Southrail project ‘overpriced’
Jun Lozada
http://www.bworldonline.com/BW020908/content.php?id=072

Rodolfo Noel "Jun" I. Lozada, Jr. told the Senate yesterday during the investigation of the National Broadband Network (NBN) state contract that another government project, the Southrail project, was allegedly overpriced.

The deal, he said, was "overpriced by $70 million."

According to the Web site of the Philippine National Railways, the total project cost is estimated at $932 million broken down into two phases.

Phase 1 is estimated to cost $627.811 million and consist of the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the existing railway line from Calamba in Laguna to Legazpi City in Albay, or about 423 kilometers.

Phase 2, estimated at $304.226 million, consists of the construction of a new railway extension line from Comun, Camalig in Albay to Matnog in Sorsogon or about 135 kilometers.

The project includes the provision of signal and communication systems and the acquisition of rolling stock.

When asked by Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson if Malacanang officials were involved in the allegedly anomalous contract, Mr. Lozada said he had no idea.

He identified a certain Atty. Mallari who brokered the deal.

In a press conference, Senate President Manuel B. Villar, Jr. said they will have to schedule yet another inquiry to look into the alleged overpricing of the Southrail project.

Meanwhile, Sen. Manuel A. Roxas II said he will file a resolution on Monday to look into the alleged irregularities in government procurement regarding the Southrail project. — Bernard U. Allauigan

Buggar, just came here to post this and you beat me to it.

This is really giving me the irates (would like to say what it really gives me but I may get kicked from the forums).
Where where does this dope get off carrying on about all the 'overpricing' in these projects. Surely there must come a time when people see the bitter old twit for the stupid fool he is.
What chance to all the future projects have when loko loko manoks like him keep babbling on with bollocks aimed at derailing these important projects.

I'm sorry, I am just very angry with these fools who can't admit that the government is doing something good for the country. Their own egos far outweigh the importance of the average Filipino and as such, they should not be put in any sort of position to represent them.

Brad

looks like they're doing some work under the PNR bridge in sta. mesa., :)

http://i32.tinypic.com/2r6369i.jpg

pictures taken by me, a while ago while inside the pasig ferry., :)


I am not expert on bridges, I purely stick to railways, however the scaffolding does seem to suggest they may be going to renovate the existing bridge.
Perhaps the current span is in good enough condition to raise and reuse???

Brad

looks like they're doing some work under the PNR bridge in sta. mesa., :)

http://i32.tinypic.com/2r6369i.jpg

pictures taken by me, a while ago while inside the pasig ferry., :)


Richard,
Is it OK if I use one or both of these shots on my Philippine Railways blog and in the asian railways e-zine? They would be credited to you, whatever name you wish to be used.

Thanks
Brad

L***e! Overpriced na naman? !

Perhaps he can do something good for the nation and start an enquiry into why Coca Cola is 20 pesos dearer in the airport than in local sari sari stores.

Or perhaps why SM sells Philippine flags for around 300 pesos, when you can buy them in markets for only 80 pesos.

He could have a field day raising his ego while concentrating on this that will not be of so much damage to the nation :nuts:

Regards
Brad

Could we make a letter addressed to the Senate (Same goes with the Media) to please spare the southrail and northrail project and leave it alone? I'm seriously, seriously want to do this but I'm not good on making one. :)

I'm really really pissed off with these so-called "Nationalistas" or "martyrs". :grrr:

http://images.diaryofamisfit.multiply.com/image/4/photos/72/500x500/1/PIC_0781.JPG?et=SpFb8f%2B%2CJfMavpsQjTxF%2BQ&nmid=80961953

Demolishion work can be seen in the background, well, thats if you can take your eyes off the maganda pinay for long enough.

Taken, by someone else, at Sta Mesa recently.

Brad

http://images.diaryofamisfit.multiply.com/image/7/photos/72/500x500/3/PIC_0784.JPG?et=pxWrhQ32qIpksf30u2XpzQ&nmid=80961953


Another view, also at Sta Mesa.

Anyway when you are finished looking at the demo work you can go back to looking at the Pinay. They certainly are beautiful in the Phils :lol:

Brad

I too would like to have a well functioning railway, unortunately if there is graft and corruption in the deal then it's best in the long run to expose this and actually do something about it. People of the Republic will pay for this in the end.

^Then when we will have a functional railway? We DESPERATELY NEED a functional railway. WE NEED IT NOW! Not in the next 15-20 years, BUT NOW!

We all know that there are vultures in the senate. Kung anong hindi sa kanila, lalapain nila. Besides that, Investigations will take what? forever? So please leave this project/s alone.

We all know how Philippine Politics works. There is no win-win solution for us common people. Buti nga, me ginagawa ang government eh.

Buggar, just came here to post this and you beat me to it.

This is really giving me the irates (would like to say what it really gives me but I may get kicked from the forums).
Where where does this dope get off carrying on about all the 'overpricing' in these projects. Surely there must come a time when people see the bitter old twit for the stupid fool he is.
What chance to all the future projects have when loko loko manoks like him keep babbling on with bollocks aimed at derailing these important projects.

I'm sorry, I am just very angry with these fools who can't admit that the government is doing something good for the country. Their own egos far outweigh the importance of the average Filipino and as such, they should not be put in any sort of position to represent them.

Brad

sorry Brad:) ...i agree...
All these infrastructure projects that are going on in the country are all going to be beneficial and will only improve the state of the economy. Even if infrastructure projects such as Southrail were underestimated, the benefits of this project and all other projects, when completed will far outweigh that issue in time...

I wonder if she is overpriced too. On the other hand she looks "materiales fuertes."

is she modelling for pnr?

I am not expert on bridges, I purely stick to railways, however the scaffolding does seem to suggest they may be going to renovate the existing bridge.
Perhaps the current span is in good enough condition to raise and reuse???

