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PNR: Massive train projects drive growth
State-owned railway company Philippine National Railway or PNR said the massive pipeline of train projects will not just offer convenience to commuters, but it will also help the economy trim the revenue losses due to traffic congestion, especially in Metro Manila. “Our commuters deserve to experience the luxury of riding on a train safely and comfortably. Aside from that, improving our train systems will also ease daily traffic,” PNR chairman Michael Ted R. Macapagal said in an interview at Straight Talk on Tuesday, an online show of the Daily Tribune. “The economy loses billions of pesos in traffic in Metro Manila daily. But the President, with the help of the Department of Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista, will push to revolutionize the entire transportation system in the country. The Philippines will be different in five to six years,” Macapagal explained. According to the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, about P3.5 billion is lost daily due to the congested Metro Manila roads. Citing projections by the Japan International Cooperation Agency, the economic losses could balloon to P5.4 billion daily by 2035 if the gridlock issues will be unresolved. In his second State of the National Address on Monday, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. bared that the DoTr will take on railway projects with a total length of more than 1,000 kilometers. The pipeline includes the following: PNR North Long Haul, 853 kilometers; Panay Railway, 100 kilometers; North Mindanao Railway, 54 kilometers; and San Mateo Railway, 17 kilometers. According to Bautista, all of these projects have secured funding to initiate feasibility studies. He said procurement is now ongoing for consultancy firms to create the feasibility studies for the rail projects lined up by the administration. “We initiated several railway projects, with a total length of more than 1,000 kilometers,” the President said. “Roads, bridges, and mass transport systems will be interconnected. This network will provide access and passage to vital and bustling economic markets, such as agriculture hubs, tourism sites, and key business districts,” Bautista said. PNR North Long Haul will be composed of four phases: Clark-La Union, La Union-Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Sur-Ilocos Norte and Cagayan Valley. It is envisioned to link strategic infrastructure, logistic system, and economic zones such as the Clark Freeport Zone, Poro Point Freeport Zone, Laoag International Airport, Port Irene, and Cagayan North International Airport (Lal-lo Airport). The Panay Railway project seeks to establish a modern and efficient railway system across the provinces of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, and Iloilo. The railway will serve as a vital link between major cities, towns, and economic hubs, facilitating the movement of goods, services, and people. Northern Mindanao Project, meanwhile, involves the financing, design, construction and operations, and maintenance of a 54.8-kilometer high-capacity, initially inter-city passenger railway system that will span across the highly urbanized city of Cagayan de Oro, connecting the Municipalities of Laguindingan and Villanueva, Misamis Oriental. San Mateo Railway is aimed to be built as a 17-km feeder railway line that connects LRT Line 2 to the municipalities of San Mateo and Rodriguez in the Rizal province. The post PNR: Massive train projects drive growth appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
2nd State of the Nation Address
Anti-inflation measures Crafting of Medium-Term Fiscal Framework supported by Congress Implementation of strategies to capacitate economic sectors Results (1) 7.6 percent growth in 2022 — highest rate in 46 years. (2) January to March 2023 — 6.4 growth percent (within 6 to 7 percent target) (3) Philippines considered to be among fastest-growing economies in the Asian region and in the world (4) Strong and stable financial system (5) Banks have strong capital and liquidity positions. (6) Digital economy contributed P2 trillion in 2022, the equivalent of 9.4 percent of our GDP. (7) World Bank projects a 6 percent overall growth rate due to strong local demand, consumer spending, strength from the BPO industry, steady flow of remittances, and continuing jobs recovery (8) Inflation rate eased up from 8.7 percent in January to 5.4 percent in June. (9) Bureau of Internal Revenue posted P1.05 trillion collections — an increase of almost 10 percent over the last year (10) Bureau of Customs increased collection by 7.4 percent for the first seven months of 2023, amounting to P476 billion. (11) PAGCOR increased collection by 47.9 percent (12) PCSO increased collection by 20 percent Reduction of prices of commodities