Malls asked to extend holiday schedule

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has asked mall operators to maintain the “open late, close late” holiday schedule amid expectations of traffic congestion arising from the ongoing infrastructure projects under the “Build, Build, Build” program this year.

Jojo Garcia, MMDA assistant general manager for planning, noted that travelling  speed along the Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue (Edsa) increased by 10 percent when shopping malls adjusted their operational hours from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. to 11 a.m. up to 10 p.m. since October.  The MMDA and the mall operators originally agreed to have the holiday schedule end on January 15.

“We had a meeting with the mall operators to maintain the 11 a.m. opening,” said Garcia.  The MMDA discussed the request with at least 25 mall operators. The agency also asked the operators to submit the effects of the schedule adjustment to their sales.

From 17 kms. per hour during the regular business hours, traveling speed on Edsa improved to 19 kms. per hour after the malls situated on Edsa agreed to modify their business hours to alleviate the traffic situation in the metropolis during the holiday rush.

Garcia emphasized the importance of the cooperation of mall operators in reducing traffic congestion on Edsa and other parts of the metropolis.  Based on MMDA’s records, traffic volume in Metro Manila swelled by 15 to 20 percent during the holidays.

Among the contruction projects in pipeline this year are: The Metro Rail Transit-Light Rail Transit common station on the second quarter; the LRT Line 2 extension project on Marcos Highway and LRT Line 1 extension to Cavite; Metro Manila’s first subway in the third quarter; Megawide Southwest Terminal, South Terminal, MRT 7, and bridges to be built by the Department of Public Works and Highways; and the rehabilitation of Guadalupe Bridge.

These infrastructure projects are the government’s short and long-term solutions to address the worsening traffic congestion in Metro Manila.

German firm tapped to inspect Chinese trains for MRT 3

The Department of Transportation tapped a German company to evaluate and make recommendations on the 48 light rail vehicles that were delivered by CRRC Dalian of China for the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 system.

Transportation Undersecretary for railways TJ Batan said the DOTr-MRT 3 team met with TUV Rheinland, the winning independent audit and assessment consultant for the new LRVs.

TUV Rheinland, a German firm established in 1872, met the high qualifications given its ISO 17020 and ISO 17065 certifications and membership in the International Federation of Inspection Agencies. Other similarly qualified firms that participated in the bidding were TUV SUD and Bureau Veritas.

Batan said the DOTr assured the IAA that it would not interfere or influence the assessment on the 48 LRVs.

“We will not in any way try to influence their independent assessment of the 48 cars from Dalian, and we would decide based on their recommendation. If they said the LRVs could be immediately deployed, we will consider,” Batan said.

“If they said the LRVs could be deployed with necessary adjustments, we will consider, of course, [but] not at our expense. And if they said the LRVs should be returned, then we would return them,” Batan said.

Concerns were earlier raised on the compatibility with the MRT 3 system of the 48 LRVs procured by the Aquino administration for P3.8 billion.  Not a single LRV from Dalian was put into operation so far.

The Chinese LRVs, weighing 49,700 kilograms each, exceeded the weight prescribed in the terms of reference at 46,300 kg. Compatibility with the MRT-3’s maintenance facilities and signaling system also became an issue.

Batan said that with the current fleet of Czech-made trains, MRT-3 could operate up to 20 three-car trains. If the 48 LRVs were cleared to run, the number could be increased to 20 four-car trains.

“The original design capacity of MRT 3 at peak hours is 20 three-car trains, running at 60-kph, with a 3-minute headway,” Batan said.

“At the same time, MRT-3 was also designed to be expandable to 20 four-car trains, running with a 2-minutes headway. That is our target,” he said.

Spare parts for the maintenance of MRT-3 will start arriving in tranches from February to June.

Batan said the system would conduct general maintenance works during the Holy Week.

DOTr taps indie consultant to assess Dalian trains for MRT 3

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has procured the services of an independent audit and assessment (IAA) consultant that will evaluate and make recommendations on the feasibility of using the 48 light rail vehicles (LRVs) that were delivered by Chinese railway firm CCRC Dalian and other components of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT 3).

The MRT management has already met with the winning IAA consultant international certification firm TUV Rheinland on January 3.


“Na-deliver na po ’yung mga bagon [The train coaches were already delivered] but we are unable to accept them unless our IAA consultant has certified their safety and compatibility with our system,” DOTr Officer in Charge Undersecretary for Railways Timothy John Batan said at a news briefing on Wednesday.

The DOTr assured that it would not interfere or influence the assessment of the IAA on the 48 LRVs.