Brad

Hi Brad,

I agree with you Brad, I passed there a couple of time during Manila Visit. Yes, as long as stil passable today, I think they can still reuse it. A new bridge would enourmously drain a big budget. We'll renovation is already good enough with matching repaint on the steels....:)

Take hindi ba may pangalawang segment ang NorthRail na papuntang Cabanatuan City at Cagayan? Anong plano nila roon?

English:
Isn't it there is a second segment of NorthRail that goes to Cabanatuan City and Cagayan. What is their plan there?

Nop, the Northrail will operate the lines from Caloocan to San Fernando, La Union and Loag in the future with spur line going to Subic..

On the other hand, PNR will operate and revive the Cagayan Valley Railways. It starts from Tutuban to Caloocan with junction at Balagtas then through Cabanatuan, San Jose, NE all the way to Tuguegarrao.

Possible scenario is that once this projects completed we will see a 2 double track lines from Tayuman to Caloocan to Balagtas. The Northrail and Cagayan Railways (PNR) will be side by side from this routes. They will have common stations at Tayuman, Caloocan, and Balagtas, Bulacan before they separates. :)

http://images.diaryofamisfit.multiply.com/image/7/photos/72/500x500/3/PIC_0784.JPG?et=pxWrhQ32qIpksf30u2XpzQ&nmid=80961953


Another view, also at Sta Mesa.

Anyway when you are finished looking at the demo work you can go back to looking at the Pinay. They certainly are beautiful in the Phils :lol:

Brad


^^ Just see the model and you know what is the PNR is doing right now, remodelling and renovating the line...:):):)

What you see in the background is the construction of canals for drainage system in that area. I guess MWSS has already finalized their project. The contractors have to wait for the drainage system to be completed before they could finally start the project..:)

Southrail project ‘overpriced’


sa uri ng sistema ng mga corrupt na pulitiko, walang proyekto ang gobyerno na hindi overpriced.

kaya effective at mas efficient ang BOT scheme.

^^yung bot scheme nga yung may problema kaya nagkakaganito tayo eh. MRT3 is a good example.

they'll renovate the tracks? how about the train itself?

^^no news yet. the linkage project is just the rehabilitation of tracks and stations.

The project should continue and have the end result,then let the investigations continue.Punish the guilty and we still get the mass transport system we need dearly.A win-win situation.

http://img512.imageshack.us/img512/1594/c2cto8.jpghttp://

^^I agree!. But the last sentence is really difficult to do since time immemorial.

Richard,
Is it OK if I use one or both of these shots on my Philippine Railways blog and in the asian railways e-zine? They would be credited to you, whatever name you wish to be used.

Thanks
Brad

sure., :)

they'll renovate the tracks? how about the train itself?

i think they'll gonna change the trains.. :)

i think they'll gonna change the trains.. :)

All the trains are to be changed, both Northrail and the linkage projects are to use DMU type rollingstock.
In regaards to Southrail freight haulage, I am unsure if they will scrap the current locomotives or give it a bit of thought and invest money in the current fleet, at least initially.

Regards
Brad

sure., :)


Thanks mate.
You will be able to see them on there within the next two days or so.

Brad

I wonder if she is overpriced too. On the other hand she looks "materiales fuertes."

I don't think she would be an asawa who would come cheap. She certainly looks to have expensive tastes.
Still, who hasn't spent more money than they should have on a beautiful woman :lol:

is she modelling for pnr?

Hope so, it would be initiatives like that which would really raise passenger numbers.
Well, with the male population anyway. :lol:
Perhaps some of you guys could do a photo shoot to attract more woman onto our beloved trains???????

Brad

Could we make a letter addressed to the Senate (Same goes with the Media) to please spare the southrail and northrail project and leave it alone? I'm seriously, seriously want to do this but I'm not good on making one. :)

I'm really really pissed off with these so-called "Nationalistas" or "martyrs". :grrr:

While enough letters may be enough to make them think, only one or two would likely be totally disregarded by them.
They only think about themselves, so the only way to make them change their minds is if enough people start causing problems for them, thus to save their political necks they will change their ideas.
In this regard, the Philippines is no different to here.

On another note.

You have to ask yourself if all this overpricing is incredibly bad.
While it is, of course, not good, it has become a part of Philippine lifestyle and is expected. It will never, easily, be changed.

So then people should ask what is worse. An overpriced corrupt project that benefits the nation greatly, or no project at all.

All these government members keep screaming corruption and misdealings with all these important projects. However it is commonly known that those who scream the loudest have THE MOST TO HIDE!

Brad

http://i32.tinypic.com/2r6369i.jpg

pictures taken by me, a while ago while inside the pasig ferry., :)

I think it says "Concrete pylon, bware, may cause sinking" :lol:

The arrow obviously helps point out the location.

Sorry - I have a weird sense of humour.

Brad

^^ Hi Brad,

Whatever picture I will post here will be automatically authorize you to use it whereever and forever and ever !!!!... he he hehe.... :banana::banana::banana:

All the trains are to be changed, both Northrail and the linkage projects are to use DMU type rollingstock.
In regaards to Southrail freight haulage, I am unsure if they will scrap the current locomotives or give it a bit of thought and invest money in the current fleet, at least initially.

Regards
Brad

^^ I guess I have a similar thougt with you... I suspect that while the line is under rebuilt and waiting for brand new DMUs, somehow the current fleet can still be operable and nothing I found some major problems with it. When I took a ride on the trains, I noticed that the trains are still good except that it cannot run fast because of the tracks. Very well accepted if this would be the case and for starters...

they'll renovate the tracks? how about the train itself?


^^ What was agreed was the acquisition of 18 Brand New DMUs.. We'll I hope it would be this case but I am positive we will reach this plus minor repair of the current fleets can bring the PNR into a modern transportation...