like rice, meat, fish, vegetables and sugar Roll out of more than 7,000 KADIWA stores nationwide that link farmers with consumers, benefited 1.8 million families Agriculture Science-based methods toward food security Revision of Fisheries Code Unify 300 farm and fisheries clusters composed of 900 cooperatives Extensive technology training like the use of local bio-fertilizers Distribution of farm machinery, tools and inclement Distribution of more than 5 million rice seedlings and other crops Fuel at fertilizer discount vouchers Geo-Agri map of farm-to-market roads Irrigated 49,000 hectares of farmlands across the country. Constructed 4,000 additional fabrication labs, production at cold storage facilities Built 24 multi-species hatcheries to increase fisheries production Anti-animal pest monitoring, medicines, and vaccines Cloud seeding and buffer stocks in preparation for El Niño 70,000 agrarian land titles distributed Signing of EO No. 4. Or New Agrarian Emancipation Act the condoned P57-billion farmers’ loans Smuggling and hoarding Days of smugglers and hoarders are numbered Water Supply Creation of Water Resources Management Office Working for legislation of Department of Water Resource Management Allocated P14.6 billion for water supply projects Completion of Wawa Bulk Water Supply Project Phase 1 Installed 6,0000 rainwater collection systems across the country Infrastructure 8.3-trillion peso “Build, Better, More” Program in progress 194 flagship projects Continuation of “Build, Build, Build” projects Infrastructure spending stays at 5 to 6 percent of GDP 1,200-kilometer Luzon Spine Expressway Network Program will effectively connect Ilocos to Bicol from 20 hours to just 9 hours of travel Under Mega-Bridge Program, 12 bridges totaling 90 kilometers will be constructed including Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge and the Panay-Guimaras-Negros Island Bridges, and Samal Island-Davao City Connector Bridge As of June 2023, 4,000 kilometers of roads and 500 bridges have been constructed, maintained and upgraded Completed Cebu’s Pier 88 smart port, new passenger terminal buildings of Clark Airport and Port of Calapan. North-South Commuter Railway System now in full swing Strategic financing Enactment into law of Maharlika Investment Fund Social security Funds for the social security and public health insurance intact and separate Energy and Power Generation Price of crude oil stabilized Since last year, gasoline and diesel prices have gone down by 18 to 29 percent, respectively. Built 8 new additional power plants, bringing to 17 the total number of power generation facilities Energy production increased by 1,174 megawatts. Almost half a million homes given access to electricity; 100 percent household electrification by June 2028 Renewable energy is the way forward Promotion of renewables targets 35 percent share in the power mix by 2030, and 50 percent by 2040 Opened renewable energy projects to foreign investments Since last year, an additional 126 renewable energy contracts with potential capacity of 31,000 megawatts awarded. To date, more than 1,000 active projects all over the country — 299 are solar, 187 are wind, 436 are hydroelectric, 58 are biomass, 36 are geothermal, and 9 are ocean-powered. Malampaya project is boon, energizing 20 percent of Luzon; renewal of the contract guarantees continued revenues and energy production for another 15 years Push for more gas exploration in other parts of the country Partnered with the BARMM in regard to energy exploration and development The Philippines now has a Unified National Grid with the interconnection of the Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao grids “One Grid, One Market” will enable more efficient transfers and more competitive pricing of electricity Performance review of National Grid Corporation of the Philippines to complete all of its deliverables, starting with the vital Mindanao-Visayas and Cebu-Negros-Panay interconnections. Social welfare Enough funds for underprivileged DSWD, DoLE, DepEd, TESDA and CHEd involved in providing assistance Programs like AICS, TUPAD, TVET for Social Equity, Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens, Cash-for-Work for PWDs, and Integrated Livelihood Program-Kabuhayan available for indigents Social protection Pension of the military and the uniformed personnel is as important, urgent, and humanitarian as that of all other civilian Filipino employees Working closely with Congress to ease the transition from the old system to the new one, to guarantee that no effects are felt by those in the uniformed services. The post 2nd State of the Nation Address appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DoTr shifts priority focus on public transport initiatives
