Page 9 - Hello Philippines January 2016 'A' Issue
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January 2016 – No. 01 • UK & Europe Edition BUSINESS & FINANCE www.hello-philippines.com 9
PNoy’s vowLRTEXTENSIONYETTOSTART to be run over by a train
shouldn’t be taken literally—Palace
WITH only one more working “Any reasonable person would Public-Private Partnership (PPP)
day before the year ends, the Light understand this to have been an Program. Photos by Danny Pata “The extension will serve future
Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) Cavite aspirational statement. Despite the high-growth centers in the south
Extension—the project that President delays, the government continues to “When the president made that will manage the LRT-1 for 32 years, like Cavite,” the LRMC said through
Benigno Aquino III promised to be pursue the project,” he added. announcement we were still leading during which it will also extend the a disclosure of its parent company
completed in 2015 else he would have up to the bid. No one plans for a failure line by 11.7 kilometers to 32.4 km Metro Pacific Investments Corp.
himself and Transportation Secretary To recall, Aquino said he, along of bid. We were highly guarding the from the current 20.7 k.m. (MPIC) in September.
Joseph Emilio Abaya run over by a with DOTC Secretary Emilio Joseph passenger side, no one showed up at
train—is still far from completion. “Jun” Abaya, was willing to be run the day of bidding,” he said in July. “The private partner will The extension is expected to
over by a train if the project does not undertake the design, construction, increase passenger capacity from the
“There are no new developments materialize by 2015. Abaya said the start of the and financing of the Cavite Extension current 500,000, LRMC noted. n Jon
for the LRT-1 Cavite Extension construction of the project is expected as well as the operation and
Project as the notice to proceed “Pagdating naman ng 2015, hindi within the first half of 2016. maintenance of the integrated system Viktor Cabuenas / NB, GMA News / Published / December
hasn’t yet been given to LRMC lang natin mapapabilis ang biyahe upon completion of the project,” the
(Light Rail Manila Corp.) by DOTC mula Baclaran hanggang Bacoor kundi “Again, this is a PPP project. They PPP Center said in its website. 28, 2015 / 3:06 pm
(Department of Transportation and madadagdagan din tayo ng tinatayong are talking to their creditors, they are
Communications),” the LRT private 250,000 na pasahero ang maisasakay doing financial close... but I know its
concessionaire, through its public kada araw dahil sa LRT Line 1 2016—either first or second quarter,”
relations agency, said in a text extension. At pag hindi ho nangyari he said.
message to GMA News Online. ito, nandiyan po si Secretary Abaya
na mangangasiwa ng proyektong to, The National Economic and
Sought for comment, dalawa na kaming magpapasagasa Development Authority (NEDA)
Communications Secretary Herminio siguro sa tren,” Aquino said in jest Board, chaired by Aquino, agreed
“Sonny” Coloma said that Aquino’s during in a campaign sortie of his in 2012 to bid out the LRT Line 1
“statement (in 2013 should) not be senatorial slate in April 2013. Cavite Extension and Operation &
taken literally.” Maintenance project under the PPP
“If I haven’t ridden on it by 2015, I Program.
“The President was speaking will be severely disappointed,” Aquino
with a sense of urgency when he also said in 2012. The P64.9-billion project was
announced his desire to see the awarded to the Light Rail Manila
project ‘within two years’,” Coloma Abaya earlier said that the delays Corp. (LRMC) in September of 2014
said. were caused by the failure in the but was only taken over September 12
project’s bidding process under the this year.
Under the agreement, LRMC
Wishing You All a Very Happy and a Prosperous New Year!