I still love to see those GE Locomotives, these are the original monsters of PNR..:cheers:

While enough letters may be enough to make them think, only one or two would likely be totally disregarded by them.
They only think about themselves, so the only way to make them change their minds is if enough people start causing problems for them, thus to save their political necks they will change their ideas.
In this regard, the Philippines is no different to here.

On another note.

You have to ask yourself if all this overpricing is incredibly bad.
While it is, of course, not good, it has become a part of Philippine lifestyle and is expected. It will never, easily, be changed.

So then people should ask what is worse. An overpriced corrupt project that benefits the nation greatly, or no project at all.

All these government members keep screaming corruption and misdealings with all these important projects. However it is commonly known that those who scream the loudest have THE MOST TO HIDE!

Brad

^^ Yes, the Senators only think of themselves...

While enough letters may be enough to make them think, only one or two would likely be totally disregarded by them.
They only think about themselves, so the only way to make them change their minds is if enough people start causing problems for them, thus to save their political necks they will change their ideas.
In this regard, the Philippines is no different to here.

On another note.

You have to ask yourself if all this overpricing is incredibly bad.
While it is, of course, not good, it has become a part of Philippine lifestyle and is expected. It will never, easily, be changed.

So then people should ask what is worse. An overpriced corrupt project that benefits the nation greatly, or no project at all.

All these government members keep screaming corruption and misdealings with all these important projects. However it is commonly known that those who scream the loudest have THE MOST TO HIDE!

Brad

^^ This reply is the best possible reply I've ever read in this thread... Thanks a lot mate.. You better know us Filipinos very well than those focking useless Sentors.... :)

"However it is commonly known that those who scream the loudest have THE MOST TO HIDE!"

:okay::okay::okay::okay::okay::okay::okay::okay::okay::okay::okay::okay::okay::okay:

I think it says "Concrete pylon, bware, may cause sinking" :lol:

The arrow obviously helps point out the location.

Sorry - I have a weird sense of humour.

Brad


:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol: Just like the Fire Exit, you have to avoid Fire Exit when on fire because it is this way that the Fire exits.... :lol::lol::lol:

Nakakalungkot naman kung overpriced nga ang project na ito. Pero mas lalo ako nalulungkot kasi parang ang bagal ng developments sa rail project na ito. Eh ready naman na budget loan dito. Sana bilisan pa nila, excited na kasi ako makasakay sa mga bagong tren dito eh. :lol:

any updates??

Nakakalungkot naman kung overpriced nga ang project na ito. Pero mas lalo ako nalulungkot kasi parang ang bagal ng developments sa rail project na ito. Eh ready naman na budget loan dito. Sana bilisan pa nila, excited na kasi ako makasakay sa mga bagong tren dito eh. :lol:


^^ eh, Kasi nakikialam ang simbahan at mga media... Yung dapat sanang marelocate ay patuloy na nagtitigastigasan dahil sa inspirasyon ng simbahan at media... :ohno:

After ZTE, Senate to probe Southrail

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=108652

Senator Mar Roxas announced that they would soon be opening a new probe into the allegedly overpriced Southrail project rehabilitating the railway system between Manila and Bicol.

The revelations on the Southrail project came to light in the course of new NBN whistleblower Rodolfo "Jun" Lozada’s testimony on the bloated ZTE deal before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, ABS-CBN reported.

According to Roxas, Lozada will be returning to the Senate to testify on the Southrail project which he said was overpriced by $70 million because palace officials had allegedly benefited from the deal.

Lozada had earlier revealed that the $329-million national broadband network deal between the government and China's ZTE Corp. was overpriced by at least $130 million.

The Philippine National Railways Web site revealed that the Southrail project would be implemented in two phases. Phase 1 is the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the existing 423-km railway line from Calamba to Legazpi City while Phase 2 is the construction of a new 135-km railway from Comun, Camalig, Albay to Matnog, Sorsogon.

Estimated total project cost is at US$932.037 million, broken down to $627.811 million for Phase 1 and $304.226 million for Phase 2.

Last July, the National Economic and Development Authority and China's Ministry of Commerce signed a memorandum of understanding for the 542-km Southrail project. Under the agreement, both sides would create a Philippine-China Economic Joint Working Group to track and review the project's performance. The group will be chaired by NEDA

After ZTE, Senate to probe Southrail

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=108652

Senator Mar Roxas announced that they would soon be opening a new probe into the allegedly overpriced Southrail project rehabilitating the railway system between Manila and Bicol.

The revelations on the Southrail project came to light in the course of new NBN whistleblower Rodolfo "Jun" Lozada’s testimony on the bloated ZTE deal before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, ABS-CBN reported.

According to Roxas, Lozada will be returning to the Senate to testify on the Southrail project which he said was overpriced by $70 million because palace officials had allegedly benefited from the deal.

Lozada had earlier revealed that the $329-million national broadband network deal between the government and China's ZTE Corp. was overpriced by at least $130 million.

The Philippine National Railways Web site revealed that the Southrail project would be implemented in two phases. Phase 1 is the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the existing 423-km railway line from Calamba to Legazpi City while Phase 2 is the construction of a new 135-km railway from Comun, Camalig, Albay to Matnog, Sorsogon.

Estimated total project cost is at US$932.037 million, broken down to $627.811 million for Phase 1 and $304.226 million for Phase 2.

Last July, the National Economic and Development Authority and China's Ministry of Commerce signed a memorandum of understanding for the 542-km Southrail project. Under the agreement, both sides would create a Philippine-China Economic Joint Working Group to track and review the project's performance. The group will be chaired by NEDA

Na naman?! Hindi pa nga ito napagkakasunduan eh "i-investigate" na? Sana matulad din ito sa Northrail na hindi nila napatunayan. Kaya siguro hindi na nila masimulan ulit yung sa NOrthrail kasi 3 ulit nang "inembistigahan."

