Photo credit: Department of Transportation Two more stations for the Metro Manila Subway Project (MMSP) are now officially under construction following a groundbreaking ceremony led by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Friday. The two stations -- Quezon and East Avenues -- are under contract package (CP) 102 of the MMSP and was awarded to a joint venture between Nishimatsu Construction Company Limited and D. M. Consunji Inc. Digging and construction for the tunnel and underground stations are slated to begin on April 30 while the drilling of the tunnel boring machine (TBM) will happen sometime in the fourth quarter of 2024. The “build-only” contract consists of a 3.1-kilometer tunnel railway construction and two underground stations that aim to connect commuters to Quezon City’s central business district, government offices and private institutions. During the ceremony, DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista said the MMSP will not only provide comfortable transportation but also generate jobs. “It will definitely be comfortable, affordable, safe, sustainable, and accessible,” Bautista said. He also thanked the Japanese government for funding the country’s first subway system. “We would like to reiterate our gratitude to the Government of Japan through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for the loan package that makes possible the very first subway train system of the Philippines,” he said. In January, the DOTr officially began the construction of the MMSP through tunneling works for CP 101 which includes the construction of a depot in Valenzuela City, and three stations. The MMSP will stretch for 33.1 kilometers and have 17 stations connecting Valenzuela City to Parañaque City, with a spur line to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 in Pasay City. Once completed, the subway is expected to reduce travel time between Valenzuela City and Pasay City from 1 hour and 38 minutes to only 45 minutes and is capable of serving up to 519,000 passengers daily. By Raymond Carl Dela Cruz   Article courtesy of the Philippine News Agency

Photo credit: Philippine News Agency The North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) system is expected to provide speedier transactions, create more quality time, and improve the quality of life for all, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said on Thursday. Marcos made the remark during the ceremonial contract signing for the NSCR Project - South Commuter Section CPs S-02 and S-03b at the President’s Hall in Malacañang, putting all phases of the NSCR system in full swing. "The completion of the full NSCR line will bring greater convenience for our commuters. It will offer an efficient and comfortable transport alternative that spans the great distance, connecting Pampanga to Manila and then to Laguna,” Marcos said. Aside from decongesting Metro Manila’s main thoroughfares, he said, the railway system would also spur economic activities in the interconnected regions, and the areas in between, as well as promote environmental sustainability and public health. He said more jobs shall also be generated by these rail projects. “As the civil works for these contract packages commence, we expect not only the generation of more than 2,000 jobs but also the creation of other opportunities and livelihood during its construction,” the President said. Under the administration's "Build Better More" program, the NSCR System, with a total project cost of PHP873.62 billion, is a 147.26-km. railway project that will connect Clark, Pampanga and Calamba City, Laguna. The whole system will have 35 stations and three depots composed of the original NSCR Project: Malolos-Clark Railway Project (MCRP), and the South Commuter Railway Project (SCRP). CPs S-02 and S-03b are part of the SCRP. Once completed in 2029, the entire NSCR system could reduce the travel time between Clark International Airport and Calamba City, Laguna from four hours to two hours. It is projected to accommodate 800,000 passengers a day. The NSCR System will be co-financed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Marcos thanked the ADB and JICA for supporting the Philippine government's infrastructure priorities, as their support has been instrumental to provide safe, sustainable, and efficient public transportation for the people. He also acknowledged the contributions of the Acciona-DMCI Joint Venture, the Leighton-First Balfour Joint Venture, and the efforts of local government units involved. By Filane Mikee Cervantes   Article courtesy of the Philippine News Agency

