Infra standstill: Risk aversion or incompetence?

 Economy
Jul 162013
 
Infra standstill: Risk aversion or incompetence?

People keep on asking me why the P-Noy administration has fallen flat on its face in the area of constructing vital infrastructure. The only major project they are claiming to have completed, the Laguindingan Airport in Cagayan de Oro was initiated during the Ate Glue watch. The portion that was the responsibility of the P-Noy watch was even botched by DOTC. They forgot the airport needs air navigation and night landing facilities. So they inaugurated the airport with only visual flight rule in place. The ILS (Instrument Landing System) and other vital facilities will come later. Another agency under DOTC forgot that the new airport needs a good public transport system. LTFRB should have been issuing franchises for buses and jeepneys but they thought of doing that too late. I was told of a Manila-bound Cebu Pacific passenger who had to pay a taxi P800 to get to the airport. His plane ticket was P300. In answer to my question, I am inclined to believe that incompetence is the basic reason why P-Noy’s boys have failed to put up infrastructure projects over the past three years. But there are those who say it is an acute case of risk aversion… as in a fear of signing any contract that may end up with the Ombudsman and will bug them way after they are out of office. They are most likely thinking they cannot be sued for corruption if they do nothing… but they risk a Sandiganbayan case if they signed Read More …

DOTC sees completion of P13.25-B aviation system by 2015

 Economy
Jul 072013
 
DOTC sees completion of P13.25-B aviation system by 2015

DOTC Sec. Joseph Emilio Abaya MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) expects the completion of the P13.25 billion world-class communication, navigation and surveillance system by 2015 or before the end of the term of President Aquino. Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya said the joint venture between Sumitomo Corp. of Japan and Thales Australia Ltd. has committed to complete the Communications, Navigation and Surveillance/Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) Systems Development Project Package–I by November 2015. “I don’t expect any further delay. I know the whole project is estimated to be done by November 2015,” Abaya said. The CNS/ATM Systems Development Project was first conceptualized in accordance with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Global Air Navigation Plan, and would replace the aging vital communications, surveillance, and air traffic control equipment at selected airports nationwide. The DOTC awarded the two work packages to Sumitomo-Thales joint venture. The first package which entails the design and construction of the ATM Center and ATM Automation System, as well as the final integration of the whole CNS/ATM system was awarded in November 2010. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 The second package which involves the design and construction of a surveillance and communication system was awarded in April 2011. The CNS/ATM project aims to enhance safety, reliability and efficiency of air traffic and airspace systems in the Philippines. The existing air traffic control systems, navigation, communications and surveillance equipment in the country fall short of the required number, are aging Read More …

Roxas defends deputy at DILG vying for Sandiganbayan post

 News
Jul 032013
 
Roxas defends deputy at DILG vying for Sandiganbayan post

Interior Secretary Mar Roxas on Wednesday defended Interior Undersecretary Rafael Antonio Santos against those criticizing his bid to become the next Sandiganbayan presiding justice. In an interview with reporters at the Supreme Court, Roxas said Santos has performed well both when he was still at the Department of Transportation and Communications, which Roxas used to head, and now at the Department of Interior and Local Government. “Maayos ang kanyang trabaho. Sa haba ng aming pagsasama sa DOTC at saka sa DILG ay wala kang masasabi. Walang mantsa, walang bahid ang kanyang pagserbisyo,” Roxas said. Roxas said he did not necessarily give his “blessings” to Santos, but said he “supported” Santos’ decision to leave the executive branch and return once again to law practice. “Hindi ko maaaring hadlangan ang kanyang pangarap o kagustuhan na bumalik na sa kanyang propesyon sa pagiging abugado. Sinusuportahan ko siya,” Roxas said. “Sabi niya, pagod na rin siya. Nagsilbi na rin siya. Kaya maaari daw bang mag-apply. Oh di sabi ko, okay naman na mag-apply,” he added. Asked what he wanted to tell Santos’ detractors, Roxas said: “Well, hayaan mo sila.” United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) Secretary General Toby Tiangco earlier expressed doubt about Santos’ “agenda” for joining the Sandiganbayan race. Tiangco said: “[But e]ven if he has the blessing of Mar Roxas, Usec. Santos is not exempted from the ‘Tuwid na Daan.’” According to Tiangco, Santos served as undersecretary of Department of National Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz from 2004 to 2006, before being personally handpicked by Roxas Read More …