^^ I guess I have a similar thougt with you... I suspect that while the line is under rebuilt and waiting for brand new DMUs, somehow the current fleet can still be operable and nothing I found some major problems with it. When I took a ride on the trains, I noticed that the trains are still good except that it cannot run fast because of the tracks. Very well accepted if this would be the case and for starters...

When you ride it is certainly very interesting to take note of the ride quality north of and then south of the rebuilt rails, as done by John Holland a while back.
The rebuilt rails are far worse in ride quality, although they may look better, than that of the tracks embedded in years worth of mud and junk.
While a lot of this is levels at John Holland, the lack of continued maintenance, not to mention a lack of ballast, would certainly have contributed greatly.


Whatever picture I will post here will be automatically authorize you to use it whereever and forever and ever !!!!... he he hehe...

Salamat WoS!

Brad

^^ This reply is the best possible reply I've ever read in this thread... Thanks a lot mate.. You better know us Filipinos very well than those focking useless Sentors.... :)


:okay::okay::okay::okay::okay::okay::okay::okay::okay::okay::okay::okay::okay::okay:

You think they could give me a government job there?
May finally get my dream of living there :-)

Brad

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/topofthehour.aspx?StoryId=108666

'No Southrail overprice; project yet to start'

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/images/news/newspics/02-10-2008/pnr225.jpg

The general manager of the Philippine National Railways (PNR) on Sunday denied allegations made by Rodolfo Noel "Jun" Lozada Jr. that the $932-million Southrail project was overpriced.

Jose Sarasola told ABS-CBN News correspondent Ina Reformina that the Southrail project has yet to be implemented. He said PNR officials were "surprised" with Lozada's statements.

Sarasola said the project, which would connect Calamba, Laguna with Matnog, Sorsogon, is yet to be opened for bidding and no funds have been released yet.

Sarasola said the People's Republic of China has expressed interest in the project via a concessional preferential loan package, where the Philippine government would only spend a five percent counterpart fund.

"Wala hong sense 'yan, kasi (It's sensless because) how can you get a commission on a noexistent project that has yet to be implemented? There is even no funding," said Sarasola.

"Hindi pa ho ito sinumite sa NEDA (National Economic and Development Authority). Hindi pa ho ito inaprubahan sa PNR kasi wala pang official funding confirmation from the People's Republic of China," he added.

(The project has yet to be submitted to NEDA. It has not been approved by PNR because it has no official funding...)

The PNR official also said that Lozada has no right to speak regarding the project because he is not even connected to it.

"I don't know where he is getting his figures of a 22 percent overprice when he wasn't even involved in the consideration of this project," Sarasola said.

However, Sarasola confirmed that he was with Lozada and former NEDA chief Romulo Neri in two meetings for the Southrail project back in 2006.

In the second meeting, officials of the China National Technical Import-Export Corporation, which was interested in handling the project, were also present. Lozada, however, was not involved in the discussion.

"He did not even provide any technical input nor any feedback. He is supposedly an IT expert and a forestry official. How then can he now impute or allege or provide his expertise on a railway project that is very technical?" Sarasola said.

The PNR also denied that First Gentleman Jose Miguel "Mike" Arroyo became a "godfather" in the negotiations for the Southrail project.

"The First Gentleman never called me up or even discussed with me anything in relation to this project. He has no participation or any indirect undue interference. Not even of the First Family," Sarasola said.

On Friday's Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on the botched ZTE-national broadband network deal, Lozada revealed that the Southrail project is overpriced by $70 million.

In his testimony, Lozada said the proponents of the Southrail project told him that palace officials had allegedly benefited from the deal.

On Sunday, Sen. Manuel Roxas announced that they would soon be opening a new probe into the Southrail project, with Lozada also testifying.

The PNR Web site (http://www.pnr.gov.ph), meanwhile said that the Southrail project would be implemented in two phases.

Phase 1 is the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the existing 423-km railway line from Calamba to Legazpi City while Phase 2 is the construction of a new 135-km railway from Comun, Camalig, Albay to Matnog, Sorsogon.

Estimated total project cost is at $932.037 million, broken down to $627.811 million for Phase 1 and $304.226 million for Phase 2.

The PNR said $885.435 million or 95 percent of the project cost is proposed to be funded by a loan from the Export-Import Bank of China.

In July 2007, the NEDA and China's Ministry of Commerce signed a memorandum of understanding for the 542-km Southrail project. Under the agreement, both sides would create a Philippine-China Economic Joint Working Group to track and review the project's performance. The group will be led by the NEDA.

Sinugaling Numero Uno si Lozada. Nabuko na ni Senator Miriam ang pagkasinungaling nya. Hindi over-priced yung ZTN kasi bandwith yung pinag-uusapan. Since kasama yung mga remote provinces para mabigyan ng internet access, syempre mas malaki yung cost. Halata rin ang kasinungalingan nya sa Southrail, there is no pricing for the southrail and the government has yet to conduct a bidding. Lozada is inventing numbers for something that has not exist yet.

Pangalawa, si Lozada ay nabuko na ni Miriam na isa sa pinaka- corrupt na Official na goberyon gaya ni De Venecia. Si Lozada ang impakto na hind dinadaan sa bidding yung mga projects na hawak nya. Baki walang bidding, kasi mahilig sya ang mahilig sa kickback.

Pangatlo, Lozada was not Kidnap. He was hiding in LaSalle with the priests and the nuns to make it appear that he was kidnap. Sinusunog na sa impyerno yung mga nuns and priests who support a corrupt liar such as Lozada.

I'm Glad that the Administration Got Rid of the Number one and NUmber two Corrupt Baggages - Lozada and De Venecia. The two will receive more bad Karma for their mischiefs. Ang kapal ni Lozada, and the media yet made another mistake by over-hyping this Liar. Good Riddance Lozada and De Venezia - the Corruptibles.