Responding to the President’s call to deliver efficient services to Filipinos, the Department of Transportation has committed to shift its focus into developing a public transit-friendly landscape, instead of maintaining the current car-centric setup that privileges the private automobile as a better transportation mode. “The transportation department’s initiatives have shifted focus on public transport, to maximize usage of the country’s limited highways,” the DoTr said on Monday. “The goal is for private vehicle owners to abandon their cars in favor of trains, buses, taxis, bicycles, and even motorcycle taxis,” it added. Despite facing numerous headwinds, the DoTr still described the EDSA Busway implementation as successful. The new system, which is envisioned to be replicated in more populated areas in the country, reduces travel time between Monumento and PITX to more or less an hour. To recall, improving the EDSA busway system was one of the priorities of the DoTr. It plans to introduce new stations and upgrade existing facilities to be universally accessible, gender-responsive, and climate resilient — all aligned with international standards. Active transport nationwide Simultaneously, the DoTr said it will complete its planned 2,400-kilometer bike lane expansion by 2028 to promote active and sustainable transportation. “As an advocate of the environment-friendly transport system, we are pushing for the Active Transport Program where 564 kilometers of bike lanes were built throughout the country with an additional 470 kilometers to be constructed this year,” it added. The DoTr has set out its plans to upgrade and expand existing bike lane and pedestrian walkway networks, and provide better Public Utility Vehicle stops and End-of-Trip cycling facilities. For this year alone, the DoTr will mobilize P932.82 million to build additional 470 kilometers of protected bike lanes across nine regions in the country this year. Airport overhaul underway To boost the country’s tourism industry, the DoTr aims to improve the operations and facilities of our international and even regional airports through the implementation of Public-Private Partnerships to speed up aviation projects. Just last week, Transportation Secretary Jaime J. Bautista said the DoTr will publish the Terms of Reference for the solicited bidding to rehabilitate the Ninoy Aquino International Airport by next month so that contract will be awarded as early as December. The National Economic and Development Authority or NEDA, chaired by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., approved the solicited bid to privatize the operations of NAIA. NEDA Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said the P170.6-billion project will help address the long-standing issues at the country’s main air hub such as congestion and limited aircraft movements that usually cause inconvenience to passengers. “We also have opened to the public the new passenger terminal of Clark International Airport. And to complement the operations in our main gateway, new airport projects in Bulacan and Sangley are being developed,” the DoTr noted. Likewise, the DoTr added that the relaxation of travel restrictions and continued support to recovery initiatives of airlines and other aviation stakeholders have resulted in passenger volume being around 3.2x compared to 2021 figures. Full-year 2022 domestic and international passenger volumes hit 32.3 million vs 7.7 million in 2021. Powering through delays In the railways sector, despite the push backs, the DoTr said it remains optimistic to deliver its promises. “Railways effectively address traffic congestion while providing increased passenger and freight capacity. The DoTr is accelerating the development, upgrade, and construction of big-ticket rail projects to be able to move more people and goods,” the DoTr said. “The DoTr has made substantial headway on several ongoing rail projects with various contracts signed and construction and financing milestones for big-ticket projects North-South Commuter Railway, Metro Manila Subway Project, LRT-1 Cavite Extension, Common Station, MRT-3 Rehabilitation and Maintenance, MRT-4 and other ongoing railway projects,” it added. Despite the slow progress, the Metro Manila Subway Project, which has been at the table for years, is one of the flagship projects the DoTr wants to prioritize. According to Bautista, fulfilling the rail project on time also means fulfilling his promise of providing “a global-standard transport system” to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. With 17 stations and a depot of 30.34 hectares, the civil works for the Metro Manila Subway Project’s two major segments will generate more than 6,000 direct and indirect jobs. Funded by the Japanese government, the subway is a 33-kilometer rail line stretching from Valenzuela City to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 in Pasay City. It will reduce travel time between Quezon City and NAIA from one hour and 10 minutes to just 45 minutes. The post DoTr shifts priority focus on public transport initiatives appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DoTr, MIAA submit NAIA-solicited PPP project