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has formalized its collaboration with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to ensure faster, more streamlined, and convenient delivery of services to its stakeholders nationwide. DPWH Secretary Manuel M. Bonoan and DICT Secretary Ivan John E. Uy signed on Tuesday, April 25, 2023 a Memorandum of Understanding for E-Governance, the cornerstone of the digitalization thrust of the administration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. The MOU was witnessed by DPWH Undersecretary for Information Management and Technical Services Maximo L. Carvajal and DICT Undersecretary for E-Government David L. Almirol Jr. The signing event organized by DICT at Manila Marriott Hotel was also attended by DPWH Information Management Service (IMS) Director Rhalf B. Cawaling, Stakeholders Relations Service (SRS) Director Randy R. Del Rosario, and IMS Business Innovation Division Chief Mary Jane N. Pantoja. In his message, Secretary Bonoan said that this initiative of DICT in improving government efficiency through e-governance is a welcome development as DPWH will be able to among others, accept online payments for various services, such as purchase of bidding documents, testing fees, accreditation fees, permit application fees, and other fees. “By embracing digital transformation, we will be able to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of our operations, while also making our services more accessible to the public” added Secretary Bonoan. According to Secretary Bonoan, the COVID-19 pandemic was an eye-opener as we realized the significance and benefits of harnessing digital technology to continue business operations without disrupting important government services that the general public depends on. Under the MOU, the existing applications and systems of the DPWH will be integrated with the DICT. DPWH will guide DICT on the Department’s processes to ensure the interoperability of their respective systems and application. In coordination with DPWH, the DICT will also study, evaluate and facilitate the development of additional applications and systems, if needed. With an integrated approach in terms of ICT systems development and implementation, the time has indeed come for the Philippine government to transition to E-governance and rest assured that DPWH will keep our commitments under this Memorandum of Understanding, Secretary Bonoan said. Other than DPWH, DICT has also signed separate MOU for a digitally connected government with the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Transportation - Philippines, Anti-Red Tape Authority, Bureau of Internal Revenue, Bureau of Treasury, Home Development Mutual Fund (PAG-IBIG), National Printing Office, Council for the Welfare of Children, Maritime Industry Authority, Philippine Commission on Women, Credit Information Corporation, and National Commission for Senior Citizens.

Photo credit: Department of Transport The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will fund 12 projects worth around USD19 billion in the country next year. In the presentation of ADB Philippines Country Director Kelly Bird during the mapping the investment ecosystem forum in Taguig City Wednesday, eight of these projects are in Mega Manila and five projects are in Mindanao. Bird cited that among these ADB-funded projects in the National Capital Region and nearby provinces include the USD123-million EDSA Greenways Project, the USD125-million Angat Dam Water Transmission Improvement Project, the USD175-million Metro Manila Bridges Project, the USD2.75-billion Malolos-Clark Railway Project, and the USD4.25-billion South Commuter Railway, which are all ongoing projects. Three projects are pending for approval, which include the USD1 billion to USD2-billion Metro Rail Transit Ortigas to Rizal Line (MRT-4), the USD3.3-billion Laguna Lakeshore Road Transport Project and the USD4-billion Bataan-Cavite Bridge Project. “So you can imagine all the other infrastructure projects that the government has in Metro Manila and surrounding areas will be very different from what it is today,” he said. In Mindanao, ADB-backed projects that are ongoing include the USD100-million Emergency Assistance for Reconstruction and Recovery of Marawi and the USD180-million Improving Growth Corridor in Mindanao Road Sector Project. There are also three projects in Mindanao that are expected to be approved this year. These are the USD380-million Agus River Basin Integrated Flood Resilience and Adaptation Project, the USD380-million Tagum River Basin Integrated Flood Resilience and Adaptation Project, and the USD924-million Davao Public Transport Modernization Project. By Kris Crismundo   Article courtesy of the Philippine News Agency

Photo credit: Light Rail Manila Corporation The first phase of the 11.7-kilometer (km) Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) Cavite Extension Project is nearing completion, according to the Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC), the private operator of LRT-1. In a statement on Friday, the LRMC said the progress rate for the project has reached 82.7 percent as of March 2023, for both civil and rail system works since it started the construction in September 2019. “The viaduct was completed in February 2022, while the ongoing station construction includes architectural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection, and safety works. In terms of the rail system, trackwork, and overhead catenary system installation are almost complete,” it said. The first phase covers 7 km of the 11-km extension, including five new stations: Redemptorist Station (56 percent complete), MIA Station (61 percent complete), Asia World (51 percent complete), Ninoy Aquino Station (55 percent complete), and Dr. Santos Station (60 percent complete). LRMC president and CEO Juan Alfonso said all civil and equipment installation works for the project are slated to be completed this year, with a focus on commissioning the entire project’s rail line by next year. “We are optimistic that we can start commercial operations of Phase 1 by the fourth quarter of 2024 as we continue to achieve milestones with our team,” Alfonso said. To date, the LRMC has invested over PHP30 billion in capital improvement projects to upgrade the existing systems of the LRT-1 and for the construction of the Cavite extension since the operator took over the rail line in 2015. The LRT-1 Cavite Extension project, a public-private partnership venture that aims to add an 11.7-kilometer Baclaran-Bacoor, Cavite segment to the current 18.1-kilometer train line, will have eight stations. The new stretch is expected to service up to 800,000 passengers per day and cut down travel time from Pasay City to Cavite from an hour and a half to just 25 to 30 minutes. The remaining stations between Las Piñas and Niog are scheduled to become fully operational by 2027. By Raymond Carl Dela Cruz   Article courtesy of the Philippine News Agency