Aquino OKs 6 PPP projects worth P76.5 B

 Economy
Jun 272013
 
Aquino OKs 6 PPP projects worth P76.5 B

MANILA, Philippines – President Aquino approved on Wednesday six public-private partnership projects with a combined total of P76.5 billion among five government agencies, but two of the National Economic Development Authority-approved projects carried “conditions.” The P27.5-billion proposed Philippine Rural Development Program of the Agriculture department under Secretary Proceso Alcala was put on hold, and so was the P5.9-billion Philippine Ports and Coast Guard Capability Development project of the DOTC. The project from the office of Transportation Secretary Emilio Joseph Abaya was for the procurement of four brand new 24-meter patrol boats and one 82-meter patrol boat that would be used by the Philippine Coast Guard, an agency under the DOTC. The rural development project under the Department of Agriculture was for increasing “farm and fishery productivity in 16 targeted regions and 80 provinces all over the country, thru “adoption and integration of climate-smart agricultural support.” Among the four approved NEDA projects that the government’s Investment Coordination Committee endorsed were from the Departments of Energy (DOE), Education (DepEd) and Public Works and Highways (DPWH). There were two DPWH projects – the P6.7-billion post-Ondoy and Pepeng short-term infrastructure rehabilitation project and P5.5-billion Phase II of the Pasig-Marikina River Channel Improvement project. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 The two others were from DOE’s P21.6-billion market transformation thru energy-efficient e-vehicles and DepEd’s P9.4-billion Basic Education Sector Transformation, giving focus on “improving teaching and learning” and “strengthening systems.” All in all, the six projects have a combined value of P76.5 billion. Read More …

DOTC: Bad weather over NCR forces flight cancellations, diversions

 News
Jun 132013
 
DOTC: Bad weather over NCR forces flight cancellations, diversions

Heavy rain that fell over Metro Manila Thursday afternoon forced the cancellation of at least two flights and the diversion of five Manila-bound flights, including one from the United States. The Department of Transportation and Communications said the affected flights belonged to flag carrier Philippine Airlines, PAL Express and Cebu Pacific. One international flight from the US was diverted to Clark in Pampanga due to heavy rain, the DOTC said on its Twitter account. It identified the affected international flight as PAL Flight PR-113 from Los Angeles to Manila. The DOTC, in a separate Twitter post, said the canceled flights included: – 5J-911: Manila to Caticlan– 5J-912: Caticlan to Manila Cebu Pacific flight 5J-995, from Manila to General Santos, was diverted to Davao due to bad weather, it added. The DOTC also said three flights were diverted to Clark “due to weather condition.” These included: – 2P-056: Caticlan to Manila (PAL Express)– 2P-966: Cagayan de Oro to Manila (PAL Express)– 5J-966: Davao to Manila (Cebu Pacific) NAIA said Cebu Pacific 5J-906 (Caticlan to Manila) was also diverted to Clark. Heavy rain from a thunderstorm had fallen over Metro Manila, rendering many roads impassable and forcing some schools to suspend classes for the afternoon and evening. Many roads were flooded, stranding employees, students and commuters. Traffic was also snarled in many parts of Metro Manila, radio dzBB reported. Meanwhile, the Philippine National Railways said its commuter services were not operational “due to floods in some areas.” — BM, GMA News

DOTC: Davao airport runway resumes normal operations

 News
Jun 042013
 
DOTC: Davao airport runway resumes normal operations

CebuPac plane’s nose mounted on truck, towing to follow . The nose of the Cebu Pacific plane that skidded off the runway of the Francisco Bangoy Int’l Airport in Davao City is mounted on a truck’s bed before it is towed out of the runway on Tuesday. All flights to and from Davao still remains canceled due to the incident. Karlos Manlupig (Updated 8:43 p.m.) The runway of the Davao International Airport — closed since Sunday night after a Cebu Pacific plane made an emergency landing — resumed normal operations Tuesday night, according to the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC). In a tweet, the DOTC said Davao Airport’s Runway 5/23 “resumed normal operations” at 8 p.m. Cebu Pacific, for its part, said the disabled aircraft was finally removed from the runway and that the airline will resume its normal flights to and from Davao City starting Wednesday. In an advisory posted on its Twitter account, the air carrier also reiterated its apology for the inconvenience caused by the plane’s emergency landing. “All Cebu Pacific (CEB) flights to and from Davao will be back to normal starting tomorrow, June 5, 2013, Wednesday, after its disabled aircraft was removed from the Davao Airport runway,” it said. Cebu Pacific said the Davao International Airport’s runway was cleared at about 7 p.m. Tuesday, nearly 48 hours after the emergency landing. On Sunday, Cebu Pacific’s Flight 5J-971 made an emergency landing amid a downpour and blocked the airport’s runway, forcing the closure of the Read More …