Hey Lozada, De Venecia, Oposisyon, Black & White, at CBCP. You think you could still fool the Filipinos. May you all receive your bad karma for your Corrupt actions.

Puro Haka-Haka "Siguro po, Baka po" yung bintang ni Lozada, eh hindi naman naiintindihan yung mga projects. I bet this Lozada has been bribed by another closet corrupt son of De Venezia. Well De Venezia and family has not learned from their bad Karma of Fire.

Pati yung bobo na CBCP kakampi pa sa CORRUPT na si Lozada and De Venezia - mga magnanakaw.

^^ Its pretty obvious what Lozada's motives are, as well as the De Venecias. This whole issue only happened because Joey De Venecia LOST the NBN deal. If he had won, then he couldn't care less about bringing down the government.

Its a pity that one of our major rail projects are now being dragged into this mess. I've always feared the involvement monsters such as Alan Cayetano and Ping Lacson in any of our rail projects, something which I've been dreading in the MRT/LRT thread ever since Ngaw Ngaw Cayetano mentioned the word "MRT/LRT" during one of the NBN-ZTE hearings last year. Now I'm sure despite the revelation of that PNR executive that it would be virtually impossible for the South Rail to be overpriced, I doubt those Senate sharks would let this go. They would believe anyone that can help bring down the Arroyo government, even if the one testifying in the Senate hearings is Satan himself.

And at the end of the day, the only possible end result would be less rail projects being built that would provide countless benefits to our fellow countrymen. :ohno:

unfortunately government projects doesn't have to be implemented first before corruption can start.

The Senate is only for grandstanding, malapit na ang 2010... very visible sina Lacson, Villar, Roxas...look at the apathy, everywhere....no reaction, kibit balikat lang ang mga tao....they are just the same...corrupt! De Venecia cried fould BECAUSE he lost the deal.

^^ eh, Kasi nakikialam ang simbahan at mga media... Yung dapat sanang marelocate ay patuloy na nagtitigastigasan dahil sa inspirasyon ng simbahan at media... :ohno:

Hindi eh mukhang hindi sa relocation ang problema kaya tagal ng usad ng project na ito. Kasi ilang beses ng napatunayan ng PNR na kaya nilang mag paalis ng walang alinlangan nung mga nakaraang demolition move nila. Mukhang iba ang problema kung bakit tagal ng progress. Sana hindi corruption ang problema. Pero baka isang dahilan eh wala pang malilipatan iyong mga ibang squater, di pa natapos mga pabahay ng NHA para sa kanila. Pero nakakapag taka may pera na nga eh. Importante masyado ang project na ito dapat matapos na kaagad.

Ako naniniwalang totoo sinasabi ni lozada tungkol sa ZTE... Kung di talaga di masyadong maanomalya yan eh di itinuloy na sana yan, eh si presidente pa kung alam nya na tama ang ginagawa nya walang makakapigil sa kanya kahit sino pa humarang dyan. Eh itong ZTE atras sya eh. :lol: Naniniwala man akong totoo sinasabi ni Lozado sa ZTE, higit din akong naniniwala na ang pag labas nya ay may kinalaman sa pag papatalsik kay de Venecia. Natural ng corrupt yang sila JDV at Lozada, pero sila abalos at FG garapal na masyado di na talaga tama nho. :ohno:

Nograles vows to push Mindanao railway network
By BEN R, ROSARIO


Alleged irregularities in railway projects in Luzon will not stop House Speaker Prospero Nograles from pursuing the proposed multi-million-dollar Mindanao railway network which the government believes will spur economic development in the region.


Reacting to an appeal aired by former senator Santanina Rasul, Nograles said the House of Representatives will provide the legislative support to push the project which his predecessor, Pangasinan Rep. Jose de Venecia, has also endorsed.

In a news forum in Quezon City yesterday, Rasul said Mindanao’s economic hardships are aggravated by the "lack of a viable means of transportation."

"We hope that under Speaker Nograles, the Mindanao railroad system (MRS) would finally become a reality," she told reporters.

Rasul said that despite the huge economic contribution that Mindanao provides the country, the region still receives the lowest budget allocation compared to Luzon and the Visayas.

She aired hopes that with Nograles, a Davaoeño, at the helm of the House of Representatives, the country’s southern region will get a bigger share of development funds from government.

Rasul said the railway system is a priority project that should be supported by Nograles.

"Yes, we would definitely push for the railway project," Nograles said.

Nograles’ vow to support the project came in the wake of allegations of alleged fund anomalies in railway projects such as the Northrail system in Northern Luzon and the proposed reactivation of the southern railroad network.

Meanwhile, Nograles said he will also back a motion by Muslim lawmakers to investigate the skirmish between government troops and Muslim extremists last Monday that killed eight civilians.

Rasul urged Nograles to investigate the incident and prove to his fellow Mindanaoans that he would give more attention to Mindanao now that he has become Speaker.

Nograles is the first congressman from Mindanao to be elected head of the House. He took over the post from five-term speaker De Venecia last Tuesday.

A number of Muslim lawmakers have aired strong doubts that the Monday skirmish was the result of an armed encounter between the military and rebels.

Rasul noted that all victims were civilians, including four children, a pregnant woman, and a former member of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) who joined the military.

The former senator said that from what she gathered, government troops were sent to Ipil-ipil town to rescue a kidnap victim.

However, when the government troops reached Barangay Maimbung, they gathered women and children and began shooting them.

According to Rasul, the widow of an MNLF integree stressed that there was no encounter

A team sent by the Commission on Human Rights backed the widow’s story, saying they were unable to confirm the claim of the military that their group fought a band of Abu Sayyaf members.

