2M more workers needed for ‘Build Build Build’

A Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) official said on Thursday that 2 million more workers will be needed for the government’s “Build Build Build” infrastructure program, noting that it is ramping up efforts to provide trainings to those wishing to work in construction.

Speaking on the sidelines of the 1st Philippines-Japan Conference on Construction at Hotel Jen in Pasay City, Trade Undersecretary for Competitiveness and Ease of Doing Business Group Ruth Castelo said the country has almost 4 million construction workers.

“Human resources is one of the industry’s most critical assets. If we push to adequately capacitate and utilize our construction workforce, we believe that it could drive forward the industry’s competitive advantage,” Castelo said.

“In the Philippines, there workforce in the construction industry, and we expect to need 2 million more to be able to address the government’s ‘Build, Build, Build,” she added.

The DTI official said the government is implementing interventions to encourage more workers to join the industry.

“We need to do massive trainings. We need a lot of technology and to be able to put proper discipline in our workers, and that is why we need to collaborate more with the Japanese, because we believe in their capabilities,” Castelo said.

The half-day conference—organized by the Construction Industry Authority of the Philippines (CIAP), through its human resource development arm, the Construction Manpower Development Foundation (CMDF), in collaboration with Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism—brought together industry leaders to develop a more dynamic partnership between the Philippine and Japanese construction sectors.

Castelo said the conference aimed to boost strategic cooperation between Manila and Tokyo in developing programs and interventions for the construction industry.

“This event will allow us to recognize our collective potentials and formulate initiatives to support the harmonization of our shared capacities. This will also serve as an avenue for potential partnerships between Philippine and Japanese enterprises,” she added.

“I cannot overemphasize how vital the construction industry is to our cuntry’s development, both in generating employment and providing infrastructures that our country needs to compete globally. Indeed, it has become an engine that drives growth, stability and competitiveness,” the trade undersecretary said.

First Intermodal transport terminal in Parañaque nearly 50% complete

By Anna Liza Villas-Alavaren

The country’s first intermodal transport terminal being constructed in Parañaque City which is envisioned to decongest EDSA by removing 1,000 passenger buses off the road is now close to 50 percent complete, traffic and transportation officials reported.

The Southwest Integrated Terminal Exchange in Parañaque City, situated along Coastal Road in Parañaque City, is expected to provide by April seamless inter-connectivity of the different modes of transportation — rail networks, provincial and city operating buses, Asian utility Express vehicles, and jeepneys from the neighboring provinces south of Metro Manila.

The terminal, now close to 50 percent complete, is among the five big ticket infrastructure projects that the Department of Transportation (DOTr) will inaugurate next year.

Transportation Undersecretary for roads and infrastructure Tim Orbos noted that traffic flow along Edsa is expected to improve once the country’s first intermodal transport terminal is fully operational.

“At least 1000 buses will be taken out of EDSA daily for the comfort and safety of our Cavite and Batangas brothers going to Metro Manila and greatly help decongest Metro Manila traffic,” said Orbos.

Aside from decongesting Edsa, Orbos said the terminal also is also designed to make commuting more convenient for those living in the southern part of the metropolis.

For his part, MMDA chairman Danilo Lim, said provincial PUVs will only be allowed to load and unload in SWITX, avoiding Edsa.

“Buses entering the capital will load and unload passengers in this inter-modal facility where commuters can transfer from one transport mode to another with cabs and other public utility vehicles available,” said Lim.

Lim added that commuters will have access to trains when the Light Rail Transit Line One Extension project is completed.

“A station of the LRT extension project will be constructed near the SWITEx,” said Lim.

With the DOTr’s Route Rationalization Plan that will be soon implemented, reorganization of routes will be a priority. This means provincial PUVs will only be allowed to load and unload in SWITEx, avoiding EDSA altogether.

As planned, the SWITX will resemble an airport terminal with four-level platforms. It will have passenger terminal buildings, embarkation and disembarkation bays, staging bays, ticketing and baggage handling facilities and park-ride facilities.

Catching a bus is also made easier with the On-line Bus Ticketing System (OBTS), an intuitive online and on-site booking and ticketing system. Departure schedules will also be displayed on large screens. Buses will likewise be equipped with Ultra-High Frequency (UHF) tag for efficient managing, tracking, and monitoring inside the terminal premises.

Vehicles and passengers’ queuing, loading, and unloading will all be systematized. The terminal will also be equipped with WiFi and charging points.

There will be air-conditioned lounges and waiting areas for passengers, as well as retail stores and food centers. Drivers will also have their own room.

CCTVs and baggage scanners will be installed and security personnel will be stationed 24/7 to ensure safety of passengers.

In order to make the terminal more vibrant, commercial spaces and offices will be occupying the premises. This will also ensure a steady flow of passengers that will be using the new terminal.

Ejercito hopes Sumitomo returns as MRT-3 maintenance provider

Sen. JV Ejercito on Saturday said he hopes Sumitomo Corp. will return as maintenance provider for the MRT-3.

“Ang maintenance provider will be crucial. Now that (undersecretary) Cesar (Chavez) is gone, I’m hoping that, call me biased, pero ako talagang Sumitomo . . . I’m hoping that Sumitomo comes back. Kasi unang-una, sabi nga natin reputable Japanese company,” Ejercito, chairman of the Senate committee on urban planning, housing and resettlement, told radio DZMM.

“Pangalawa, sila na iyong nanggaling na rito. May experience na, they have an idea or knowledge already of the MRT system. So ako siguro that’s the immediate [solution], if you can convince Sumitomo to come back.”

The MRT-3 has been in hot water lately for increasing passenger offloads and an incident involving two train cars being detached from one another.

Chavez on Thursday resigned as transportation undersecretary for rail and said he was taking responsibility for the train incidents.

Read: Rail Usec Chavez resigns after MRT incidents

Ejercito added that the Department of Transportation (DOTr) should get a maintenance provider that invests on spare parts.

“Ang kailangan mo dyan, alam iyong sistema. Pangalawa, iyong mag-i-invest on spare parts. Palagay ko iyon ang magiging problema. Itong mga nanalong maintenance providers after Sumitomo, they did not invest on spare parts,” he said.

A check with spare-parts supplier Bombardier showed that "not a single" part was procured from the company since 2013, according to Chavez.

Ejercito, meanwhile, said he is still hopeful that emergency powers will be given to President Duterte to address the country's traffic problem.

Read: Emergency powers for Duterte to address traffic further delayed

“Ako gusto ko pa rin talaga maipasa ito. Unang-una, projects that will fall under the emergency powers will have the exemption from (temporary restraining orders). But to have check and balance, only the Supreme Court can issue a TRO,” he said.

However, the Senate has yet to approve Senate Bill No. 1284, which grants Duterte emergency powers, because the DOTr has yet to present its plans to solve the traffic situation, according to Ejercito.

“I understand also iyong dilemma, if you want detailed engineering plans, medyo matagal iyan. That would take about 6 months up to 1 year. Probably that’s one of the reasons bakit hindi makapagbigay talaga ang DOTr,” he said.

In a statement, Sen. Grace Poe called on Malacañang to certify SB 1284 as urgent.

"Siguradong gagalaw ang emergency powers kung gagawin ng Malacañang na prayoridad ito at sesertipikahan para rin makatulong sa mabilis na pagpapatupad ng mga proyektong magpapaginhawa sa trapik," the statement read.

The DOTr earlier this month terminated its maintenance contract with Busan Universal Rail Inc., a Filipino-Korean consortium, tapped by the previous government.

The government's contract with Sumitomo expired in 2012.