INFRASTRUCTURE AMID THE PANDEMIC

President Duterte celebrates birthday with substantial accomplishments in ‘Build, Build, Build’ program

AS President Rodrigo Roa Duterte celebrates his 76th birthday just as his administration is beginning to wind down his six-year term, he can take comfort in the fact that despite facing numerous challenges—including an increasingly worsening pandemic that is showing no signs of slowing down—his “Build, Build, Build” flagship infrastructure program remains on track to play a significant role in the country’s economic recovery.

For this year, the government has allotted P158.2 billion for 16 infrastructure flagship projects (IFPS) designed to accomplish just that— stimulate economic growth.

These 16 infrastructure projects are now part of the government’s updated list of 104 infrastructure projects involving among others, information and communications technology development and irrigation system improvement. These projects will also be overseen by concerned executive departments and agencies including the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Transportation (DOTR), Department of Information Communications and Technology (DICT) and the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

Crucial to the success of these projects is the development assistance the country is getting from its foreign allies. Chief among these projects is The Northsouth Commuter Railway System which will benefit greatly from the official development assistance (ODA) from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The North-south Commuter Railway is budgeted at P58.6 billion, P51.5 billion of which will be funded by the JICA with the remaining P7.1 billion from the Philippine government.

The Duterte administration is also allotting P34.6 billion in 2021 for Phase 1 of the Metro Manila Subway which is another ODA project from Japan. The country’s firstever underground mass transport system broke ground in February 2019. Stretching across 36-kilometers, the rail line will run from Mindanao Avenue in Quezon City to NAIA Terminal 3 in Pasay City, reducing travel time from 1 hour and 10 minutes to just 45 minutes.

Last year, components of the Tunnel Boring Machine for the subway, which is expected to be partially operational by 2022, were already unveiled, signaling the start of the subway’s construction phase.

An ODA from China is funding most of the third largest IFP in the 2021 proposed budget, the Ambal-simuay River and Rio Grande de Mindanao River Flood Control Project. Total project cost is P16.8 billion, P5.1 billion of which will come from the Philippine government.

To ensure that the administration’s vision of ushering the nation into a Golden Age of Infrastructure is realized, hopefully by the time President Duterte’s term ends in 2022, the DOTR, under the leadership of Secretary Arthur Tugade is working non-stop in transforming the country’s transportation system into one that will provide better mobility and connectivity across all regions.

In this regard, the DOTR has covered a lot of ground, as detailed in its official website.

Flying high

AS air connectivity remains a vital enabler of economic growth and development, the DOTR has reportedly completed 121 airport projects, with 111 still ongoing. The notable ongoing airport projects include:

1 Mactan-cebu International Airport.

The “World’s Friendliest Resort Airport,” now known for its world-class architectural design, has been fully operational since 2017 and has already won numerous international and local awards. To further boost the airport’s operational capacity, a new parallel taxi/ second runway was inaugurated last year.

2

Bicol International Airport. After 11 years of delay, the “Most Scenic Gateway” is now it expected to be fully operational by the first quarter of 2021. As of January this year, the project is already 72.2 percent complete and is capable of accommodating two million passengers annually.

3

Bulacan International Airport. Seen to complement the operations of the NAIA and Clark International Airport with its own state-of-the-art facilities, the project is expected to commence construction work within the year.

4 Clark International

Airport. Scheduled to operational this June, the airport’s new swanky passenger terminal the airport is expected to boost operational capacity and triple its current passenger volume of 4.2 million to 12.2 million every year. To augment the ongoing works for the new passenger terminal, a new runway for the airport dubbed as “Asia’s Next Premier Gateway” is also being built.

5

NAIA Terminal 2 Rehabilitation. Improvements and rehabilitation work that should improve and levelup services remain ongoing and as of January, is now 98 percent complete.

Right on track

IN addition to the highly touted Metro Manila Subway, the DOTR aims to extend the current length of the country’s railway lines, from 77 kilometers, to 1,900 kilometers by 2022 and beyond.

In order to realize this vision, six railway projects, namely: the Metro Manila Subway; Common Station; MRT-7; LRT-1 Cavite Extension; LRT-2 East Extension; and PNR Clark Phase 1 are now under construction. Eight (8) more rail lines are for construction. These are: the PNR Clark Phase 2; PNR Calamba; PNR Bicol; Subic-clark; Mindanao Railway; LRT-2 West Extension; MRT-4; and Cebu Monorail. Moreover, the existing rail line of the MRT-3 is undergoing rehabilitation works.

1 MRT-7.

This is 22-km. rail line, that will run from North Avenue Station all the way to San Jose Del Monte in Bulacan, is more than halfway completed and is scheduled to be operational by December, 2022.

2 MRT-3 Rehabilitation.

To provide the riding public with a more efficient and effective service, the MRT-3 continues to be revitalized with massive and comprehensive rehabilitation works. With the current rehabilitation nearing completion, the MRT-3 is eyeing more trains to improve efficiency and faster turnaround.

3 LRT-1 Cavite Extension.

As of January, the project is more than halfway complete and is expected to be partially operational by the end of the year. This project, which will lengthen the existing LRT Line 1 from Baclaran to Niog in Bacoor, Cavite, will cut travel time from 1 hour and 10 minutes to only 25 minutes.