"This is not the first time that an incident like this happened in Sulu," Rasul said. "But this is the first time that a local government official has come out in the open to denounce such incident."

Manila Bulletin (http://www.mb.com.ph/MAIN20080210116679.html)

(1) I'm Glad that the Administration Got Rid of the Number one and NUmber two Corrupt Baggages - Lozada and De Venecia. The two will receive more bad Karma for their mischiefs. Ang kapal ni Lozada, and the media yet made another mistake by over-hyping this Liar. Good Riddance Lozada and De Venezia - the Corruptibles.

(2) Hey Lozada, De Venecia, Oposisyon, Black & White, at CBCP. You think you could still fool the Filipinos.

1)
I was watching De Venecia's bitter little speach after having been given the boot.
So many threats to reveal all about the government, he promises to tell the world about the corruption that is going on, about how badly the country is being run.
Whats the bet he does nothing for fear of digging himself a deeper hole!!!!

2)
It is certainly interesting to watch.
Filipinos are finally standing up and letting people know how much they are fed up with all the rubbish holding them back, yet people in power don't seem to realise that their old accepted ways just aren't wanted anymore.

Hopefully one day we will see great change.

^^

And at the end of the day, the only possible end result would be less rail projects being built that would provide countless benefits to our fellow countrymen. :ohno:

YEP!!

Northrail had started by the time it got dragged into all this rubbish, now we find Southrail hasn't even started before it has had its turn at being ripped apart.
What incentive do any investors have to continue Northrail up to San Fernando, build the branches to Batangas etc or rebuild the Panay Railway.
They want to get started, complete and try to see some sort of return. If they have been dragged through court after court they will just look elsewhere.

I hope I am wrong, but I hold grave doubts for any of the above projects, indeed I hold grave doubts of ever seeing a railway in Sorsogon due to the stupidity displayed by these people :(

Brad

HEAR, HEAR

Im actually really happy at how the general public and the markets responded to this circus: APATHY!!!!!!!!!!!

I mean c'mon, a cry baby witness and an abduction foiling operative performed by NUNS????????

I am deeply offended! I can't believe they think we're stupid enough to buy this bullshit

I am deeply offended! I can't believe they think we're stupid enough to buy this bullshit

I can't believe they are stupid enough to think that this sort of thing isn't destroying their credibility in the public eye.
If they try to bring the Northrail deal into the limelight and fail in the process, you would think they would pull their head in and shut up for fear of making themselves look like a fool again.

Oh well, they say "Any publicity is good publicity". They must prescribe to that theory :lol:

Brad

The CBCP has sunk into hell because now they are coddling the proven and self-confessed Corrupt Government Officials such as the self-confessed corrupt Lozada and the behest loaner Karma politico-loco De Venecia. They are politicking with the corrupt instead of bringing salvation to the poor people. They are using the House of God to spread lies and evil. Many of them are the devils advocate - devil wearing priest robe in disguise. No wonder Filipinos no longer believe in them.

It was also reported that Joey De Venecia III’s company owed ZTE $10 Million on previous transactions. Now, why would Joey DV III whose company Amsterdam Holdings (that has no extensive broadband resources) wanted to counter offer the NBN deal against the ZTE. The only conclusion I can come up with is that, knowing the corrupt practices of the De Venecia family, if Joey III gets the deal, he could served as the middleman with ZTE thereby will receive commission that he will use to pay the $10 Million he owed ZTE. This is how the De Venecia maneuver their behest loans, making deals so that the Filipino people will suffer paying their loot.

If ever I will have a chance to drive a GE Locomotive Monster, this is my top list of groups that I will hit....

1. Media
2. CBCP
3. mga Sinkatong Senador....

Media - It's easy to allege someone with the use of media.. Just pay media and you can do whatever you want to say (be it good or bad), but mostly bad news. They even comment what is they think what is right to the people.... Media is the easiest and most effective way of destroying the image of another....

CBCP - Instead of helping the government in population control program, they tolerate the masses on many false beliefs that always leads to failures. This organization was created to create a good impression to the public, as usual it becomes worst now than before...

Senators - Mostly are corrupt to and have personal agenda to politics. Without the use of media, they are nothing and can't win the election.

:ohno::ohno::ohno:

The CBCP has sunk into hell because now they are coddling the proven and self-confessed Corrupt Government Officials such as the self-confessed corrupt Lozada and the behest loaner Karma politico-loco De Venecia. They are politicking with the corrupt instead of bringing salvation to the poor people. They are using the House of God to spread lies and evil. Many of them are the devils advocate - devil wearing priest robe in disguise. No wonder Filipinos no longer believe in them.

It was also reported that Joey De Venecia III’s company owed ZTE $10 Million on previous transactions. Now, why would Joey DV III whose company Amsterdam Holdings (that has no extensive broadband resources) wanted to counter offer the NBN deal against the ZTE. The only conclusion I can come up with is that, knowing the corrupt practices of the De Venecia family, if Joey III gets the deal, he could served as the middleman with ZTE thereby will receive commission that he will use to pay the $10 Million he owed ZTE. This is how the De Venecia maneuver their behest loans, making deals so that the Filipino people will suffer paying their loot.


^^ CBCP is hot!!! It's actually getting more hotter with issues... Yes, they are in hell now..... Yes it's true...

Nograles vows to push Mindanao railway network
By BEN R, ROSARIO


Alleged irregularities in railway projects in Luzon will not stop House Speaker Prospero Nograles from pursuing the proposed multi-million-dollar Mindanao railway network which the government believes will spur economic development in the region.


Reacting to an appeal aired by former senator Santanina Rasul, Nograles said the House of Representatives will provide the legislative support to push the project which his predecessor, Pangasinan Rep. Jose de Venecia, has also endorsed.

In a news forum in Quezon City yesterday, Rasul said Mindanao’s economic hardships are aggravated by the "lack of a viable means of transportation."