“We will not in any way try to influence their independent assessment of the 48 cars from Dalian, at tayo po ay magdedesisyon base po sa kanilang recommendation. Kung sasabihin po nila na puwede po iyang patakbuhin ng kaagad-agaran, we will consider. Kung sasabihin po nila ay patatakbuhin ’yan na may kinakailangang adjustments, we will consider, of course not at our expense. At kung sasabihin po nila na kailangang ibalik ’yan, ibabalik po natin ’yan [We will not in any way try to influence their independent assessment of the 48 cars from Dalian, and we will be deciding based on their recommendation. If they advised that these should be deployed as soon as possible, we would consider. If they will advise that the coaches may be used by the system but with the necessary adjustments, we will consider, of course not at our expense. If they tell us that these should be returned, we would do so],” Batan said.

The DOTr official, likewise, said added the MRT 3 management would be conducting general maintenance works during the Holy Week break, as they expected the delivery of new spare parts vital to increasing the number of trains in the railway system.

Spare parts for the maintenance of the MRT 3 will start arriving in tranches from February to June, with the MRT 3 having started to procure them in November 2017.

At the same time, fare increases will not be implemented while there are no substantial improvements in the MRT operations.

Concerns have been raised with the 48 LRVs procured by the previous administration for P3.8 billion after they exceeded the weight prescribed in the terms of reference (49,700 kilograms vs 46,300 kg).

Defects on the traction motor and signaling system, as well as door failure are the major causes of unloading incidents in the MRT 3.

The DOTr vowed that it would implement upgrades on the electrical system and track configurations of the railway system by the second quarter of 2018.

NLEX to spend P19 billion for tollway projects in 2018

Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) unit NLEX Corp. is alloting P19 billion in capital expenditures for tollway projects this year.

NLEX Corp. has set aside the amount in response to the government’s call for the private sector to complement the government’s ambitious infrastructure program.

NLEX said the P19 billion is still an estimate that assumes the satisfactory resolution of the tariff adjustments, for which constructive discussions with government are still ongoing.

“The capex figure will still be subject to review and adjustment depending on the results of the discussions on the tariff,” NLEX said.

In April 2016, NLEX Corp. filed a notice of arbitration against the government to seek compensation worth about P3 billion for toll rate adjustments for the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) due to take effect on January 2013 and January 2015.

NLEX Corp. president and chief executive officer Rodrigo Franco said the company intends to use a large part of this year’s capex for urban portions of the NLEX such as the Harbor Link Segment 10 (including the R10 Section in Dagat-Dagatan, Navotas City) and the NLEX-South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) Connector Road project.

Harbor Link Segment 10, which is expected to be opened this year, will cover a 5.7-kilometer elevated expressway traversing the NLEX from Smart Connect Interchange and crossover Mac Arthur Highway in Valenzuela City with down ramps along C3/5th Avenue Interchange in Caloocan City.

Once completed, the expressway would cut the travel time between the ports of Manila and NLEX to only 10 minutes and would provide direct expressway access for commercial vehicles, especially heavy trucks.

Around 40,000 vehicles traversing the ports of Manila and the NLEX daily are expected to benefit from the Harbor Link.

NLEX Corp. is also looking to start the construction of the NLEX-SLEX Connector Road Project, an eight-km all-elevated public private partnership project above the existing Philippine National Railways’ tracks from the C3/5th Avenue Interchange in Caloocan City to PUP Sta. Mesa, Manila.

When completed in 2021, the elevated expressway will serve as an alternative to EDSA and reduce travel time between NLEX and SLEX to 20 minutes from two hours.

NLEX Corp. likewise plans to undertake capacity expansion of the eight-km Subic Freeport Expressway by constructing 16 kilometers of new lanes.

The company through subsidiary, NLEX Ventures Corp., has also started construction of a new expressway service facility and rest area along Km. 17 southbound of the NLEX.

The new 15,500-square meter facility called NLEX Drive & Dine will follow a mini-mall concept and feature a wide variety of retail, food and commercial services for NLEX customers.

In addition, NLEX Corp. is constructing two major traffic decongestion projects in Mabalacat City, Pampanga such as the new Sta. Ines Interchange and the new Mabiga Interchange this year.

The conversion of the narrow SCTEX Mabiga exit into a full diamond interchange with new entry and exit toll plazas will provide motorists an alternative access option to the SCTEX via the MacArthur Highway.

“These investments are aimed at supporting the government’s initiatives to ease the daily traffic woes of our commuters, drive commerce, and are part of our continuing commitment to further ensure safe and convenient travel in our expressways and maintain our high-quality service,” Franco said.