4 LRT-2 East Extension.

Two new additional stations will start operations this coming April to aid commuters from Manila going to as far as Antipolo.

5 Common Station.

Also known as the Unified Grand Central Station, its ongoing construction is 48.48 percent complete as of this month and is expected to be completed by the end of the year. The ambitious 13,700sqm. project will connect MRT-3, MRT-7, LRT-1 and the Metro Manila Subway.

6 North-south Commuter Railway.

Envisioned to connect Central Luzon, Metro Manila, and CALABARZON, the massive North-south Commuter Railway (NSCR) Project will have three (3) railway projects. These are:

N PNR Clark Phase 1 (Tutuban - Malolos).

The 38-km. rail line will connect Tutuban, Manila to Malolos, Bulacan and reduce travel time from approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes to just 35 minutes. As of February 2021, the project is now 42 percent complete and is on track to be partially operational by December 2021.

N PNR Clark Phase 2 (Malolos - Clark).

As of February 2021, the project, which will also will also feature the country’s first airport rail express, is now 27.79 percent complete and is expected to be partially operational by 2022.

N PNR Calamba (Solis - Calamba).

As of July 2020, the project is standing at 20.43 percent, with ROW acquisition and procurement for civil works packages currently ongoing. Once partially operational by 2024, it is expected to cut travel time from three hours to only one hour.

n expansion Of Routes And Addition Of New Trains.

To improve services, the PNR has expanded its rail line to 29 operational stations and added brand new trains to its fleet, such as the Diesel Multiple Units (DMUS) and passenger coaches from Indonesia and Japan. It has also expanded its routes from Malabon City to IRRI, Laguna. 7

PNR Bicol. As of July 2020, the project is 18.56 percent complete, and the contract for the delivery of new trains have already been signed. Partial operations of the railway line, running from Manila to Legazpi, Albay and Matnog, Sorsogon, with a spur line to Batangas City, Batangas, will commence in 2022.

8 Mindanao Railway Phase 1 (Tagum-davaodigos). The project is reported to start commencing by the first quarter of 2021. Once completed, travel time will be trimmed down from 3.5 hours to just 1.3 hours. It is targeted to be partially operable by the fourth quarter of 2022, and fully operable by 2023.

Beyond the sea

AMONG the completed port projects of the DOTR and the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), many of which were virtually inaugurated even amid the pandemic include the Port of Borac in Coron, Palawan; Port of Cawit in Boac, Marinduque; Port of Estancia in Iloilo; Port of Iligan in Iligan City, Lanao Del Norte; Port of Jagna in Bohol; Port of Mansalay in Oriental Mindoro; Port of Ozamiz in Misamis Occidental; Port of San Fernando in El Nido, Palawan; Port of Tagbilaran in Bohol; Port of Malalag in Davao Del Sur; Port of Currimao in Ilocos Sur; Port of Masao in Agusan del Norte; and two separate projects for Iloilo Commercial Port Complex.

Moreover, the DOTR, through its maritime sector, have completed numerous social and tourism port projects including the Port of Quinapondan in Eastern Samar; Port of Villaba in Brgy. Silad, Villaba, Leyte; Port of Kawayan in Kawayan, Biliran; Port of Hindan in Hindang, Leyte; Port of Carigara in Carigara, Leyte; Port of Polloc in Parang Maguindanao; Port of Albuera in Albuera, Leyte; and Port of Llorente in Llorente, Eastern Samar, among others.

Road to progress

AMONG the ongoing intermodal landport projects built by the DOTR to ease traffic woes, are the following:

1 Taguig City Integrated Terminal Exchange.

This aims to provide seamless interconnectivity for commuters going to Metro Manila from Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, and vice versa. Once operational, the facility will be able to accommodate around 4,069 buses and 160,000 passengers daily.

To further complement the two land terminals for a more-improved traffic flow in and out of the Metro, the North Integrated Terminal Exchange will also be built soon.

2 Future Greenways.

With the upcoming railway systems, greenways play a key role for commuters, as these will pave the way for easier access to key rail stations, and will provide safe, secure, and efficient mobility for cyclists. Thus, the DOTR has started preparing for the establishment of greenways along EDSA and in Makati-bonifacio Global City.

To improve the country’s busbased transit system, bus rapid transits are also on the way, such as the Quezon Avenue Bus Rapid Transit and the Cebu Integrated and Intermodal Transport System - Bus Rapid Transit.

To provide Davaoeños a more efficient and economically viable mode of public transport, the Davao Public Transport Modernization Project has been launched, and is now approved by the NEDA Board.

3 Edsa Protected Bike Lanes.

With an aim to promote the use of active mode of transport, the DOTR, in partnership with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), commenced with the ground works and mobilization of the protected bike lanes. The MMDA is currently looking placing EDSA motorcycle and protected bike lanes side by side.

4 EDSA Busway.

Also known as the EDSA Carousel, the bus rapid transit system began operations last July, 2020 and currently has 21 stations and utilizes existing footbridges along EDSA by constructing additional stairways to the center island of EDSA, and also uses some stations of the MRT Line 3 and LRT Line 1 by making use of the train stations’ emergency exit stairways. The MMDA is currently eyeing the EDSA busway for faster transport of Covid-19 vaccines.