Photo credit: The Department of Public Works and Highways The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is looking to start the construction of the Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge (BCIB) within the first quarter of 2024. The 32.15-kilometer, four-lane BCIB will connect Barangay Alas-asin in Mariveles, Bataan to Barangay Timalan Concepcion in Naic, Cavite, reducing travel time from five hours to an estimated 45 minutes. “Hopefully, we can start packages 1 and 2 this year and we could procure the other packages of this project until next year,” said Teresita Bauzon, DPWH project manager, during the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City. The entire construction may last until mid-2028, she added. The project will be financed by loans from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. “Right now, all the negotiations of the National Economic Development Authority and the ADB for funding of the construction are ongoing,” Bauzon said. On Friday, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. led the milestone ceremony for the detailed engineering design of the project at the Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific in Mariveles, Bataan. Marcos asked DPWH officials, employees, and consultants to remain committed to finishing the BCIB on schedule. "Do your best always to ensure that civil works for this bridge will commence by October this year," he said. "Do your best also to deliver what we have proposed so that our people and their localities may live out the picture we have painted as our goal as soon as possible." The feasibility study for the project started in March 2018, funded by the ADB Infrastructure Preparation and Innovation Facility loan. By Ferdinand Patinio   Article courtesy of the Philippine News Agency

Photo credit: The Department of Public Works and Highways President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said Friday the PHP175.6 billion Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge (BCIB) project is seen to boost the regional economies of the two provinces through improved connectivity. During the bridge's milestone ceremony in Mariveles, Bataan, Marcos said new economic opportunities would open to Bataan and Cavite and their surrounding provinces because of the easier access that will be made available through the bridge project. The President noted that the BCIB is projected to reduce the Central Luzon - Calabarzon travel time from 5 hours to just 45 minutes, cutting as much as 86 percent. “That will be an incredible feat when it happens and would significantly help in decongesting Metro Manila as motorists will be able to travel without passing through the metropolis," he said. He said the bridge, once completed, would also help bring prices down for goods and services as the transport and logistics costs would decrease, thus generating immense savings all around. The project will also support the development of seaports in the two provinces, making them potential international shipping gateways of the country, he added. "As such, I assure you, we will remain committed to developing a highly interconnected network of transport (infrastructure) that will serve as the backbone and strong driving force of our rapid, inclusive, and sustainable (economic) growth," he said. Marcos called on the officials and employees of the Department of Public Works and Highways, as well as all the consultants to remain committed to finishing this project on schedule. "Do your best always to ensure that civil works for this bridge will commence by October this year," he said. "Do your best also to deliver what we have proposed so that our people and their localities may live out the picture we have painted as our goal as soon as possible." The 32.15-km., four-lane, inter-island bridge will connect Barangay Alas-asin in Mariveles, Bataan and Barangay Timalan Concepcion in Naic, Cavite and once completed, it will be the longest bridge in the Philippines. The BCIB will have two navigational bridges: the 400-meter North Channel Bridge and the 900-meter South Channel Bridge, which will traverse Corregidor Island. About 80 percent of the structure will be over the sea. Primarily funded through Official Development Assistance loans from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), with co-financing from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, BCIB’s construction is expected to last for 60 months and is scheduled to be completed by the end of the third quarter of 2028.   Article courtesy of the Philippine News Agency 

