DOTr Pushing for Development of New Airports to Complement NAIA, Clark

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is pushing for the development of other gateways to complement the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and the Clark International Airport (CRK).

At least two airport development projects are now being prioritized --- building a new airport in Bulacan and developing the Sangley airport in Cavite. This airport complementation strategy is aimed at decongesting NAIA, give travelers more options, and spread development across Luzon.

“The idea of having multiple airports is something that the world’s biggest economies do. Ideally, there should be a train service linking these airports, which is also being pursued by the government. This complementation strategy was already part of the air transport roadmap from day one, and rest assured, that’s what we are going to do,” said Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade.

The new Bulacan airport, an unsolicited proposal from the San Miguel Holdings Corp. (SMHC), was approved by the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Board last April 25, subject to resolution of pending issues, including a submission of “Joint and Several Liability” agreement by SMHC and its parent company.

After submitting the revised Concession Agreement, along with the Risk Allocation Matrix, the NEDA and the Department of Finance (DOF) submitted their comments last August 9, and are now under consideration of SMHC. After which, the DOTr will commence negotiations with SMHC to finalize the draft Concession Agreement and submit the same to NEDA ICC, and finally begin the Swiss Challenge process.

The proposal includes the building of 4 parallel runways and a passenger terminal with 100 million passengers capacity per year.

Meanwhile, the DOTr also welcomes the proposal of the Provincial Government of Cavite to develop the Sangley Airport. The approval process, however, will be defined after the Cavite LGU has determined the legal framework for its implementation. 

While these projects are being developed, the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) Board has already approved the grant of original proponent status to the NAIA Consortium for the airport’s rehabilitation project. The concession period will run for 15 years.

Secretary Tugade added that apart from these airports in Luzon, several other airports are undergoing various stages of implementation. Among them is the new Bohol (Panglao) airport, which will be opened within the year. The Bicol International Airport in Albay is now also being constructed after 11 years of delay. The Siargao and Bukidnon airport are also in the works.

“Apart from these new gateways, we are improving our existing provincial airports. We are extending and expanding runways, building new passenger terminal buildings, and generally improving the facilities,” added Tugade.

BGC Enacts One-way Scheme to Ease Traffic

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Starting September 17, 2018, Bonifacio Global City (BGC) will be implementing a new one-way scheme in key roads along its city center to help improve traffic flow and lessen traffic congestion as shown in the map below:

“A one-way traffic flow is the most efficient traffic circulation scheme for BGC’s street grid network because it maximizes the width of the street that is available for traffic, reduces the conflicts between vehicles and pedestrians at intersections, and minimizes the time that vehicles and pedestrians are stopped at traffic signals. Overall, BGC should become less congested and faster to travel in with a one-way traffic scheme” said Bonifacio Estate Services Corporation General Manager, Jun Galvez.

BGC, as one of the country’s top central business and lifestyle districts, is rapidly developing with high-rise condominiums, offices, shopping malls, entertainment centers, museums, and educational institutions. These developments attract traffic from all over Metro Manila and in addition, a large volume of pass-by traffic between C-5, EDSA and Makati passes through BGC which creates congestion during rush hours.

The one-way traffic scheme is intended to address this large volume of vehicles that go to and pass through BGC. A similar one-way traffic scheme was implemented in the Makati CBD in the past which reduced traffic congestion and improved travel time in the area.

To make sure that the new one-way scheme will become effective, BGC will continue its existing wheel clamping and towing operations to curb illegal street parking and keep its major streets free of obstructions. To further reduce the incidence of illegal parking, BGC recently launched an app for both iOS and Android devices to help motorists easily find parking spots within the city.

For further information on BGC’s traffic rules, visit the official Facebook page facebook.com/bonifacioglobalcityph. 

DOTr MRT-3 Press Statement Regarding the Social Media Post of MRT-3 Passenger Ms. Miriam Cabiles on August 22, 2018

Wazzup Pilipinas!

