Dizon: 3 out of 5 major ROW issues hounding Subway project addressed
In his presentation during the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines Infrastructure Forum in Makati City, Transportation Secretary Vivencio 'Vince' Dizon expressed confidence that 'before PBBM (President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr.) steps down, I think we will be able to see at least two maybe three stations… we can seen the trains running.'
In particular, the Transportation chief expressed optimism the MMSP will be partially operational at least from Valenzuela —where the depot will be located— to Quirino Highway stations.
'Hopefully [up to] North Avenue,' Dizon said.
The Cabinet official's confidence stemmed from the progress in ROW acquisition the agency is making since he took over the helm of the DOTr in February.
'Right now, we've addressed three out of five for major right-of-way issues, [namely]— Barilla, Anonas, Ortigas,' Dizon said.
'Metrowalk na lang… BGC (Bonifacio Global City), it's almost there tingin ko malapit na 'yun. Hopefully in the next few months we will be able to address,' he said, adding that once ROW issues are resolved 'we can see the progress there.'
READ: Metro Manila Subway: When Right of Way Gets in the Way
'One good development here is the amended Right-of-Way Act passed by both houses. The bicam report was signed last Wednesday, the last day of the 19th Congress. The President will sign this very soon,' Dizon said,
'That will be a game-changer, especially in the subterranean right-of-way,' he said.
The Transportation chief said, once the measure becomes a law, the government can access privately owned land at 18 meters below ground for subterranean or underground infrastructure projects from the current 50 meters.
Upon completion, the MMSP will have a total of 17 stations and a 30.34-hectare depot where the Philippine Railway Institute is located.
The project involves the construction of a 33-kilometer railway line that will connect Valenzuela City to Pasay City, with a spur line to Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3.
The MMSP's 17 stations are: Valenzuela where the depot will be located, Quirino Highway, Tandang Sora, North Avenue, Quezon Avenue, East Avenue, Anonas, Katipunan (Camp Aguinaldo), Ortigas Avenue, Shaw Boulevard, Kalayaan Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Lawton East, Senate-DepEd, NAIA Terminal 3, FTI, and Bicutan.
The MMSP is envisioned to be interconnected with other rail systems: the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT1), the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT3), and the Metro Rail Transit-Line 7 (MRT7) through the Common Station; the Light Rail Transit-Line 2 (LRT2) at the Anonas Station; and a physical run through into the North-South Commuter Railway Extension (NSCR-Ex) at the FTI and Bicutan Stations.
The project currently has an estimated total cost of P488.5 billion, of which P370.7 billion will be financed through an official development assistance (ODA) loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Meanwhile, P117.7 billion will be covered by the Philippine government.
The Philippine government and JICA have so far signed three tranches of loan agreements—the first tranche amounting to ¥104.53 billion, or P47.58 billion, was signed in March 2018; the second tranche, amounting to ¥253.31 billion, or P112.87 billion, was inked in February 2022; and the third ¥150-billion or P55.37 billion loan deal for the project was signed in March 2024.
The previous DOTr leadership earlier projected that the MMSP will be partially operational by 2028 and will be fully operational a year after, but Dizon said full completion of the project was stretched further to 2032.—AOL, GMA Integrated News
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GMA Network
a day ago
- GMA Network
SONA 2025: Infrastructure projects to continue, vows Marcos
President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. during his State of the Nation Address on Monday said the completion of the government's big-ticket infrastructure projects will continue even beyond his term. 'Asahan ninyo, magpapatuloy ang malawakang programang pang-imprastraktura ng Administrasyon,' Marcos said in his fourth SONA at the Batasang Pambansa. (You should expect that the administration's extensive infrastructure initiative will continue.) 'Ang mga naglalakihang proyekto ay nakalatag na sa buong kapuluan. Mga daan, tulay, tren, paliparan, pantalan, patubig, at murang pabahay. Ilan dito, matatapos ngayong administrasyon. Ang iba naman, makukumpleto at mararamdaman ang dalang ginhawa pagkatapos na ng aking termino,' the President said. (Big-ticket projects are already in place in the entire archipelago. These are roads, bridges, trains, airports, seaports, waterworks, and affordable housing. Some of these will be completed before the end of my administration while some will be finished and its benefits will be felt by the end of my term.) Marcos assured the government is investing for the county's future. 'We are not building only for today, but we are building for tomorrow,' he said. The President cited the ongoing North-South Commuter Railway and the Metro Manila Subway projects. 