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) longest road mountain tunnel project in Mindanao is on full steam of implementation. In his report to Secretary Manuel M. Bonoan, Senior Undersecretary Emil K. Sadain, in-charge of the implementation of DPWH infrastructure flagship projects said that tunneling activities for the 2.3-kilometer twin tube bi-lane road mountain tunnel is on the verge of reaching halfway with total length excavated for southbound and northbound direction on both ends of north and south portal at a cumulative distance of about 1-kilometer. According to Senior Undersecretary Sadain, the tunnel is an important component of the 45.5-kilometer Davao City Bypass Construction Project which is among the infrastructure flagship projects started under the previous administration’s “Build Build Build” program and continue under the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. “Build Better More” development agenda to decongest traffic and reduce travel time. Senior Undersecretary Sadain, the President Elect of the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (PICE) for 2024, allowed the PICE National Officers and Board of Directors headed by President April Frances Agatha Flores and Davao City Chapter President Arnel Bernardino to get an exclusive view of the on-going activities for the construction of the road mountain tunnel adopting Japanese technology with a site visit on Saturday, April 1, 2023. During the inspection, Senior Undersecretary Sadain reviewed the progress of works and commended the project team from DPWH Unified Project Management Office (UPMO) - Roads Management Cluster 1 (Bilateral) and contractor Shimizu-Ulticon-Takenaka for their hard work and contribution towards fast-track construction. This is the first project site visit by PICE national leaders to this flagship project of the Philippine government after over three (3) years since the unprecedented challenges of COVID-19 greatly affected everyone. In his briefing, DPWH UPMO Roads Management Cluster 1 (Bilateral) Project Director Benjamin A. Bautista said that the tunnel construction is part of contract package I-1, the first out of six (6) contract packages, which commenced on December 2020. This on-going contract package I-1 costing ₱13.23 Billion is financed by Special Terms for Economic Partnership (STEP) Loan between Philippines and Japan International Cooperation Agency under loan agreement numbers PH-P261 and PH-P273. The tunnel will incorporate facilities to ensure the safety of riding public and will be closely monitored by an operation and control center located in the north portal area. Targetted for completion by December 2024, contract package I-1 also involves the construction of four (4) lanes 3.35 meters width concrete paved road with the total length of 7.90 kilometers, three (3) pairs of bridge with the total length of 500 linear meters, two (2) underpasses, two (2) overpasses, twelve (12) box culvert (waterway), and four (4) at grade road crossings. The Davao City Bypass Construction Project begins at Brgy. Sirawan, Toril, Davao City and will end at Brgy. J.P. Laurel in Panabo City. It will improve the transport logistics and mitigate congestions in Davao City with travel time of just 49 minutes from the current 1 hour and 45 minutes via Maharlika Highway, thereby contributing to the economic and sound urban development of the City and the Davao Region. For the other packages, procurement activities for packages I-2 and I-3 are currently on-going. Package II-1 started last January 2023 while procurement for package II-2 is also on-going and package II-3 is scheduled on the fourth quarter of this year.

Photo: The aerial view of the San Juanico Bridge that connects the islands of Leyte and Samar. The Japan International Cooperation Agency is considering the construction of the second San Juanico Bridge as one of the top priority projects in the country, a regional public works official said Wednesday (March 29, 2023). (Photo courtesy of Lyle Arañas) The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is considering the construction of the second San Juanico Bridge as one of the top priority projects in the country, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 8 (Eastern Visayas) said. DPWH-8 Regional Director Edgar Tabacon said JICA would soon start gathering information to prepare the terms of reference for the project’s feasibility study, which will start before the year ends. Tabacon said JICA Southeast Asia Division Senior Deputy Director Yosuke Nishii and four other JICA officials recently met with DPWH and Regional Development Council officials to understand the rationale and eventual socioeconomic role of the bridge project in the region. “This project is very timely, now that our existing San Juanico Bridge is on its 50-year term. And we are very much grateful if this will soon materialize,” he said in an interview Wednesday. While the proposed 1.24-km. second San Juanico Bridge only involves two lanes, Tabacon suggested that a four-lane bridge would be more effective, considering the increasing traffic. A wider bridge will also complement the ongoing road expansion activities. The JICA team assured the DPWH that adding more lanes would be considered and that the design of the project would be based on the results of the feasibility study, which will start in the third quarter of 2023. Civil works for the second San Juanico Bridge are targeted to start in 2025. In 2022, the DPWH announced that the national government would need PHP9.17 billion to build the second San Juanico Bridge connecting the islands of Leyte and Samar. The proposed bridge will connect the towns of Babatngon, Leyte and Sta. Rita, Samar. It will cross the Janbatas Channel, a portion of the San Juanico Strait that separates the region’s two major islands. The proposed bridge will start in Guintigui-an village in Babatngon, Leyte, and will end in San Pascual village in Sta. Rita, Samar. In 2019, traffic volume on the San Juanico Bridge stood at 7,200 vehicles daily, close to its 10,000 daily capacity. In 2030, it is expected to increase to 10,900 daily, more than its limit, and 15,900 by 2040. Built in 1973, the existing 2.16-km. San Juanico Bridge faces many issues, such as aging and high maintenance costs. By Sarwell Meniano   Article courtesy of the Philippine News Agency

