Latest news with #InfrastructureForum
GMA Network
3 days ago
- Business
- GMA Network
DOTr eyes España-Quezon Avenue busway system
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is eyeing to replicate the EDSA Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) System or EDSA Busway model in other major thoroughfares in Metro Manila, particularly España Boulevard in Manila and Quezon Avenue in Quezon City. 'We need more of those (BRTs),' Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon said at the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines (EJAP) Infrastructure Forum in Makati City. 'To me, the most viable and the most needed one is España to Quezon Avenue. That is very important. Busway [at] España, Quezon Avenue. That is going to be very viable…That's wide enough for a busway,' Dizon said. The Transportation chief said there are currently no buses serving commuters, especially students, in the España-Quezon Avenue stretch. 'We're doing FS (feasibility study) now,' he said, adding tthat the completion of the study would be 'hopefully next year.' Asked if the España-Quezon Avenue Busway will be operates by the private sector, Dizon said, 'I think we have to do it government muna…then we'll privatize the O&M (operations and maintenance).' 'It is not difficult to build. Kita mo naman [EDSA] Busway, pandemic lang ginawa nun,' he added. — BAP, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
3 days ago
- Business
- GMA Network
DOTr: Completion of north metro integrated terminal eyed in 2028
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) said up to three proposals have been submitted for the planned integrated terminal exchange in northern Metro Manila, which it said could be finished by 2028 as it is "desperately needed." According to Transportation Secretary Vivencio "Vince" Dizon, the government is looking at duplicating the success of the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) in southern Metro Manila. "We need more of that. There's gonna be one in Arca South developed by the Ayalas, and we desperately need one in the north, to cover the north. I think we can finish that by 2028," he said during the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines (EJAP) Infrastructure Forum. "Actually maraming nagpro-propose eh. Mga siguro dalawa o tatlo (Actually, many have submitted proposals. Maybe two or three)," he added, noting that he will be disclosing more information once details are ironed out. The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) last October committed the use of its 3-hectare property in Quezon City as the site of a modern intermodal transport hub that will be bigger than the PITX, following a presidential directive to develop a rail-city bus terminal and depot in the city. 'Punong puno na' With regard to the PITX, Dizon said the DOTr is now working with the private sector for possible expansion as the facility is already at full capacity. "When PITX was first conceptualized and it was studied, everybody said it won't work. Everybody said bus companies have their own terminals, walang lilipat diyan (no one will move there), etcetera etcetera, may kaso pa diyan, it's pending in the Supreme Court," he said. "Guess what, PITX is now very, very successful. In fact, it's full. Punong puno na. (Very full already). That's why we're working with Megawide now and Ayala to hopefully even expand Parañaque Terminal," he added. Before being rebranded by the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte into the PITX, the project was previously called the Southwest Terminal of the Integrated Transport System (ITS) under the presidency of former President Benigno Simeon "PNoy" Aquino III. The P2.5-billion public-private partnership (PPP) project was awarded by the then-Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) to MWM Terminals, a consortium of Megawide Construction Corp. and WM Property Management Inc. in January 2015. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
3 days ago
- Business
- GMA Network
Dizon: 3 out of 5 major ROW issues hounding Subway project addressed
The Department of Transportation is making progress in securing right-of-way to keep the construction of the Metro Manila Subway Project, which has been delaying the project's ultimate completion. 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
GMA Network
4 days ago
- Business
- GMA Network
DOTr looking to pilot automated fare collection in MRT 3 by July
'By July, we're going to be launching the first automated fare collection carousels. This is initial,' Dizon said at the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines (EJAP) Infrastructure Forum in Makati City. The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is looking to pilot the automated fare collection carousels at the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT3) next month in a bid to offer more payment methods, Transportation Secretary Vivencio 'Vince' Dizon said Monday. According to Dizon, the AFCs will allow customers of the MRT to pay by tapping their debit and credit cards at the counters of the MRT3. 'By July, we're going to be launching the first automated fare collection carousels. This is initial,' Dizon said at the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines (EJAP) Infrastructure Forum in Makati City. 'I know you're all excited about AFCs. So am I, but this is just a pilot which we're going to be doing on MRT3, but this will be your modern carousels,' he added, noting that the rollout is expected by the third week of the month. Cashless payments, particularly GCash, was enabled as an option at the MRT3 — which runs along EDSA from North Avenue to Taft Avenue — in May. –NB, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
4 days ago
- Business
- GMA Network
DICT wants internet service costs down by as much as 50%
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is looking to bring down internet service provider (ISP) costs by as much as 50%, with the expected increase in competition and facility sharing. According to DICT Secretary Henry Aguda, the agency is looking to make internet in the country more affordable, as it targets to bring down ISP costs by 30% to 50%. 'Over time po 'yan (This will be over time). As technology becomes more advanced, the price per megabyte drops. As competition increases and as telcos become more efficient, the price will really drop,' he said during the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines (EJAP) Infrastructure Forum in Makati City. Aguda said competition is expected to increase with the Konektadong Pinoy Bill, which has been ratified by both chambers of Congress and is now awaiting the President's signature. 'That's one, kasi darating na 'yung mga (because of the arrival of the) third-party providers that go straight to internet services, but we will harmonize it with the current telcos ngayon,' he said. Under the measure, new data transmission players are no longer required to secure a legislative franchise or Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN), a move that removes key filters historically used to evaluate legal, financial, technical, and cybersecurity readiness. Sought for the timeline for the cost reduction, Aguda said that this should come before the end of the administration's term in 2028. 'Before pa dapat yan. Mahirap kasing i-pin it down. You need to mix the price together with the free services that they provide. Confident ako 'yung mga telco magco-compete na eh, so malamang bababa 'yan,' he said. (It should be before (2028). It is quite difficult to pin down. You need to mix the price together with the free services that they provide. I am confident that the telcos will compete, so this will come down.) Moving forward, Aguda said the DICT also targets to increase the government's free wifi access points to 50,000 in 2028 from 15,717 in 2024. 'We are not building just fiber or satellites. We're building a more just, informed, and inclusive republic,' he said. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News