Read more at http://beta.philstar.com/business/2018/01/12/1776853/XCJZYoprlw0CR9Vm.99#FcVtMY0PpdAEG524.99

Metro Pacific’s unsolicited proposal for MRT 3 upgrade illegal–Sobrepeña

WHILE the intention of Metro Pacific Investments Corp. to rehabilitate, modernize and expand the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT 3)—a privately owned but government-operated facility—is good, its multibillion-peso unsolicited proposal is viewed by the owners as illegal.

Metro Rail Transit Holdings Inc. Chairman Robert John L. Sobrepeña said his group views the move by the government to welcome an unsolicited proposal for the redevelopment of the rail facility as something without legal basis, simply because the government does not own the infrastructure.

“It’s illegal. There’s no such thing as original project proponent when private sector owns a facility. This is not a greenfield project,” he told the BusinessMirror over the phone.

Metro Pacific submitted in 2017 an unsolicited proposal that involves the expansion of the capacity of the railway system by adding more coaches to each train, allowing it to carry more cars at faster intervals. It will double the capacity of the line to 700,000 passengers a day from the current 350,000 passengers daily.

The multimillion-dollar expansion is deemed as an all-encompassing deal, including the improvement of the reliability of rolling stock, the upgrading of power supply, the upgrading of stations and the replacement of rails, which will allow the company to operate the new trains purchased by the government from Chinese train manufacturer Dalian.

Unsolicited proposals are required, under the law, to be subjected to a Swiss Challenge, wherein other groups can offer a similar proposal, and the original proponent can present a counter offer.

The government awarded the original-proponent status to Metro Pacific last year.

“I still don’t have a copy of the proposal. I have yet to receive an offer from them,” Sobrepeña said.

He explained that the government can only allow another proponent to come in once it owns the railway line in the next seven years.

Under its build-lease-transfer contract with the government, Metro Rail Transit Corp. will own the facility that it built for 25 years, while allowing the state to rent the infrastructure for public use. After the concession period, the company is compelled to transfer the ownership to the government.

“The government does not own it until 2025,” Sobrepeña said.

He noted, however, that he is open to meeting with Metro Pacific officials to thresh out the details of the unsolicited proposal. There, Sobrepeña said, the two groups can arrive at a similar and mutually beneficial deal.

“Unless they go to us, that’s the only way that proposal can be legal. We are open to meeting with them. They just have to talk to us,” he said.  Metro Pacific has nominated Light Rail Manila Corp. as its corporate vehicle for the MRT 3 deal. The said company, a partnership between Metro Pacific and Ayala Corp., operates the Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 1.

Its proposal for the MRT mimicked the same provisions under its concession agreement for the LRT 1 operations and modernization deal, which it bagged in 2014 via the Public-Private Partnership Program.

It means that, instead of having a different operator and maintenance provider, the group will be the one to do both, something that Sobrepeña has been pushing for since the government forcibly took over the upkeep of the facility in 2012.

“I can’t speak for his opinion, but Metro Pacific is doing its best, together with the government, to find a way to get the MRT 3 problem fixed for the riding public. We’ll focus on this for now and leave the shouting to others,” David J. Nicol, who sits as CFO at Metro Pacific, told the BusinessMirror when sought for comment.

He cited his group’s experience with LRT 1 operations as his group’s main strength in addressing the issues of the train line. “We are doing a good job with the LRT 1, and it would be great if we can do the same for MRT 3, wouldn’t it?”

The railway facility will be “a challenge” for the company, given the train system’s history of breakdowns, derailments and other technical and legal issues, including the procurement of 48 train cars from Dalian Locomotive and Rolling Stocks of China.

On Thursday Transportation Undersecretary Timothy R. Batan said the government has completed the procurement of an independent audit and assessment (IAA) consultant that will evaluate and make recommendations on what to do with the 48 light-rail vehicles (LRVs) that have already been delivered by Dalian.

The consultant that won the bidding for the said deal was TUV Rheinland, a German firm established in 1872.

“The trains have been delivered, but we are unable to accept them unless our IAA consultant has certified their safety and compatibility with our system,” Batan said.

He also assured that the government will not interfere or influence the consultant’s assessment of the 48 LRVs. “We will not in any way try to influence their independent assessment of the 48 cars from Dalian, and we will just make a decision based on their recommendation.”

“If they’ll say that we can immediately deploy the new trains, we will consider. If they say that we need to make adjustments, we will consider, of course, not at our expense. If they say that we need to return the cars, then we will return them,” Batan explained.

Concerns were earlier raised on the 48 vehicles that the Aquino administration procured. Some include issues on compatibility and even technical specifications. The government paid P3.8 billion for the said train cars.

The MRT 3 ferries roughly half-a-million passengers daily with just 20 train sets plying the Edsa route.