SMC, Lamco groups pay appeal fee for MRT-LRT ticket project

 Economy
May 302013
 
SMC, Lamco groups pay appeal fee for MRT-LRT ticket project

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) is set to look into the appeal filed by diversified conglomerate San Miguel Corp. (SMC) and Lamco Consortium that were disqualified from the bidding of the P1.72 billion automated and contactless single ticketing system for the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) and Light Rail Transit (LRT). Michael Arthur Sagcal, spokesperson of DOTC, said SMC and Lamco paid the appeal fee amounting to P8.6 million each as stated under the implementing rules and regulations of the Build Operate Transfer (BOT) law. The non-refundable appeal fee is equivalent to 0.5 percent of the total project cost as provided under the BOT law. Sagcal said Lamco paid the appeal fee last May 27 while SMC settled the amount last May 28. The DOTC has issued Special Bid Bulletin 05-2013 giving disqualified bidders of the Automated Fare Collection System (AFCS) project 15 days from the receipt of the notice of disqualification that were issued last May 7 to file an appeal and pay the non-refundable fee of P8.6 million. Another losing bidder, the MTD-PRLM consortium, failed to pay the appeal fee. The Mega Lucky United Consortium was also disqualified by the DOTC. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 SMC submitted qualification documents to the DOTC last April 12 through San Miguel Transport Solutions Consortium composed of Optimal Infrastructure Development Inc., Catchweight Holdings Inc., Deltacrest Holdings Inc., and Allcard Plastics Philippines Inc. to bid for the project. Its partners include Petron Corp., Philippine Read More …

DOTC: Five flights canceled due to 'aircraft situation'

 News
May 292013
 
DOTC: Five flights canceled due to 'aircraft situation'

At least five domestic flights of air carrier Cebu Pacific were canceled Wednesday due to “aircraft situation,” the Department of Transportation and Communications said. In a post on its Twitter account, the DOTC said the affected flights had destination points in Metro Manila, Bicol, and Visayas. The affected flights included: – 5J-519 and 5J-523 (Manila to Naga)– 5J-520 and 5J-524 (Naga to Manila)– 5J-557 (Manila to Cebu) The DOTC did not elaborate on the “aircraft situation” that prompted the cancellation of the flights. Earlier Wednesday, state weather forecasters had warned of rain showers and thunderstorms as the rainy season approaches. — LBG, GMA News

DOTC: 8 domestic flights canceled due to aircraft situation

 News
May 052013
 
DOTC: 8 domestic flights canceled due to aircraft situation

At least eight domestic flights were canceled Sunday, six of them due to “aircraft situation,” the Department of Transportation and Communications said. In posts on its Twitter account, the DOTC said four of the flights belonged to air carrier Cebu Pacific, while the other four belonged to Zest Air. Two of the canceled Cebu Pacific flights included 5J-919: Manila to Caticlan and  5J-920: Caticlan to Manila The other two were 5J-341: Manila to Kalibo and 5J-342: Kalibo to Manila Meanwhile, the canceled Zest Air flights were: – Z2-202: Manila to Marinduque– Z2-203: Marinduque to Manila– Z2-412: Manila to Busuanga– Z2-413: Busuanga to Manila The DOTC did not give further details on the “aircraft situation” that caused the cancellations. Caticlan is a gateway to world-famous Boracay, while Busuanga and Marinduque are also popular tourist attractions. — LBG, GMA News

Myanmar has a brand new airport

 Economy
Apr 182013
 
Myanmar has a brand new airport

Go ahead and cry and turn green with envy. And be mad as hell in frustration too. Myanmar, a country that was stuck in the past has been making fast and bold leaps into the future. And they started doing that while our leaders were busy playing politics or otherwise doing nothing more productive than shuffling papers and restudying long completed project studies. A friend of mine from the old UP days just came from Myanmar, as part of a JICA team to help Myanmar formulate its national transport plan. Guess what? According to him, Myanmar “has built a new international airport in three years time, with a spanking new terminal building that puts our T3 to shame.” Good Grief! In the three years this administration was busy restudying plans and getting DOTC lawyers to pretend they were engineers, Myanmar got going and has inaugurated a brand new airport they can’t even fully utilize. The new airport “was designed by Changi airport with a capacity to handle five million passengers per annum. Current traffic is only 40,000 passengers per year.” According to my friend, a transport expert working on projects in Asean, “had Myanmar applied cost-benefit analysis, phasing and staging would have resulted in a more modest airport. But there it is, standing on a new capital that is 3x the size of MetroManila.” I hope Mar and his gang of lawyers won’t say Myanmar succeeded in opening a brand new airport larger and better than our Terminal 3 because Read More …

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