DOTr MRT-3 Press Statement 

24 August 2018

This refers to the social media post of MRT-3 passenger Ms. Miriam Cabiles on August 22, 2018. In the post, she stated that she was unfairly asked to pay an "overstay charge" due to overstaying within the paid area of MRT-3.

Please note that the MRT-3 allows a passenger to stay within the paid area for a maximum of 2 hours (not 1 hour as stated in Ms. Cabiles’s post). Prescribing a maximum stay period is a standard railway operating procedure that is implemented for security reasons and to avoid the turnback of passengers.

Per MRT-3’s investigation of the incident of Ms. Cabiles, it was found that:

- Ms. Cabiles entered the paid area of Cubao Station at exactly 7:17 AM.

- Per Ms. Cabiles’ post, she was able to board a train at around 8:45 AM.

- Between her entry in the paid area at 7:17 AM and her reported boarding of a train, 10 regular trains and 2 skip trains stopped at Cubao Station.

- The 1st skip train only loaded a few passengers in GMA Station and arrived in Cubao Station at 7:25 AM.

- The 2nd skip train only loaded passengers in Quezon Ave. Station and arrived in Cubao Station at 8:06 AM.

- Per Ms. Cabiles’ post, it is unclear but it appears that she stayed inside the paid area of Cubao Station (i.e., pass the turnstile) between 7:17 AM and around 8:45 AM, or around 1.5 hours before boarding a train.

- It is still being investigated why Ms. Cabiles has not boarded a train despite the 10 regular trains and 2 skipping trains that stopped in Cubao Station during the 1.5 hours that she was already inside the paid area (i.e., pass the turnstile).

- Ms. Cabiles tapped her Beep card at the exit gate of Buendia Station at exactly 9:28 AM.

- Assuming that Ms. Cabiles arrived in Buendia Station at 9:15 AM as stated in her post, it is again still being investigated why it took her 13 minutes (i.e., from 9:15 to 9:28 AM) to exit Buendia Station after alighting from the train.

- Ms. Cabiles eventually exited Buendia Station at 9:33 AM after paying the overstay charge.

- Ms. Cabiles was the only passenger who boarded in Cubao Station and alighted in Buendia Station who was charged the overstay charge. It is still being investigated why the other passengers that entered Cubao Station at the same time as Ms. Cabiles and exited at Buendia Station at the same time as Ms. Cabiles were not identified by MRT-3’s Automated Fare Collection System (AFCS) for having overstayed. It appears unlikely that Ms. Cabiles was the only passenger that boarded in Cubao Station and alighted in Buendia Station at that time.

- For Aug. 22, MRT-3’s AFCS recorded a total of 12 passengers, at different stations, who overstayed and were charged the overstay charge. MRT-3 carried 341,452 passengers on Aug. 22.

The above data are based on MRT-3’s review of the AFCS’s Central Computer System (CCS), CCTV recordings, and other relevant train operations information from the MRT-3 Control Center

On a more general level, MRT-3 wishes to note that in cases where there is a big volume of passengers who will be charged  the overstay charge at the same time in a particular station, for example due to lack of trains or any service interruption, the Station Supervisor may override a turnstile so that affected passengers may exit without paying the overstay charge. This is part of MRT-3’s standard operating procedures.

DOTr and MRT-3 will continue to monitor and review the appropriateness of the 2-hours overstay parameter given the operating condition of MRT-3, and will also remind Station Supervisors to follow standard procedures in cases of service disruption or fewer than usual train availability (e.g., by overriding the overstay parameter in the turnstiles), with the objective of realizing both objectives of deterring overstaying and turnback of passengers for security reasons, and ensuring that passengers are not penalized for situations beyond their control.

We thank our passengers for the continued patronage, and we assure you that we are constantly reviewing our policies and operating procedures to ensure a better travel experience for our riding public.