On Saturday, the Manila International Airport Authority and the Department of Transportation submitted their joint proposal for the NAIA-solicited Public Private Partnership Project for approval by the NEDA Board. According to the MIAA, the said project aims to increase the capacity of NAIA and to ensure safe operations while significantly improving the passenger experience at the airport through shorter waiting and processing times, more comfortable and modern facilities, and better connectivity between terminals. Private concessionaire required To achieve these, the government will require a private concessionaire to invest in modern air traffic control equipment, rehabilitate runways and taxiways, and improve existing terminal facilities. The airport authority added that the private concessionaire will have 15 years to operate the airport and recover its investment, a period meant to ensure that there is sufficient capacity to meet growing demand in the Greater Capital Region while new airports elsewhere in the region are still at various stages of development and planning. DoTr Secretary Jaime Bautista said Cebu and Clark have shown that when given the chance, private companies can provide excellent airport services to Filipino travelers and visitors to the country. Goal With this project, it is their goal that travelers to and from Manila, our country’s main international gateway, also benefit from the improvements in efficiency and service that world-class airport operators and investors can bring. The solicited and unsolicited modes are the strategies being undertaken by DoTr and MIAA with the assistance of their transaction advisor, the Asian Development Bank. The post DoTr, MIAA submit NAIA-solicited PPP project appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
General Santos Airport welcomes inaugural flight from Clark
On 26 April, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines General Santos Airport welcomed 132 passengers on board the inaugural flight of Cebu Pacific 5J1095 from Clark, Pampanga. The CEB flight departed General Santos Airport for Clark on the same day at around 8:17 a.m., carrying 136 passengers. According to Area Center 11 Manager Rex Obcena and General Santos Airport Manager Joel Gavina, an Airbus A320 will fly the Clark-General Santos-Clark route three times a week: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Representatives from the General Santos municipal and provincial governments, members of the local media and airline executives attended the Clark-GenSan-Clark inaugural flight celebration. The General Santos Airport has been acting as a hub for internal and international travel, with 41 flights each week serving as a gateway to Mindanao. The airport can now accommodate 52 flights weekly because of the extra route between Clark and General Santos. [caption id="attachment_124492" align="aligncenter" width="1800"] General Santos International Airport Manager Joel G. Gavina and Acting CAAP Area Center 11 Manager Engr. Rex A. Obcena together with Leonard V. Flores, Department Head of City Economic Management and Cooperative Development Office, Elizabeth B. Bagonoc, Councilor of Sangguniang Panlungsod, and Engr. Ginalyn Fe C. Cachuela, Manager of Area Development Project Office, during the CRK-GES-CRK inaugural flight ceremony on 26 April 2023.[/caption] Gensan Airport is a principal Class 1 airport mainly serving the SOCCSKSARGEN region. It accommodates flights from major local airlines such as Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific. Gavina also assured that the CAAP-General Santos Airport is continually working to further enhance services at the airport to ensure safe and simple travel for passengers. The airport anticipates establishing a passenger boarding bridge and drop-off area within this year, which are expected to improve accessibility and convenience for visitors, stimulate local economic activity and increase the airport's capacity to handle the rising passenger volume. The post General Santos Airport welcomes inaugural flight from Clark appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
CEB bolsters routes via Clark reboot
