SBMA proposes 100-km coastal road

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority asked the government to build a multi-modal 100-kilometer coastal highway from Subic Bay to the Port of Manila to help decongest traffic in the metropolis at a cost of P100 billion.

The “most viable and doable solution to the traffic congestion lies outside the metropolis,” Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority chairman Martin Dino said.


He said the project’s indicative cost “is the equivalent of only 34 days of cumulative business losses resulting from Manila’s traffic congestion.” The country is losing an estimated P3 billion a day from the traffic mess.

Construction could be completed in 48 months, he said.

Dino said he would ask for Malacañang’s approval to have it included for financing under the Philippine-China Framework of Cooperation.

“Many economic and social forces are now at play and our rapid and efficient response is critical to creating the environment conducive to promoting further growth and development,” Dino said.

“The economic benefits from the project would be immediate and enormous,” he said. (Darwin G. Amojelar, Manila Standard)

http://thestandard.com.ph/business/224433/sbma-proposes-100-km-coastal-road.html

Read More

Chinese firm to build Clark-Subic bullet train as PPP

The Philippines may soon join the ranks of Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan among the Asian countries with a high-speed rail system or bullet train.

On the sidelines of an inquiry by the House transportation committee, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman Martin Diño revealed the country's first-ever "bullet train" would be built between Subic in Zambales and Clark in Pampanga.

Diño said the bullet train project will be carried out through a public-private partnership with a Chinese company. He did not name the firm.

Diño said discussions on the railway project would be part of President Rodrigo Duterte's state visit to China on October 18 to 21.

The Clark-Subic bullet train is among the topics President Rodrigo Duterte will discuss with the Chinese when he visits China next week, according to the SBMA official.

"It is our first bullet train. Hopefully, magawa agad," he told reporters.

High-speed trains usually operate at speeds of around 200 km per hour, while Japan's famous bullet trains or shinkansen can run at maximum speeds of more than 300 km/h.

In comparison, trains of the Metro Rail Transit, Light Rail Transit, and Philippine National Railways run at average speeds of 40 km/h. — VDS, Mark Merueñas, GMA News

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/584714/money/companies/chinese-firm-to-build-clark-subic-bullet-train-as-ppp

Read More

Government eyes Subic-Clark cargo railway system

The Department of Transportation will pursue a dedicated cargo railway line between Subic and Clark as part of reforms in the cargo sector that would help resolve the country's traffic crisis.

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, who was guest speaker at an event Tuesday organized the World Trade Center in Metro Manila, revealed the Subic-Clark railway line as among his plans for the transportation sector.

Tugade said connecting Subic port to Clark via a railway for carrying cargo, which he said has President Duterte's approval "in principle," will also be able overcome trucking costs.

The transport chief also vowed to build a passenger train line linking Metro Manila and the Clark freeport zone in Pampanga, where the alternative gateway Clark International Airport is located. The train line would connect Clark to Metro Manila either in the Trinoma Shopping Mall in Quezon City or the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay City, Tugade said.

These plans are among the campaign promises of President Duterte which form part of a massive effort to increase connectivity and cut road and air congestion via mass railway systems.

As part of a longer term goal, Tugade said all freight vehicles would travel around the country only via railway and roll-on/roll-off, or Ro-Ro, shipping systems, helping decongest roads.

Tugade said plans would still need to be studied by the National Economic and Development Authority, but it was the government’s intention to move swiftly. Tugade said his department would formalize plans within 90 days.

“The train will be there,” Tugade said.

Clark International Airport, despite excess capacity, has struggled to lure passengers due to the lack of mass transit options. By contrast, Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport, where expansion options are limited, is operating beyond its intended capacity.

The need for railway systems has been identified under previous administrations. The difficulty has been getting these projects off the ground, typically due to their complexity, high-cost and right-of-way issues. (Inquirer.net)

PHOTO:
Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade

http://business.inquirer.net/212193/transport-chief-vows-train-line-to-clark

Read More