Photo credit: Department of Public Works and Highways President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday, March 27, 2023 led the ceremonial inauguration of the first section of the NLEX-SLEX Connector Road Project from C-3 Road in Caloocan City to España Boulevard, Manila. Joining the President were Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel M. Bonoan, Department of Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista, Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC) Chairman Manuel Pangilinan, MNTC President Rodrigo Franco, NLEX Corporation President J. Luigi Bautista, and various local government unit officials. According to DPWH Secretary Bonoan, the opening of the initial section stretching 5.15 kilometers is expected to decongest traffic along busy Manila roads, most specifically along España Boulevard, Abad Santos Avenue, Rizal Avenue, and Lacson, Avenue. “The newly-opened section will significantly cut travel time between Caloocan and Manila to just five (5) minutes, and will cater to cars, buses, trucks, and motorcycles with displacement of 400cc and above,” said Secretary Bonoan. Citing a report from MNTC, Secretary Bonoan added that civil works for NLEX-SLEX Connector’s second and final section is currently at 42 percent. The second section starts from España Boulevard to PUP Sta. Mesa, Manila and is 2.75 kilometers in length. When completed, the approximately 8-kilometer, 4-lane toll road will serve around 35,000 motorists daily, connecting NLEX and SLEX through C3 Road in Caloocan and Skyway Stage 3 in Sta. Mesa, Manila.   Article courtesy of the Department of Public Works and Highways

The Australian Government’s Partnerships for Infrastructure (P4I) initiative has officially launched in the Philippines to drive sustainable, inclusive and resilient growth through quality infrastructure. Held in Manila on 24 March, the event was hosted by Australian Ambassador to the Philippines HK Yu PSM, who was joined by Dr. Benjamin E. Diokno, Secretary of the Department of Finance in the Philippines, and Australia’s Special Envoy for Southeast Asia, Mr Nicolas Moore.

Photo: Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Hae Kyong Yu PSM. Credit: AusAmbPH Twitter Page As the Marcos administration becomes bullish in utilizing a public-private partnership (PPP) model in infrastructure projects, the Australian government will be providing its technical expertise in rolling out infrastructure projects under the PPP. Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Hae Kyong Yu PSM told the Philippine News Agency in an interview at her residence Wednesday that the embassy will be launching the Partnerships for Infrastructure (P4I) on March 24. “Infrastructure is a big area that the Philippines is focusing on, and I know President (Ferdinand R.) Marcos (Jr.) has announced that he wants to utilize PPP more where it’s possible. So we are working closely with the Philippine government to share with them how Australia has done it,” Yu said. P4I is an Australian government initiative that brings together experts from the public and private sectors as well as the academe to help Philippine government agencies involved in infrastructure development in the preparation stage of projects that would be under a PPP model. “We can help them with all the project preparation stage. How you do actual cost-benefit analysis of potential projects, and then how you prepare documents for possible procurement, tender processes, and things like that,” the envoy cited. She said that aside from the PPP Center, the P4I also aims to closely work with other agencies including the Department of Transportation, the Department of Energy, the Department of Finance, and the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), among others. Yu added that the Australian government will be closely working with the administration through the P4I in meeting its diverse infrastructure requirements, including roads, transport, energy, and public investment management. The Australian envoy said a number of Australian companies have been involved in infrastructure projects in the country. Early this month, NEDA Secretary Arsenio Balisacan announced that the NEDA Board approved PHP9 trillion worth of flagship infrastructure projects, with 45 of these projects possibly being funded through PPPs. “The government shall harness the financial and technical resources of the private sector, which allows the public sector to allocate its funds for greater investment in human capital development, especially to address the scarring in health and education due to the pandemic, and provided targeted assistance that protects vulnerable sectors from economic shocks,” Balisacan had said. By Kris Crismundo   Article courtesy of the Philippine News Agency

