Tuesday, June 19, 2018

LRMC: Phase 1 of LRT 1 Cavite Extension only 95% complete

TRAIN operator Light Rail Manila Corp. (LRMC) has yet to receive a single portion of the right-of-way (ROW) for the construction of the Cavite Extension of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 1.

LRMC Operations Director Rodrigo P. Bulario said in a chance interview that the ROW acquisition for the first phase of the extension is only 95-percent complete.

This means the government cannot deliver the said easement to the company, as based on the concession agreement, the acquisition rate has to be 100 percent before delivery.

“The acquisition of the ROW for the first phase is less than 5-percent incomplete,” Bulario said.

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All the stations located in Parañaque City—Redemptorist, MIA, Asiaworld, Ninoy Aquino, Dr. Santos—compose the first phase of the Cavite Extension.

The company aims to start constructing the first phase of the extension by October, but with the rate of acquisition of easement, Bulario believes the company may start with the so-called mobilization.

“We will start mobilization in October, which means we will assemble machines and materials in the area,” he said.

Actual construction may start “early next year,” he noted.

The company broke ground for the 11.7-kilometer extension of the oldest overhead railway system in Asia in February 2017.

Targeted for completion in about four years after the delivery of easement, the 11.7-kilometer Cavite extension will connect into the existing system immediately south of the Baclaran Station and run in a generally southerly direction to Niyog, Cavite.

It will consist of elevated guideways throughout the majority of the alignment, except for the guideway section at Zapote, which will be located at grade.

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

The new stations will be accessible to and from nearby community facilities, such as shops, schools, stadium and park, and will be located to suit passenger-flow routes from residential areas.

Pedestrian access to all new stations will be direct, safe and easy. Details, such as lighting to distinguish access points, pedestrian-cross striping and curb cuts for handicapped access, will be provided.

LRMC, controlled by Metro Pacific Investments Corp. and Ayala Corp., has invested P7.5 billion in the railway system so far since it took over in 2015.

COA: PPP center needs to collect P845-M from terminated contracts of gov’t agencies

The Commission on Audit said the Public-Private Partnership Center of the Philippines (PPPCP) needs to collect a total amount of P845.84 million from national government agencies and government owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) for projects which were either terminated or no longer pursued.

In its 2017 annual audit report on PPP, the COA said the receivables from national government agencies amount to P679.029 million, which comprises projects of the Department of Transportation which includes the Automatic Fare Collection System Project, North-South/Integrated Luzon Railway Project, LRT 1 Extension to Dasmarinas, Cavite, Mactan-Cebu International Airport New Passenger Terminal, Manila-Makati-Pasay-Taguig Mass Transport Loop Project, Puerto Princesa Airport and Clark International Airport.

Also included in the receivables from national government agencies are from projects such as the Improvement/Rehabilitation of Quirino Highway Project, NAIA Expressway-Phase 2, Plaridel Bypass Toll Road Project, Laguna Lakeshore Expressway Dike Project of the Department of Public Works and Highways; and the Vaccine Self-Sufficiency Project of the Department of Health.

For the GOCCs, the receivables amounting to P166.812 million would come from terminated projects such as the Rehabilitation, Operation and Maintenance of the Angat Hydro-Electric Power Plant Turbines, New Centennial Water Source Project of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System; and the Batangas-Manila Natural Gas Pipeline Project of the Philippine National Oil Company.

The COA noted that the termination of the projects is made by the implementing agencies by sending letters of termination to the PPPCP, stating the status and the reasons for the cancellation or termination of the projects.

The reasons of termination were as follows: no contract variation or amendment was executed to extend the term of the contract, fund shifting from PPP to Official Development Assistance (OCA), the National Economic Development Authority decided to defer the project, possible security issues raised by the military, protracted preparation and development of the project.

“Moreover, according to the PPPCP website, another reason for project termiantion was the policy directions set by the new administration, changing of funding scheme from PPP to ODA,” the COA noted.

The COA said that the DPWH and DOH both confirmed that as per their records, they have no outstanding payables to the PPPCP but it is an indication that their finance divisions were not informed of their obligations to the PPPCP despite their signed Technical Assistance Agreements (TAAs).

“We recommended and management agreed to: (a) enforce the provision of the TAA on the payment to the PPPCP by the IAs (implementing agencies) concerned of the PDC (project development cost) for the terminated proejcts, plus the 10 per cent administrative cost; and, (b) require the accountant to coordinate with the IAs concerned for the reconciliation of both accounts,” the COA said. 

FDCP honors Marichu Maceda

(FROM LEFT): FDCP Chairperson Liza Diño, Ms. Marichu Maceda and Mother Lily
The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) honored recently Maria Azucena Vera-Perez Maceda, fondly called Manay Ichu, one of the matriarchs of the local film industry. The event, “A Spotlight on Mothers of Philippine Cinema,” was held June 9 at the Cinematheque Centre Manila.

Manay Ichu literally grew up in the industry, having hailed from the family who owned Sampaguita Pictures, one of the biggest film productions in the Philippines from the ’30s to the ’70s. Sampaguita Pictures produced the most beloved classics and generated thousands of jobs for Filipino filmmakers and talents throughout its existence.

Manay Ichu, herself, became a producer of popular and highly acclaimed films like “Dyesebel” and “Batch ’81.” Her passion and love for the industry did not stop in producing films. With her Sampaguita roots, she helped found film-related agencies, like the Movie Workers Welfare Foundation, Inc . (MOWELFUND), the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), the Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP), the Philippine Motion Pictures Producers Association, the Experimental Cinema of the Philippines and the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) where she headed the International Film Festival Committee (IFFCOM).

“Truly, Manay Ichu is an exceptional force in the film industry,” said FDCP Chairperson Liza Diño.

In her speech, Manay Ichu mentioned the lessons she has learned in the industry. “Remember that aside from being an art form, this is basically a business, so you have to at least break even so you can recover your investment and produce the second film.”

The celebration was attended by people close to Manay Ichu’s heart: Gina Alajar, Nova Villa, Ms. Gloria Romero, JoAnn Bañaga and Mother Lily Monteverde. Everyone gave special messages for Manay Ichu including two of her sons, Atty. Ernest and Erwin Maceda.

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Dingdong explores the beauty of Earth

Dingdong Dantes showcases the unseen beauty of Earth on GMA’s newest infotainment program “Amazing Earth.”

Dingdong Dantes

The show has the Philippine presentation of British Broadcasting Company’s (BBC) award-winning series “Planet Earth II.”

“I love to travel. In my every destination, I always discover na marami pa talaga akong hindi nalalaman at dapat ma- explore about how beautiful the planet is. Kaya naman in this show, expect me to be part of the journey of every viewer – that in every episode, I will be learning side-by-side with them,” he said.

Dingdong – an advocate of education, youth development and protection of the environment – is proud that the show highlights how everyone should properly treat and protect the people, animals and our planet.

“Amazing Earth” airs Sundays after “24 Oras Weekend” on GMA Sunday Grande.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings today, June 19, go to Joel Torre, Bing Davao, Rachel Anne Wolfe, Fe Canonizado, Engr. Jess Luciano, Nena Borromeo, Dr. Ping Duran, Julie Amargo, Edfie Littlefield, Pinggot Zulueta, Nina Raymundo and Jojo AlejarJune 20: Jose Rodriguez, Alicia Poltan, Frannie Jacinto, Beny Baluyut, Arsi Baltazar, Linda Marquez, Caterina Santos, Simone Louise Hubert, Jerry Donato, Dindo Balares and Emma Cordero…Belated b-day greetings to Christine Mae Gueta