'Patuloy din ang pagpapaganda natin sa serbisyo ng MRT at LRT (Service improvements at the MRT and LRT are ongoing as well),' he said. The country's chief touted the increased fare discounts for students, seniors, and PWDs to 50% as well as the 1+3 'Pamilya Pass' every Sunday at the LRT and MRT systems. Marcos added the administration is working on operationalizing the idle Dalian trains for MRT-3, which were purchased in 2014. 'Halos singkwentang dagdag na karwahe ang natengga nang sampung taon. Sayang ang pera. Sayang ang isang dekada. Pero ngayon, naayos na natin. Ang tatlong bagon ay nagagamit na ngayon. Asahan ninyo, ang ilan sa apatnapu't lima ay magagamit na rin natin bago matapos ang taong ito; at ang iba ay sa susunod na taon naman,' Marcos said. (Almost 50 additional carriages lay idle for 10 years. That was money and a decade wasted. But now we were able to fix them. Three trains are now operational. You can expect some of the remaining 45 carriages will be added before the year ends; and the rest will be running in 2026.) Bataan-Cavite bridge Marcos said the multi-billion dollar Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge will begin construction before the year ends. 'Kung ang biyahe ngayon mula Mariveles hanggang Naic ay umaabot nang limang oras, balang araw ito ay magiging apatnapu't limang minuto na lamang,' he said. (If the current travel time from Mariveles, Bataan to Naic, Cavite is five hours long, it will be shortened to just 45 minutes.) Spanning a distance of 32.15 kilometers, the project is poised to provide a strategic convergence between Regions III and IV-A, fostering greater economic growth and improved tourism. 'Ang mga riles ng PNR Bicol Line na sinira ng bagyong Kristine ay unti-unting pinatibay at naa-ayos na, kasama na ang Binahan Bridge. Hindi magtatagal, madadagdagan pa ang haba ng linya nito, at aabot na sa Ragay, Camarines Sur hanggang Tagkawayan, Quezon,' Marcos said. (The rails of PNR Bicol Line that were damaged by Typhoon Kristine are being reinforced and repaired. It won't take long until its line will be extended further reaching Ragay, Camarines Sur up to Tagkawayan, Quezon.) The President said the project will ease traffic congestion for motorists going between Quezon province and the Bicol Region. SLEX extension Marcos added that the extension of the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) from Sto. Tomas, Batangas to Tiaong, Quezon will be completed by 2026. 'Kapag natapos ang buong proyekto, ang dating apat na oras na biyahe, magiging isang oras na lamang,' he said. 'Kaya ina-atasan ko ang DOTr at DPWH na bantayang mabuti ang mga proyekto sa kahabaan ng Quezon patulak ng Bicol, at tiyaking tama ang kalidad, matibay, at nasa takdang oras ng pagtatapos,' he added. (When the project is finished, what used to be a four-hour trip will just be an hour. That's why I directed the DOTr and DPWH to closely supervise these projects from Quezon to Bicol in order to ensure quality, durability and on time completion.) Mindanao projects In his SONA, the country's chief executive also mentioned the infrastructure projects in Mindanao. 'Ang Nalil-Sikkiat Bridge, na una sa tatlong mahahalagang tulay na ginagawa ngayon sa Tawi-Tawi, ay nabuksan na,' Marcos said. 'Sa susunod na taon, ang tulay sa Malassa-Lupa Pula naman ang matatapos,' he added. (The Nalil-Sikkiat Bridge, the first of three important bridges being constructed in Tawi-Tawi, has been opened. Next year, the Malassa-Lupa Pula Bridge will be completed.) The President said the government is also working on the Mindanao Transport Connectivity Improvement Project. 'Sa proyektong ito, aayusin natin ang mga pangunahing daan na nag-uugnay sa Cagayan de Oro, Davao, at General Santos, na may haba na apat na raan at dalawampu't walong kilometro,' Marcos said. (This project will address the primary road linking Cagayan de Oro, Davao and General Santos City that has a length of 428 kilometers.) Guadalupe Bridge rehab The President said he will not allow the rehabilitation of the Guadalupe Bridge to be stalled further to the next administration. 'Nasa Senado pa lamang ako, pinag-uusapan na ito. Hindi ko na papayagang tumawid pa ito ng isa pang administrasyon. Kaligtasan na ng publiko ang nakataya,' Marcos said. 'Hindi po isasara ang Guadalupe Bridge. Gagawa muna tayo ng detour bridge sa magkabilang gilid bilang pansamantalang daanan. Kapag nagawa na at binuksan na ang detour bridge, doon pa lamang sisimulan ang trabaho sa main bridge,' he said. (This was already being planned since I was in the Senate. I will not allow this issue to reach yet another administration. Public safety is at stake here. Guadalupe Bridge will not be closed. A detour bridge will be constructed on opposite ends as a temporary measure. Once the detour bridge is finished, we will start work on the main bridge.) Hanging bridges 'At sa kabila ng mga higanteng tulay na ito, huwag nating kaliligtaan ang mga hanging bridge sa iba't ibang lugar sa ating bansa,' Marcos said. 