PGMA, Japan PM inaugurate 3G trains
December 07, 2006
Jinky Jorgio
Tel. Nos. 854-04-52/854-09-84
The event, which is the first time the Japan Prime Minster has visited the country showcases the long-standing economic cooperation between the two countries.
Ms. Arroyo said the activity is good news to the people of Metro Manila who depend on the LRT System for their day to day travel.
“Commuters will undoubtedly enjoy not only reduced travel time, but also increased comfort and less pollution as well,” the president remarked.
She also lauded local and foreign companies with vast experience in mass transit development for lending their expertise to the project and making the completion of CAPEX ahead of schedule.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Abe said he is hoping that the new trains by phase 2 of the LRT Line 1 CAPEX project will provide the Filipino people more convenience in their everyday life by decongesting Metro Manila transport and will contribute to the economic development of the Philippines.
“Railways have certainly contributed indispensable measures to making Japan a very progressive and efficient nation. I am glad to note that the Philippine Government is equally committed to providing fast, safe, and efficient transportation for all its citizens,” the prime minister added.
LRTA Administrator Melquiades Robles disclosed that the government of Japan has been extending financial support to the LRTA since 1993 for major railway projects, the latest of which is the CAPEX.
“The CAPEX is an P8.893 billion-worth loan, funded through the first stage of the Obuchi Fund PHP 211, which has a concessional interest rate of 1% per annum. We are very much thankful to the Government of Japan, through the JBIC, for all the help they have given to us,” Robles said.
The loan assistance is composed of two packages. Package A consists of the acquisition of the 12 four-car trains and related system and civil works such as major renovations at the EDSA and Doroteo Jose stations, which links the Line 1 system to the MRT Line 3 and MRT Line 2 systems respectively, that involves the provision of escalators and elevators and a cross-over bridge at the Doroteo Jose station, improvements in other stations to resolve the perennial queue of passengers at the ticket booths, gates and access ways, and the construction of a modern Operations Control Center (OCC) at the depot area to centralize control of the operations in the Line 1 system.
On the other hand, Package B, which has already been completed, pertains to the installation of air-conditioning units in the old fleet.
The CAPEX was undertaken in preparation for the construction of the North and South Line Extensions.
The North Extension project, which is pegged at $120 million, linking LRT Line 1’s Monumento Station to Metrostar Express’ North EDSA station will commence in January and will be available to the public by May 2010.
The South Extension project from the Baclaran station to Bacoor, Cavite will start as soon as all the budgetary requirements are in place. The project has already been endorsed by National Economic Development Authority – Investment Coordinating Council (NEDA-ICC) Technical Board to the ICC – Cabinet Committee for approval next week.
n n n