aside from the “Miss Millennial Philippines 2017” grand finale, loyal dabarkads will also be treated to fun surprises this weekend. Host Ryan Agoncillo and the phenomenal love team Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza travelled from Batanes to Jolo to showcase the beauty and charm of the Philippines.

Don’t miss the exciting happenings in “Eat, Bulaga!” at 11:30 a.m. this Saturday on GMA-7.

DOTr starts rail station works

The Department of Transportation said it expects to start by next month the construction of the P2.8-billion common station for LRT Line 1, MRT3, MRT 7, and Metro Manila Subway Project.

“We will finish it in 2.5 years to 3 years for the convenience and reliability of transportation,” Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said during the groundbreaking ceremony of the Common Station Project.

The Common Station will connect the four main lines in Metro Manila: MRT-3, LRT-1, MRT-7, and the soon-to-be-constructed Metro Manila Subway.

At 13,700 square meters, the Common Station will have a spacious concourse area that will facilitate the seamless transfer of passengers from one line to another. It will be built between SM North EDSA and Trinoma. The design also ensures a defined level of service by all parties, convenient walk-in the platform, bigger space, and connection between two major malls.

The Common Station is expected to serve approximately 478,000 passengers daily by 2020.

The private shareholders—SM Prime Holdings Inc., Ayala Land Inc., San Miguel Corp., and Light Rail Manila Corp.—were all represented in the groundbreaking ceremony.

Each made a commitment to follow timelines and deliver the Common Station on schedule.

Rogelio Singson, president, and chief executive of LRMC, said the project was a “game-changer” for mass transport in Metro Manila and that the location was ideal for the passengers of LRT Line 1.

“The Common Station will provide safety and convenience to hundreds of thousands of passengers. We are glad to be a step closer to completion and we promise to go full blast with construction,” Bobby Dy, president, and chief executive of  ALI said.

“We have been waiting for this for so long. We will make sure we will follow timelines,” San Miguel representative Manuel Bonoan said.

The common station project started in 2009 and was put on hold due to legal issues. The Light Rail Transit Authority signed a deal with SM Prime Holdings, Inc. to build the station near The Annex at SM City North EDSA.

Five years later, the then-Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) decided to build the station near Ayala Land’s Trinoma citing reasons to cut costs. The court intervened and issued a temporary restraining order in favor of SM Prime to stop the construction of the project.

But in January this year, the government and private shareholders signed an agreement to build the common station for LRT1, MRT3, and MRT7.

The project will also deliver dual tracks for LRT-1, MRT-3, and MRT-7 for increased operational efficiency. The ground level of the Common Station will serve road-based PUVs for intermodal interoperability. This will allow not only seamless railway-to-railway transfers but also seamless railway-to-bus-to-jeep-to-AUV transfers.

http://thestandard.com.ph/business/biz-plus/248151/dotr-starts-rail-station-works.html

LRT-MRT common station breaks ground

The government broke ground yesterday on a common station which will interconnect lines 1 and 2 of the Light Rail Transit, Metro Rail Transit line 3, and the soon-to-be-built MRT line 7 and the Mega Manila Subway.

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony held yesterday, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said the event was made possible following the cooperation of private sector stakeholders such as Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC), SM Prime Holdings, Inc., Ayala Corporation, and San Miguel Corp. (SMC).

“Without them, this would not be possible. They set aside their own interests for the interests of the public,” he said.

The P2.8-billion structure, which will be built between the Annex at SM City North EDSA and Trinoma shopping malls will be completed in 2019, the transportation department said.

“The common station will provide safety and convenience to hundreds of thousands of passengers. We are glad to be a step closer to completion and we promise to go full blast with construction,” Ayala Land Inc. president and chief executive officer Bobby Dy said.

The Ayala group has committed to start construction by next month.

“We have been waiting for this for so long. We will make sure we will follow timelines,” Manuel Bonoan of San Miguel Holdings Inc. said.

LRMC president and chief executive officer Rogelio Singson said the common station would be beneficial as it would serve up to 500,000 passengers daily, once the Cavite extension of the LRT-1 is completed.

“This is going to be a game-changer as far as mass transport is concerned,” he said.

Apart from allowing seamless transfer from one railway to the next, the common station will also deliver dual tracks for LRT-1, MRT-3, and MRT-7 for increased operational efficiency.

Its ground level, meanwhile, will serve public utility vehicles, making it easier for passengers to transfer from the railways to buses or jeepneys.

Construction of the common station was put on hold earlier amid legal issues.

On July 30, 2014, the SMPHI obtained a TRO from the high court to prevent the then Department of Transportation and Communications from transferring the common station near Trinoma.

The SMPHI had entered into an agreement with the LRTA on September 28, 2009, to put up the common station in front of SM City North EDSA.

EDITORIAL - Institutional weakness

Finally, groundbreaking pushed through yesterday for the common station connecting the Metro Rail Transit and Light Railway Transit lines in Quezon City. The project has been 10 years in the making, and commuters must wait for another two and a half years at least before the project is completed.

The project was delayed by corporate competition for the location of the common station, which will now be shared by SM City North EDSA and Ayala Malls’ TriNoma. The competition is typical and can be expected from companies. Unfortunately for the public, the inordinately long wait for the resolution of the dispute has also become typical in this country.

Such disputes should be settled quickly at the level of the executive agency concerned – in this case the Department of Transportation. Instead the project became a tug-of-war among competing corporate interests, with the executive branch failing to settle the issue. In June 2014, the case went to the courts, where it languished for another three years.

Apart from the long wait for commuters, the delay has also meant an increase in the cost of the project, from the original estimate of P2.6 billion to P2.8 billion. This is just the latest example of the weak capacity of the state to settle business disputes, even involving critical projects. The NAIA Terminal 3 and the NorthRail train project, both snagged by corruption scandals, are just among the examples of this institutional failure.

This problem has been among the factors that have made the country a regional laggard in attracting foreign direct investment. Combined with the inability of the state to guarantee the sanctity of contracts, the problem is a major disincentive to investments. To deal with these problems, investors from certain countries have taken to demanding the inclusion of a clause in their contracts that requires international arbitration in case of future changes or disputes in their projects.

With the common station finally moving, stakeholders should work with the executive and Congress to craft laws and regulations that will speed up business dispute resolution. Inadequate infrastructure is also among the factors driving away investors and pulling down national competitiveness. This inadequacy can be blamed in part on the weakness of mechanisms for resolving business disputes. If it takes 10 years to break ground just for a common light railway station, the nation will never catch up with its neighbors.

Hitachi eyes Mega Manila Subway, Manila-Clark Railway projects

Published September 29, 2017 3:30pm 

By TED CORDERO, GMA News

Japanese conglomerate Hitachi is eyeing two major railway projects of the Duterte administration to be funded by official development assistance (ODA) from Japan.

"We are very much interested in participating in the rail projects of the Philippines," Shinya Mitsudomi, Global chief strategy officer of Hitachi Rail Systems, said during a briefing in Makati City.

"The projects we are now focusing on are the Tutuban to Clark Airport Railway, another project might be the Metro Manila Subway," Mitsudomi said.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/money/companies/627686/hitachi-eyes-mega-manila-subway-manila-clark-railway-projects/story/