Pioneer budget airline Cebu Pacific or CEB restarted last 21 April 2023 its Clark hub by relaunching flights and increasing frequencies from Clark International Airport to strengthen connectivity for its passengers from north and central Luzon. CEB recently flew its inaugural flights from Clark to Bacolod, Boracay, Davao and Bangkok. The airline previously announced that it would operate a combined 15 destinations from its Clark hub. The relaunch allows Cebu Pacific to add 10,000 seats per month and lower fares for both domestic and international flights by 30 percent compared to the pre-pandemic average. It will also boost the airline’s network from its Clark hub and reestablish the alternate gateway’s significance for local and international travelers. 3 birds for Clark To support the expansion, CEB is set to take delivery of three additional aircraft which will be based in Clark. These are on top of the 10 new Airbus NEO aircraft that will be delivered in 2023 to expand the airline’s fleet. “The launch of our Clark flights was a fulfillment of Cebu Pacific’s mission to help make air travel more accessible and affordable for travelers in north and central Luzon. This expansion will give the traveling public more opportunities to explore the Philippines and the rest of the world,” Xander Lao, Cebu Pacific president and chief commercial officer said. Noel Manankil, president and chief Executive Officer of Luzon International Premier Airport Development, the private consortium that manages Clark International Airport, reiterated its support to CEB’s initiatives to grow its network and capacity from the station. “Clark International Airport and Cebu Pacific are working closely with each other to ensure a seamless experience for travelers. Our brand-new terminal is ready to welcome Cebu Pacific passengers traveling to and from the best domestic and international destinations and serve as the window to the Philippines for visitors coming from different parts of the world,” Manankil added. The Department of Tourism lauded CEB’s efforts in helping spur travel to Clark and the rest of the Philippines. The post CEB bolsters routes via Clark reboot appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Clark Airport upbeat on new leadership
The recent appointment of former Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency chief Aaron Aquino as the new president of the Clark International Airport Corp. is a “positive step towards further strengthening the agency’s capacity to develop the civil aviation complex,” Joshua Bingcang, outgoing officer-in-charge of CIAC, said Friday......»»
Power fluctuations hit NAIA
Passengers sweltered as power fluctuations hit the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2 at around 10 a.m. yesterday......»»
MIAA to remove gang chairs at NAIA-3 arrival lobby
The Manila International Airport Authority is scheduled to remove all the gang chairs at the arrival lobby of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 (NAIA-3) after Holy Week, MIAA general manager Eric Ines said yesterday......»»
UPS expands Clark operations
Logistics giant UPS is expanding operations at the Clark International Airport in Pampanga as part of its $250-million commitment to scale up its Asia-Pacific business......»»
Starlux to offer Clark-US flights
Clark International Airport will open its longest route ever in May as it is set to host flights to the US West Coast by way of Taipei through Starlux Airlines......»»
Clark International Airport feted at Routes Asia 2024
Clark International Airport bagged an award at the Routes Asia 2024 held in Langkawi, Malaysia this week......»»
Clark Int l Airport receives Routes Asia 2024 Awards
Clark Int l Airport receives Routes Asia 2024 Awards.....»»
Marcos Jr. : New Clark City access road a ‘red carpet’
The government will build more world-class infrastructure in other growth areas in the country to maximize their potential and attract investments, President Marcos pledged on Wednesday as he led the inspection of the 19.81-kilometer Airport to New Clark City Access Road in Mabalacat, Pampanga.?.....»»
Government to pitch Clark as new aviation hub
The Philippines will pitch Clark International Airport as the next Asian hub for aerospace investments in one of the largest aviation events this year......»»
Clark also being eyed as mega food complex
The Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Agriculture have partnered with Clark International Airport to collaborate in the development of a mega food hub in Clark City......»»
Sunlight Air to move operations to Clark International Airport
Starting April 1, boutique airline Sunlight Air will mainly operate in its new home, Clark International Airport (CRK)......»»
2.9 kilos of shabu seized at Clark airport
Security screening officers from the Office for Transportation Security at the Clark International Airport intercepted 2.9 kilos of shabu on Sunday......»»
Clark airport to connect with NLEX, SCTEX
Travelers who want to fly through the Clark International Airport will enjoy direct access to the gateway once the government completes its road link to expressways by 2026......»»
Clark airport exceeds 2023 passenger target
Clark International Airport, the alternative gateway to Metro Manila, breached its passenger target in 2023 amid the recovery of global air travel......»»