Photo credit: Department of Transportation Several big-ticket infrastructure projects in the transportation sector have been approved or are already being implemented by the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., the Department of Transportation (DOTr) reported Monday. In a statement, the DOTr said the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit Project, Davao Public Transport Modernization Project, EDSA Greenways, the Light Rail Transit Line 2 (LRT-2) West Extension, and the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) Cavite Extension are all ongoing as of March 9 according to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA). These projects are among the 67 infrastructure flagship projects (IFP) that have been greenlit or are already underway out of the 194 high-impact projects under Marcos’ "Build Better More" program. In the rail sector, these approved and ongoing projects include the Metro Manila Subway Phase 1, Mindanao Rail Phase 1, Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) rehabilitation, Metro Rail Transit Line 4 (MRT-4), Metro Rail Transit Line 7 (MRT-7), New Cebu International Container Port, New Manila International Airport (Bulacan International Airport), North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR), Philippine National Railways (PNR) South Long Haul, and the Subic Clark Railway. The New Dumaguete Airport Development Project (Bacong International Airport) and the Integrated Flood Resilience and Adaptation (InFRA) Phase 1 have also both been approved by NEDA, with six projects awaiting approval. Last week, the NEDA Board, led by Marcos, approved 194 high-impact priority projects with a total cost of around PHP9 trillion. The board also approved amendments to the 2013 Joint Venture guidelines to support the government’s push for more investments in the country’s infrastructure. PNR suspension Meanwhile, Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda has expressed alarm over an impending suspension of select PNR routes due to the NSCR, saying it will affect thousands of commuters, mostly students and workers. “The welfare of the riding public should always be prioritized yet it remains to be seen whether such proposed solutions would effectively and sufficiently address the riding public's urgent demands in time for the imminent suspension of the operations of the PNR,“ Legarda said in her explanatory note on Senate Resolution No. 546. The PNR plans to suspend operations of certain routes for up to five years to facilitate the faster construction of the 55-kilometer NSCR. The construction will start in May and PNR may suspend the routes between Governor Pascual in Malabon City and Calamba City in Laguna, and well as Alabang, Muntinlupa City to Calamba. The Tutuban, Manila-Alabang route will be suspended in October and will affect between 20,000 and 25-000 passengers daily. Legarda urged the Committee on Public Order, chaired by Senator Grace Poe, to look into the impending suspension and come up with alternative solutions.   Article courtesy of the Philippine News Agency

Photo credit: The Department of Public Works and Highways Progress of the Panguil Bay Bridge Project, the longest water-spanning bridge in Northern Mindanao, is now more visible at 63 percent complete as the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has started constructing the bridge top slab on both ends in Tangub, Misamis Occidental and Tubod, Lanao del Norte. DPWH Senior Undersecretary Emil K. Sadain in his report to Secretary Manuel M. Bonoan said that bored piling works on the seabed for the 32 pylon, a structure that provides support for the 3.17-kilometer bridge across Panguil Bay, are all completed and a lot of machinery for bridge construction are in full gear working forward to the main bridge pylons 1 and 2. “By working round-the-clock and further improve the formulated measures to catch up the delays brought by previous suspension of activities due to COVID-19 pandemic from March 16 - July 2020, we will be able to finish the project toward the goal of having first traffic cross the bridge by first half of 2024”, said Senior Undersecretary Sadain. Senior Undersecretary Sadain in his inspection on Thursday, March 9, 2023 has instructed anew the contractor Namkwang Engineering & Construction Corporation in Joint Venture with Kukdong Engineering & Construction Co., Ltd. and Gumgwang Construction Co., Ltd. as well as engineering consultant Yooshin Engineering Corporation in joint venture with Pyunghwa Engineering Consultants Ltd. and Kyong-Ho Engineering & Architects Co., Ltd to complete the work at an accelerated pace. A flagship infrastructure project, the two-way two-lane Panguil Bay Bridge will connect Tangub, Misamis Occidental and Tubod, Lanao del Norte to just 7 minutes. Present connectivity between Ozamis City/Tangub City and Tubod through Roll-On, Roll Off (RoRo) vessel is about one (1) and a half hour to two (2) and a half hour including loading and unloading time while land travel over a distance of 100 kilometer is at two (2) to two (2) and a half hour. Senior Undersecretary Sadain was joined in the project visit by DPWH Unified Project Management Office (UPMO) Roads Management Cluster 2 (Multilateral) Project Director Sharif Madsmo H. Hasim; Project Managers Teresita V. Bauzon, Marlon B. Galerio, and Norman I. Puy; and District Engineer Maria B. David. Costing ₱7.37 Billion and funded by a loan agreement between Government of the Philippines (GOP) and Korean Export-Import Bank (Korea Eximbank), the project will enhance transportation capacity and efficiency in contributing to Mindanao socio-economic development. The design and build of Panguil Bay Bridge, being implemented by the DPWH UPMO Operations is included in the DPWH program for integrated and seamless transport system to enhance inter-island connectivity through the construction of short and long-span bridges. The program also involves the improvement of the logistics infrastructure network in Mindanao and develop a transport system that have significant impact on plan of action to boost tourism, agriculture and industrial sectors by the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. Other DPWH UPMO Operation’s long-span bridge projects are the 3.9 kilometer Samal Island - Davao Bridge, the 32 kilometer Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge, construction of 32 kilometer bridges that will connect Panay, Guimaras and Negros, and 3.3 kilometer Cebu-Mactan 4th Bridge.   Article courtesy of The Department of Public Works and Highways

