Concrete pouring at MRT-7 Batasan Station in QC begins

The bored pile concrete pouring for the foundations of the Batasan Station of the Metro Rail Transit Line 7 (MRT-7) on Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City began on Saturday.

The concrete pouring was led by Department of Transportation officials namely Undersecretary for Administration and Finance Garry de Guzman, Undersecretary for Legal Affairs and Procurement Reinier Paul Yebra, and Assistant Secretary for Communications Leah Quiambao and other officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).

The MRT-7 project, expected to be completed and operational by early 2020, is seen to service over 400,000 passengers in Metro Manila and nearby provinces of Bulacan and Rizal.

Project proponent San Miguel Corp's representative Raoul Romulo, for his part, appealed to the public affected by the ongoing construction along the stretch of Commonwealth Avenue to be more patient as they work to finish the project that would eventually ease traffic congestion in Quezon City.

The MRT-7 involves 22 kilometers of rail transit system starting from North Avenue EDSA in Quezon City to San Jose del Monte in Bulacan.

It would be connected with LRT-1, MRT-3, and the Metro Manila Subway via the Common Station, which would be located between The Annex at SM City North EDSA and Landmark, Trinoma mall. — Ted Cordero/MDM, GMA News

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/metro/628655/concrete-pouring-at-mrt-7-batasan-station-in-qc-begins/story/

GOV'T, STAKEHOLDERS CONDUCT BORED PILE CONCRETE POURING AT MRT 7 BATASAN STATION

The Department of Transportation (DOTr), Quezon City government, and various stakeholders conducted today the first bored pile concrete pouring at the Metro Rail Transit Line 7 (MRT7) Batasan station in Quezon City.

Expected to be completed and operational by early 2020, the MRT7 project will service over 400,000 passengers in Metro Manila and nearby provinces of Bulacan and Rizal.

DOTr officials led by Undersecretary for Administration and Finance Garry de Guzman, Undersecretary for Legal Affairs and Procurement Reinier Paul Yebra and Assistant Secretary for Communications Leah Quiambao attended the event, along with other officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).

Quezon City 2nd District Representative Winnie Castelo, Councilor Precious Hipolito-Castelo, and several local barangay officials also attended the ceremony along Commonwealth Avenue.

In her speech, Asec. Quiambao recognized the relentless efforts of the Duterte administration in seeing the project completion to serve thousands of commuters.

"Ang MRT 7 ay magserserbisyo sa 420,000 na pasahero araw-araw,” she said.

Meanwhile, Cong. Castelo acknowledged concerned government agencies and project proponents, such as San Miguel Corp. (SMC) and EEI Construction Inc., calling to facilitate the completion of the project. He hopes that MRT 7 would be inaugurated before his term in office ends in 2019.

"The future of Quezon City depends on big infrastructure projects of the national government as this one,” he said.

For his part, SMC representative Raoul Romulo appealed to the public affected by the ongoing construction along the stretch of Commonwealth Avenue to be more patient as they work to finish the project that would eventually ease traffic congestion in Quezon City.

The MRT-7 would have 22 kilometers of rail transit system starting from North Avenue EDSA in Quezon City to San Jose del Monte in Bulacan. It would be connected with LRT-1, MRT-3, and the Metro Manila Subway via the Common Station, which would be located between SM City North EDSA and Landmark-Trinoma mall.

DOTR CLARIFICATION ON THE JOURNAL REPORT ON METRO MANILA SUBWAY PROJECT (MMSP)

The DOTr wishes to clarify some points made in the article "Monstrous traffic seen as Parañaque subway construction kicks off next month" published in the Journal on October 4, 2017. The approval of MMSP by the NEDA Board on September 12, 2017 paved the way for the signing of the Exchange of Notes (EN) between the Governments of Japan and the Philippines in November 2017.

The agreement will be signed during the upcoming ASEAN Summit in Manila, and will be witnessed by Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and President Rodrigo R. Duterte. The EN will set out Japan's commitment to finance MMSP, including the terms for such financing.