"We hope that under Speaker Nograles, the Mindanao railroad system (MRS) would finally become a reality," she told reporters.

Rasul said that despite the huge economic contribution that Mindanao provides the country, the region still receives the lowest budget allocation compared to Luzon and the Visayas.

She aired hopes that with Nograles, a Davaoeño, at the helm of the House of Representatives, the country’s southern region will get a bigger share of development funds from government.

Rasul said the railway system is a priority project that should be supported by Nograles.

"Yes, we would definitely push for the railway project," Nograles said.

Nograles’ vow to support the project came in the wake of allegations of alleged fund anomalies in railway projects such as the Northrail system in Northern Luzon and the proposed reactivation of the southern railroad network.

Meanwhile, Nograles said he will also back a motion by Muslim lawmakers to investigate the skirmish between government troops and Muslim extremists last Monday that killed eight civilians.

Rasul urged Nograles to investigate the incident and prove to his fellow Mindanaoans that he would give more attention to Mindanao now that he has become Speaker.

Nograles is the first congressman from Mindanao to be elected head of the House. He took over the post from five-term speaker De Venecia last Tuesday.

A number of Muslim lawmakers have aired strong doubts that the Monday skirmish was the result of an armed encounter between the military and rebels.

Rasul noted that all victims were civilians, including four children, a pregnant woman, and a former member of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) who joined the military.

The former senator said that from what she gathered, government troops were sent to Ipil-ipil town to rescue a kidnap victim.

However, when the government troops reached Barangay Maimbung, they gathered women and children and began shooting them.

According to Rasul, the widow of an MNLF integree stressed that there was no encounter

A team sent by the Commission on Human Rights backed the widow’s story, saying they were unable to confirm the claim of the military that their group fought a band of Abu Sayyaf members.

"This is not the first time that an incident like this happened in Sulu," Rasul said. "But this is the first time that a local government official has come out in the open to denounce such incident."

Manila Bulletin (http://www.mb.com.ph/MAIN20080210116679.html)


:banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana:

^^ Haay Salamat, nagkaroon rin ng Speaker na Taga Mindanao. Yung dating taga Pangasinan, mahina, di nakarating yung PNR sa Dagupan...:ohno::ohno::ohno:

This is good. I wonder what type of rail system they like to have, narrow or the wider double gauges?

^^WOW! this is great...:banana::banana::banana:

^^ Haay Salamat, nagkaroon rin ng Speaker na Taga Mindanao. Yung dating taga Pangasinan, mahina, di nakarating yung PNR sa Dagupan...:ohno::ohno::ohno:

True mahina nga. Nag concentrate sya sa ibang lugar hindi sa province namin. Nagpapa-bibo kasi sya sa ibang probinsya para manalo sya sa national position. Natulad sya kay Ramos mejo napabayaan ang home province. Hindi nila ginaya sina Cory na dinevelop Tarlac, Marcos naman sa Ilocos, or Arroyo sa Pampanga (Kinalimutan province ng kayang ina, Pangasinan) :ohno:

Tinawag pa na Northrail ang project, eh di man lang umabot sa probinsya na "Gateway of Northern Luzon". Sana Central Luzon Rail nalang Tawag. :lol:

Sana ang bagong Speaker ma develop nya Mindanao, particularly yung railway. Wag rin sana masyado mag ambisyon ng ibang national position. Buhos nya nalang panahon nya sa pag develop sa Mindanao. Spread rin sana nya ang development sa ibang mga lugar sa Pilipinas para fair and square. :)

^^ Haay Salamat, nagkaroon rin ng Speaker na Taga Mindanao. Yung dating taga Pangasinan, mahina, di nakarating yung PNR sa Dagupan...:ohno::ohno::ohno:
:lol:

This is good. I wonder what type of rail system they like to have, narrow or the wider double gauges?

^^ Standard Gauge for sure.... 1440mm....:)

:banana::banana:MINDANAO RAILWAYS:banana::banana:

Mindanao Railways Phase 1 Section 1
(Cagayan De Oro to Iligan City)

Type of Service: Commuter, Container and Cargo
Trackage Legth: 80km Partially Elevated and Partially Ground Levelled
Tracks: Double Track (Standard Gauge) 1454mm
No. of Stations: ?
No. of Depot: 1

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2113/1726589872_0473ee8504_o.jpg

hindi sa map na to, hindi ko pa malalaman na CDO pala is part of Mindanao. kala ko Luzon.

lol. ako rin. akala ko ang cagayan de oro ay nasa cagayan valley. :lol:

Bayan seeks independent probe of rail projects

Urges suspension of infra projects with Chinese go

By Julie M. Aurelio
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 15:23:00 02/11/2008


MANILA, Philippines -- Militant groups entered their third day of protests outside the Senate gates as Rodolfo Noel Lozada Jr. continued his testimony on the controversial National Broadband Network (NBN) deal between the Arroyo government and Chinese firm ZTE.

The militant umbrella group Bayan (Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, New Patriotic Alliance) called on the government to suspend all ongoing infrastructure projects in which the Chinese government is involved.

Arnold Padilla of Bayan said they are demanding an independent review of projects with Chinese involvement such as the Northrail and Southrail to check these for overpricing and padding.

“The suspension of the ZTE deal is not enough,” he added.
___________________________________________________________

Pigilan niyo ko! Upakan kong taong ito! :bash:

What the **** is the problem of these people?!

Hopefully, it won't hit with "Overpriced daw" virus. :nono:

I think they need another bombing to clear their heads.