Photo credit: DPWH The construction of the PHP175.7-billion Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge Project will start towards the latter part of the year, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said Tuesday. In a Palace press briefing, DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan said the 32-kilometer project, which was initially expected to begin construction in the first quarter of 2024, will break ground earlier than expected. “Detailed engineering [design] is now ongoing—it’s about 70 percent complete and we told the President it will be ready within the year to ground break the implementation of this very significant bridge,” he told reporters following his meeting with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. at Malacañan Palace. He said the DPWH aims to finish the project before the end of the President’s term. “We intend to start construction towards the latter part of this year 'siguro' (perhaps). If we are able to procure the civil works then it will take maybe about anywhere between five years…We’ll try to have this completed before the term of the President,” he added. Bonoan said the project is expected to significantly improve economic development not only in Luzon but the entire country. “No less than the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has indicated that the economic rate of return of this bridge is more than 25 percent and that’s big,” he said. The Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge Project is a cable-stayed bridge to be built over Manila Bay to reduce the travel time between the provinces of Bataan and Cavite from five hours to 20 to 30 minutes. Its starting point will be in Barangay Alas-asin in Mariveles town, Bataan, crossing Manila Bay, and ending in Naic town, Cavite. It is being developed with funding from the ADB. More projects Meanwhile, Bonoan also bared that the DPWH is going to implement more than 70,000 major and local projects all over the country with a budget allocation of about PHP890 billion. He said the agency will also prioritize the construction of more classrooms, farm-to-market roads, roads leading to tourist destinations and production areas, among others. Bonoan likewise expressed hope that there would be minimal delays to the construction of the projects. “We cannot discount the fact that the Philippines is vulnerable to calamities. The Philippines is visited by about 20 typhoons a year, so we just hope that it will not significantly affect the implementation period of these projects,” he said. “Some of these projects will require acquisition of right of way and actually inuunahan na namin yung pag acquire ng right of way so that hindi tayo maantala doon sa pag-iimplement (we prioritized the acquisition of right of way so that there would be no delays in the implementation) when civil works start,” he added. He is also hopeful the DPWH will get “good contractors” that could speed up the implementation of projects. From July to December last year, the DPWH implemented, maintained, constructed and improved about 1,500 kms of national roads and local roads all over the country. The DPWH has also undertaken the construction of 161 bridges along national and local roads as well as 851 flood control projects during the past six months. In a Facebook post, Marcos welcomed the DPWH report that more roads and bridges are being constructed across the country. “Ipinagmamalaki nating ibahagi ang magandang simula ng ating pamahalaan sa pagpapabuti ng mga daan at tulay sa iba’t ibang parte ng Pilipinas! Layunin nating siguruhin na konektado at sama-samang umuunlad ang ating mga lalawigan (We are proud to share the good start of our government in improving roads and bridges in different parts of the Philippines! Our goal is to ensure that our provinces are connected and develop together)!” he said.   Article courtesy of the Philippine News Agency