Thursday, February 1, 2018

Construction of LRT1 Cavite extension to start mid-2018

The Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT1), Southeast Asia's 1st rail transport line, is finally set to start the construction of its extension from Baclaran to Cavite in the middle of 2018, after it tapped French rail experts Bouygues Travaux Publics and Alstom Transport Private Limited to help with the structure.

"We have signed an EPC (engineering, procurement, and construction) contract with Bouygues. We are trying to do this as soon as possible. We can by the middle of this year," Juan Alfonso, president and chief executive officer of Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC), told reporters on the sidelines of a forum in Makati City on Thursday, February 1.

"It is more than just right of way but more of clearing the path. If we can do it quicker, then we will do it faster," Alfonso added.

LRMC took over the operations, maintenance, and extension of the LRT1 in September 2015, after bagging the P64.9-billion ($1.36-billion) LRT1 Cavite Extension deal. (READ & WATCH: Engineers racing to fix LRT1)

LRMC is a consortium of Ayala Corporation, Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC), and the Macquarie group.

The 11.7-kilometer Cavite extension will link with the existing system immediately south of the Baclaran Station, and run all the way to Niog, Bacoor City, Cavite.

Eight new stations will be provided with 3 intermodal facilities across Pasay City, Parañaque City, Las Piñas City, and Cavite.

The new stations are Aseana, MIA, Asia World, Ninoy Aquino, Dr Santos, Las Piñas, Zapote, and Niog. The intermodal facilities will be located in Dr Santos, Zapote, and Niog.

The commercial speed of the Cavite extension trains will be 60 kilometers per hour (km/h).

Alfonso said the LRT1 Cavite extension is targeted for completion in about 4 years or in 2021.

No fare hike surprises

Alfonso added that his firm is in constant talks with the government on how to move forward with a pending fare hike, as stipulated in their concession agreement (CA).

Instead of a fare hike which would be a burden to commuters, the LRT1 operator had suggested that the government subsidize the company's nearly P300-million claim.

"Fare increase is in the provision of CA. When the agreement for LRT1 was signed between LRMC and government, it contained a schedule of fare increases to allow us to fund the transactions," Alfonso told reporters.

"We need to keep our covenance to our lenders. We are discussing this with the government, on the schedule. There is no surprise that is coming. All fare adjustments are coursed through the Department of Transportation (DOTr)," he added.

LRMC had said that the pending fare increase for the LRT1, which should have taken effect on August 1, 2016, would push fees "5% higher" than they were in January 2015.

In December 2014, then-DOTC implemented fare hikes for the 3 major train lines in Metro Manila, including the LRT1, after several years of postponement.

Under Department Order No. 2014-014, the uniform distance-based fare scheme for all 3 train lines – or an P11 base fare plus P1 per kilometer – was adopted. – Rappler.com

Pre-Valentine show to watch

PHOTO taken recently at Chives Restaurant in Marikina City shows producer Vicky B. Solis (standing, fourth from left) and members of the boyband Freshmen and the RLSAA Chamber Orchestra, some of the performers in the forth coming pre-Valentine show ‘All We Need is… Love, Love Is All We Need,’ slated at Music Museum in Greenhills on Feb. 8 and 9.
“All We Need Is… Love, Love is All We Need” will be at the Music Museum in Greenhills on Feb. 8 and 9.

Produced by Vicky B. Solis under Today’s Production & Entertainment, the pre-Valentine concert sees collaboration among great artists and musicians namely the Madrigal Singers (a.k.a. ‘The Madz,’ founded in l963 by National Artist for Music Prof. Andrea O. Veneracion and composed of students, faculty and alumni from UP); Bo Cerrudo, a versatile and dynamic artist who has made a name in musical theater, live concerts and recording over the past three decades; Nicole Laurel Asencio who started in musical theater and whose debut album “Schizoprano” merges Nicole’s background in theater and classical music with her recent foray in rock and roll; Joey de Guzman, who has become one of the most sought-after saxophonists by record producers; the Freshmen, a multi-awarded boyband composed of Sam Ayson, Patrick Abeleda,Thirdy Casa, Levy Montilla and Derik Gernale; and the RLSAA Chamber Orchestra, who’ve been a part of the concert-for-a-cause of the Philippine Foundation Inc. entitled “Musikleta” held in 2016.The group is under the baton of Giuseppe Andre Diestro, an art area specialist.

The concert aims to raise funds for the various programs and projects of Helping One Person Everyday (HOPE) Movement that includes Healing On Wheels, medical mission for the elderlies in the metropolis and in the provinces; Food On Wheels, feeding programs for the indigents; Home On Wheels, finding shelter for abandoned elderlies and orphans; Justice On Wheel, free consultation on legal matters; and Livelihood On Wheels, which focuses on jobs creation related to wellness and food industries.

HOPE Movement is also a strong partner of the Department of Education in supporting the young artists from the Regional Lead School for the Arts in Angono, Rizal through assistance for exposure programs, seminar-workshops and provision for art materials and/or instruments.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings today, Feb. 1, go to Victor Wood, Fanny Serrano, Lorna Sulit, Rebecca Ventura, Gerry Marcos, Grace de Guzman, Nellie Garcia, Edith Aguilar, Marissa Odonio and daughter Lourdes Marie, Ramond Suaco Ante and Jay RFeb. 2: Lloyd Samartino, JC Bonnin, Puring Nuguid, Nello Nayo, Monette Ejercito, Engr. Emerson Visaya, Dindo Danao, Dante Nagtalon, Serafin Buan, Michelle Bello, Robert Esguerra, Charito Ong, Carol Tanjutco, Dra. Candy Capellan of UDMC, Jay Aquitania, Zonnie Espiritu, Vinia Vivar, my sister Susan Almontero in London and Ballroom Dancing Queen Aida M. Posadas