DOTC to open qualification bids for Mactan-Cebu airport

 Economy
Apr 182013
 
DOTC to open qualification bids for Mactan-Cebu airport

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Transportation and Communications on Thursday announced that it will conduct another opening of qualification documents next week for the P17.5-billion Mactan-Cebu International Airport project. The DOTC said the project, under the Public-Private Partnership program of the Aquino administration, is the third to be rolled out this year. It added that interested parties in the MCIA project will submit their eligibility documents to the joint DOTC-Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority Prequalification, Bids, and Awards Committee on Monday, Apr. 22. “We are optimistic that the MCIA Project will generate the same level of interest from major local and international companies as what we saw from the AFCS (Automated Fare Collection System) project.  We made sure that this project will also be attractive to investors in order to foster competitive and open bidding,” the DOTC said. To date, a total of 12 companies purchased Invitation Documents for the MCIA Project, the DOTC said. It noted that it expects foreign airport operators to take part in the bid because of the lack of local expertise in that area. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 “Based on our requirements, Philippine companies will have to partner with established airport operators from other countries. This will benefit our domestic air transport industry, as technology transfer will give local players the opportunity to learn from more advanced and more experienced airport operators.” In turn, the DOTC assures the private sector that the joint DOTC-MCIA PBAC will maintain a level playing Read More …

DOTC: Two domestic flights canceled due to bad weather

 News
Mar 072013
 
DOTC: Two domestic flights canceled due to bad weather

At least two domestic flights were canceled Friday due to bad weather conditions, the Department of Transportation and Communications said. In a post on its Twitter account, the DOTC indicated the affected flights both belonged to carrier Air Philippines. The canceled flights are 2P-030 Catarman to Manila, 2P-022: Masbate to Manila. Earlier, PAGASA forecast cloudy skies with moderate to occasionally heavy rain showers and thunderstorms over Bicol and Eastern Visayas. It also said Mindanao and the rest of Visayas would be cloudy with scattered light to moderate rain showers or thunderstorms. But it said Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon would be “partly cloudy with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.” — LBG, GMA News

EDSA traffic worse today than yesterday

 Economy
Feb 252013
 
EDSA traffic worse today than yesterday

Complaints about the traffic in EDSA are increasing with the situation getting worse more today than yesterday. Over 120,000 cars were sold in 2012 (not including trucks and other vehicles) – just think of the heavy volume of vehicles added to the streets every year. It was really prudent of the government to defer the two-year EDSA rehabilitation plan unless new alternative routes are opened. Yesterday when parts of EDSA were closed for the 27th People Power celebrations, a young businessman spent four hours getting to the airport from White Plains – double the time it takes on a “normal” day. A lot of plans and proposals have been made to address the worsening traffic and the only feasible plan is to build a skyway, plus add more trains on the MRT and lessen the number of buses. Other creative solutions have been tried and tested, but none made remarkable improvements as far as traffic congestion is concerned. Reader Dr. Ron Benitez is suggesting a “brand coding scheme” in addition to the current number coding to ease up traffic – saying his proposal could help drastically reduce the estimated 400,000 vehicles plying EDSA every day. The plan is for every vehicle manufacturer to attend a “lottery” conducted by MMDA or DOTC to draw the day when their respective brands will not be allowed along EDSA. For instance, if Toyota drew Monday, then all types of Toyota-manufactured vehicles will be restricted from EDSA. MMDA or the DOTC can combine different brands Read More …

DOTC: 2 flights canceled due to bad weather

 News
Feb 202013
 
DOTC: 2 flights canceled due to bad weather

Two domestic flights were canceled Thursday amid bad weather conditions brought by Tropical Depression Crising, the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) said. In a post on its Twitter account, the DOTC said the affected flights were those of Zest Air, between Manila and Tablas (Romblon). The affected flights were Z2-240 and Z2-241, from Manila to Tablas and back. Earlier this week, several domestic flights had been canceled due to bad weather conditions brought by Crising. PAGASA said Crising, which had brought rain to several parts of Mindanao this week, is heading for Southern Palawan. It said Crising may exit the Philippine area of responsibility by early Friday. — KBK, GMA News

Cranes in place to lift US ship piece by piece; Aquino OK’s plan

 News
Feb 072013
 
Cranes in place to lift US ship piece by piece; Aquino OK’s plan

By Michael Lim Ubac, Paolo G. MontecilloPhilippine Daily Inquirer 5:58 am | Friday, February 8th, 2013 President Aquino approved Thursday, Feb. 7, 2013, the salvage operations plan submitted by the US Navy to use floating cranes to lift piece by piece its stranded minesweeper out of the Tubbataha Reefs in the Sulu Sea. AP PHOTO MANILA, Philippines—President Aquino approved Thursday the salvage operations plan submitted by the US Navy to use floating cranes to lift piece by piece its stranded minesweeper out of the Tubbataha Reefs in the Sulu Sea. In a statement, Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya said, “We have carefully reviewed the US Navy’s salvage operations plan and we were assured that among their priorities is to have no further damage to the Tubbataha Reefs.” He said the DOTC had “considered several factors and imposed certain conditions before we gave clearance for the US Navy and commercial salvors it has commissioned to undertake the dismantling and vertical removal of the grounded US ship.” “It was presented to [President Aquino] by Secretary Abaya and he has approved it,” said Communications Secretary Ricky Carandang at a briefing in Malacañang. After getting the President’s approval, Abaya promptly issued a statement to formally announce the government’s acceptance of the salvage plan. Asked if the plan had been modified in any way following discussions between Philippine and US officials, Carandang said the salvage plan was approved “as presented” by the US Navy. He said the plan would follow “a general timeframe,” but declined Read More …

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