'Mahalaga ang mga ito sa pang-araw-araw na buhay ng publiko, lalo na sa mga guro at estudyante. Ilan ang nabalitaan kong insidente ng pagbagsak ng mga tulay na ganito. Halimbawa, iyong nangyari sa Midsalip, Zamboanga del Sur, at sa iba pang mga lugar, Kawawa naman ang mga kababayan nating walang kamalay-malay na nabiktima at nasaktan, na pawang mga batang mag-aaral at kanilang mga guro,' the President said. (Aside from these giant bridges, we have not forgotten the hanging bridges in several parts of the country. These serve the daily lives of the public, especially teachers and students. I have received reports of these bridges of this type falling. An example is that of Midsalip, Zamboanga del Sur and other places. What happened to our countrymen such as teachers and students, is saddening.) The President said he has tasked the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Public Works and Highways, and Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity to look into the condition of these hanging bridges. 'Sa tulong ng PAMANA (PAyapa at MAsaganang PamayaNAn) at iba pang mga programa, ayusin at kumpunihin natin agad,' Marcos said. (With the help of PAMANA, and other programs, we will fix and inspect these immediately.) Cabagan-Sta. Maria Bridge Marcos said corruption in administering government projects will not be overlooked, citing the collapsed Cabaga-Sta. Maria Bridge in Isabela. 'Ang kapalpakan sa pagdisenyo at sa pagkakagawa; Ang mababang kalidad at marupok na mga materyales; Ang pagka-antala ng proyekto; at ang kapabayaan sa tamang pagmentina at pagkumpuni,' he said. 'Halimbawa, ang Cabagan-Sta. Maria bridge sa Isabela na sinimulan noong 2014. Ginastusan ng taumbayan ng isang bilyon. Sampung taong buksan, ilang araw pa lang, giba na agad. Ang mahal. Ang tagal ginawa. Ang bilis nasira,' he added. (The sloppy design and construction; the low quality and poor quality of materials; the delays in the project; and the careless maintenance and repair. For example, the Cabagan-Sta. Maria Bridge in Isabela that began in 2014. Taxpayers paid P1 billion. It took 10 years to finish. After it opened, in just a few days, it collapsed. It was expensive and took a long time to build. It quickly fell down.) Marcos, meanwhile, cited the San Juanico Bridge —a legacy project of his father and namesake— built about 50 years ago. 'Ang San Juanico Bridge naman: limampung taon na, nakatayo pa rin hanggang ngayon. Ganoon siya katibay. Ngunit nakaligtaan naman ang wastong pagmentina at pagkumpuni sa pagdaan ng mga dekada. Nalagay pa tuloy sa panganib ang publiko. Hindi dapat ganito,' he said. (The San Juanico Bridge: After 50 years, it still stands. It's a tough bridge. But through the decades its maintenance and repair have been neglected. This has placed the public at risk. It should not be like this.) 'Sa Build Better More, higit ang kapakanan at kaligtasan ng mamamayan. Ang mga proyekto, tama dapat ang disenyo. Mataas dapat ang kalidad. Natatapos dapat sa takdang oras. At naaalagaan at namementinang mabuti,' he added. (Under Build Better More, the welfare and safety of the people are the priority. The projects should be properly designed. Their quality should be high. They should be finished within the allotted time. And undergo proper care and maintenance.) — RF, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
3 days ago
- GMA Network
Envoy stresses economic, security ties on 69th Japan-PH friendship day
Japanese Ambassador Endo Kazuya has underscored the various aspects of partnership between Manila and Tokyo to mark the 69th Japan-Philippines Friendship Day. In his writeup titled "A Friendship Woven in Trust: Commemorating 69 Years of Japan-Philippines Ties," posted on the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines' website, Endo described the economic partnership between the two nations as an "important thread." "Japan has been consistently supporting sustainable development in the Philippines. The past year has seen a significant bolstering of our economic cooperation, with Japan contributing to quality infrastructure projects in the country," the Japanese envoy said. "These include the Metro Manila Subway Project (MMSP), the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR), and the Davao City Bypass Construction Project—all funded by Japan's Official Development Assistance (ODA) through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Apart from these projects, this year, we also celebrate the 60th anniversary of JICA's Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV), which has been providing grassroots support for the development of various countries, including the Philippines," Endo said. He added that Japan also remains as one of the top investors in the Philippines, especially in Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) locations with cumulative investments exceeding P550 billion and direct employment of over 300,000 Filipinos. "Following the relaxation of foreign ownership rules in retail, we've recently welcomed several prominent Japanese brands. Nitori opened its first store in 2024, shortly after I assumed my post last year. In addition, Mitsukoshi BGC opened in mid-2023. These are landmarks in the growing Japanese retail presence in our market," he said. "Japan also continues to extend its steadfast support for the peace process in the Bangsamoro region, through the three pillars of the Japan-Bangsamoro Initiatives for Reconstruction and Development (J-BIRD). These efforts encompass capacity-building for the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), assistance in the transformation of former combatant communities into progressive and resilient societies, and the provision of socio-economic