Groundbreaking for the Depot, Training Center, and first stations of MMSP is scheduled in 3Q-4Q 2018, after which construction will soon follow.

MMSP will be partially operable by 2022, and fully operable by 2025.

For clarification of the article, and pursuant to the above, MMSP will commence construction in late 2018, and not in November 2017. The milestone happening in November 2017 is the signing of the Exchange of Notes between the Governments of Japan and the Philippines.

MMSP is among the flagship infrastructure projects under the Duterte Administration's Build Build Build Program. It will consist of a 30-km system, with 14 stations, starting in Quirino Highway and terminating in NAIA.

Claire’s new pride

Claire de la Fuente has a high-end restaurant named The Noodle Studio specializing in, what else, noodle dishes. It opened only two weeks ago but already reaping notice. It is located at The Ayala Mall in Ortigas.

The chef is her son, Gigo de Guzman. He took up AB English Literature from Ateneo but it was really his big dream to go into business and put up his own restaurant someday like his mom who owns Claire’s Seafood Rest. along Macapagal Ave.

 Claire noticed Gigo’s restlessness a few years after his graduation from college and she told him: “Either mag-masters ka or take up Culinary Arts.” She was told Gigo chose the latter because “he always had a very discriminating palette.”

Gigo enrolled at the Enderun Colleges and earned a Certificate in Culinary Arts. “For my OJT, I was sent to Paris,” Gigo proudly said. “I learned about French cuisine at the Le Jules Verne which was located at the second floor of Eiffel Tower for seven months. I had my best culinary experience in Paris, but my stay there was very stressful, ngarag talaga. Because instead of learning from the boss Chef, he left suddenly and I was assigned his job. I was new but they all said I did a good job so I’m proud of what I achieved there.”

Gigo also said he learned a lot from his chef-friend from Thailand. “He actually inspired me to put up my own restaurant. But before I embarked on it, I went to Thailand to try and study 20 types of Pad Thai. They are all different but tasty,” Gigo related. His own concoction of Pad Thai with King Prawn is one of the bestsellers at The Noodle Studio, along with Laksa, Vietnamese Fresh Spring Rolls, Beef Brisket Noodle Soup, Fried Salmon Pouches, and Pomelo Salad.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings today, Oct. 7, go to Ma. Victoria Jasmin of DOT, Nelly Campos, Linda Punzalan, Ira Maniquis, Eleazar Macapagal, Bing Jaleco, Jake Tordesillas, Roselle dela Umbria of PCSO PR Dept., Vanessa Valderama, Shoona Teves, Brenda Villasin, Norihide Joseph Ono, Mrs. Po Suan Velasco, Virgie V. Mariano, Engr. Abraham S. Gumatay, Anna Larruccea and former Parañaque Mayor Joey Marquez…Oct. 8: former child actor Arnold Gamboa, Marissa Albert, lawyer Michael Abundo, Caring Almendras, Gerry A. Sarino, Lily Maliwanag, Brigida “Veda” Somera, Mike Raleigh, Bro. Joe Corsal, Dawnie B. Roa, Kim Martillano, Dr. Nehemiah Velasco, Aida Lagarejos and entertainment columnist Allan Diones…Oct. 9: Mercy Ong of MTO and Skides Water, Joanie Feliciano, Charito Gonzalez, Piluchi Esteban, Cristy Mendoza, Gay Abundo, Shonna C. Teves, Rosario Guidaya, Allyson Lacson Young, Lydia Reyes, Mousa Testa of TV5’s Interaksyon, Arnold Mago Medina, Nino Reyes, Jesabel Tiongco, actor Shintaro Valdes, Gizzle Dionisio, Rusty Sandiko, Philip de Vera of London, Mrs. Corazon Adolfo Calderon of Davao City, Yollie Aguila, Maliksi Morales of Star Magic, and Sarah Lahbati…Students also! Get P200 OFF on our ride all you can ticket! How? Form a group with at least (4) members, Bring your school IDs and go to Star City, Monday to Friday! Promo runs from October 6 to November 3, 2017. Per DTI-FTEB Permit Number: 15571, Series of 2017.