development assistance. As we look forward to the first Bangsamoro Parliament elections, we recognize this milestone as a significant stride towards achieving lasting peace and prosperity in the region," he added. Security ally The Japanese envoy, moreover, said "security cooperation thread" is growing evidence of deepening trust between the Philippines and Japan, "driven by our shared commitment to a Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP)." "This concept, promoting peace, stability, and prosperity across the region through ensuring rules-based international order, has certainly been realized by our bilateral cooperation. The Japan-Philippines Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) signed in July 2024, for instance, has emerged as a landmark achievement for our two countries," Endo said. The RAA will grant access to military personnel from both states to hold joint trainings in each other's country. Similar to the 1999 Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between the Philippines and the United States, the RAA is Japan's third defense accord after the United Kingdom and Australia. "Its unanimous approval by the Philippine Senate in December of the same year and its approval by the Japanese Diet last June underscore our shared commitment to regional peace and stability. In the recently held Japan-Philippines Summit Meeting, our two leaders further agreed to commence negotiations on an Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA). The meeting also confirmed the importance of an early conclusion of an Agreement on the Security of Information," Endo said. Earlier this month, Japanese media reported that Japan was set to export six warships to the Philippines. The envoy said Japan's support for the Philippines' security capabilities remains well represented through the Official Security Assistance (OSA) scheme. "At present, the Philippines holds the distinction of being the first recipient of the OSA, as well as the only country to have been granted OSA funding for two consecutive years. Japan is further conducting a feasibility study for the OSA for the third year," Endo said. "We have also witnessed the frequent conduct of Maritime Cooperative Activities (MCA) and increased port visits by Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) vessels in the country. This year, in fact, we had the honor of hosting the 71st Anniversary of the Japan Self-Defense Forces aboard the JMSDF vessel, JS ISE, during its visit at the Port of Manila," he added. The envoy also cited the High-Level Launch Meeting of the Friends of the Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty (FMCT) in September 2024, alongside the Philippines, exemplifies our collaborative approach. "As fellow members of the Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Initiative, we are working together to enhance cooperation in nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation," Endo said. Cultural ties The envoy highlighted the Filipinos' growing interest in Japanese culture, citing the record-high of over 820,000 Filipino visitors to Japan last year. "With the recent opening of the Japan Visa Application Center (JVAC), we are optimistic about sustaining this encouraging trend in the years ahead," Endo said. "With tourism a promising source of shared experiences, our ties continue to find renewal through the personal encounters Filipinos have with Japanese culture. In our lively receptions at the Ambassador's Residence, I've had the privilege of hearing about the lasting friendships and experiences forged by Filipino participants in the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme and recipients of the Japanese Government Scholarship (MEXT)," he said. "Meanwhile, the aspirations of our Filipino JDS (Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship) Fellows and SSEAYP (Ship for Southeast Asian and Japanese Youth Program) delegates have also been a glowing testament to deepening people-to-people exchanges with the Philippines," he added. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
6 days ago
- GMA Network
Cebu Bus Rapid Transit pilot ops start September — DOTr
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Wednesday said it is set to launch the pilot operations of the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (Cebu-BRT) in September. In a statement, Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon said at least three stations of the mass transit system will be operational come September, namely Fuente, Cebu Normal University and Cebu South Bus Terminal Station. Dizon said at least 70,000 commuters are expected to benefit from the Cebu BRT's pilot operations. Meanwhile, the construction for the Cebu Capitol station will follow, after finalizing its detailed engineering design to make it a median station from the previous curbside configuration, according to the Transportation chief. Dizon also expressed gratitude to the Cebu Provincial local government for coordinating with the DOTr in addressing issues of the project. The phases 2A and 3A of the Cebu BRT which are composed of 13 stations and 62 bus stops will be completed before President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s term ends in 2028, according to the Transport chief. — Ted Cordero/RF, GMA Integrated News