If I can't say that then :jk:

^mali nga eh.. dapat sa senate na yun. :lol:

mindanao has so much promises. if this project would materialise anytime soon, this would open so much opportunity and will further "activate" so to speak the industrialisation of the philippines second largest island!

wala na isuspend na natin lahat para tapos na. wala nang kuwenta nangyayari sa bansang ito. sana lumayas na ako dito sa pesteng bansang ito nung may opportunity pa. sayang. sayang talaga. :bash::bash::bash:

hi to all, this is my first post

regarding all the claims of those militant groups, go to hell and rot there! You only want an agriculature based economy, so go to the mountains and plant camote!

To the stupid senators like Cayetano and Mar Roxas, in the end you will be proven wrong the you will be running off with your tails between your legs.

Go to hell Cayateno and suck Lucifer's cock!

You and your cohorts are a hindrance to the progress of country! You are terrible waste of taxpayers money!

wala na isuspend na natin lahat para tapos na. wala nang kuwenta nangyayari sa bansang ito. sana lumayas na ako dito sa pesteng bansang ito nung may opportunity pa. sayang. sayang talaga. :bash::bash::bash:

pag isa sa mga papoging senators ang nanalo sa 2010., aalis na talaga ako., :) hahaha., wala na talaga.

hi to all, this is my first post

regarding all the claims of those militant groups, go to hell and rot there! You only want an agriculature based economy, so go to the mountains and plant camote!

To the stupid senators like Cayetano and Mar Roxas, in the end you will be proven wrong the you will be running off with your tails between your legs.

Go to hell Cayateno and suck Lucifer's cock!

You and your cohorts are a hindrance to the progress of country! You are terrible waste of taxpayers money!


^^ Welcome to SSC! And a good first impression to boot... ;)

To add to that, the reason why the likes of Cayetano, Roxas, Estrada, the Lopez etc. what to bring down the economy is because they are stand to loose the most if the Philippines does indeed prosper, thanks to projects such as the Northrail/Southrail. As the Philippines prospers, the middle class grows, the voting public becomes more intelligent, and won't easily be fooled by candidates such as Cayetano whose sole basis for campaigning is whine and complain. The Trapos will loose the grip on power and their being top of the pyramid.

These people will stop at nothing to maintain the status quote, and they would destroy anything good that this country have, including a president whose sole goal is to lift up the lives of all Filipinos through these rail projects. And again, now that that j*ck*ss has decided to drag both the North Rail and South Rail into this circus at the end of today's hearing, it looks like they are succeeding in bringing both these vital rail projects down.... :ohno:

^^ bakit mo tinitira ang mga Lopez eh they contributed much to the economy of our country e.g. the rehabilitated NLEx through MNTC.. and now they have bag the contract for the next phase of NLEx (TLUEx) through their joint venture with the Consujis

^^ Because they own the opposition propoganda TV station that is ABS-CBN and the "ninong" of Erap. The Lopezes has every reason to ensure that the Philippines remain poor and have less investments to the country as they feel threatened to those people in the Arroyo administration that promote things like competition in power and media that could lower our "Meralco" bills or ABS-CBN ratinigs.

I do have some unique personal insider knowledge on this issue but I dare not elaborate them in full detail in a public forum such as this.... ;)

^Let's not be hypocrites

Anyway, government projects are prone to overpricing due to defects in our procurement system. But it is precisely these fishing expeditions of our senators that hinder the legislature from focusing on the real problems. They are there to repair the defects in the system, but they are wasting time and taxpayers' money casting their net in the hopes of ferreting information that could implicate their political enemy PGMA or their favorite whipping-boy, Mike Arroyo. Meanwhile, diplomatic relations with China and other countries are being imperiled by these shenanigans.

I can confirm that, they intentionally give extensive coverage to anti-Arroyo issues. They even enthusiastically broadcasted the Manila Penn takeover of Trillanes, and in essence obstructed the serving justice.

No wonder their market price has been declining. Fits them right

^^ bakit mo tinitira ang mga Lopez eh they contributed much to the economy of our country e.g. the rehabilitated NLEx through MNTC.. and now they have bag the contract for the next phase of NLEx (TLUEx) through their joint venture with the Consujis

The Lopex would not have rehabilitated NCLEX if they weren't going to profit from it. In the end, its the profit that leads them to these ventures, not the prospect of helping their countrymen.

^^ elaborate pls @queetz..

double post

Anyway, government projects are prone to overpricing due to defects in our procurement system. But it is precisely these fishing expeditions of our senators that hinder the legislature from focusing on the real problems. They are there to repair the defects in the system, but they are wasting time and taxpayers' money casting their net in the hopes of ferreting information that could implicate their political enemy PGMA or their favorite whipping-boy, Mike Arroyo. Meanwhile, diplomatic relations with China and other countries are being imperiled by these shenanigans.

To add to that, the Senate conducts a hearing in name of legislation, but look where are the bills that they have filed regarding their hearings?

The sad truth is, they conduct a kangaroo court, the are the complianant, the prosecutor, the judge and the jury. They subject their victims to intense humiliation, but when the cases are filed in court, it is immediately dismissed due to lack of merit (read this Cayetano, lack of merit, your witness Lozada would not last a day in court, his lies and fabricated statements will all be exposed). So in the name of the Filipino people to who are quietly paying their taxes for your salaries and stipends, file the case in Sandigan Bayan now! Let us know if all your bravados hold water!

Meanwhile, Jose Ma. Sarasola II, Philippine National Railways (PNR) general manager, doubts that Lozada was familiar with the South Luzon Railway (Southrail) project, the government�s effort to rehabilitate the railway from Calamba, Laguna to Sorsogon in Bicol.

�His statement during the hearing boggles the imagination,� he said.

�The project has gone through proper diligence, its implementation has not been started as the funding arrangements have not yet even been finalized, and here he is implying that there is something anomalous in the project.�

According to Sarasola, Lozada was �way off track in his mention of the South Railway project considering that Mr. Lozada is not knowledgeable as he attended only one meeting.�

Sarasola said Lozada�s �lack of familiarity� with the project was betrayed during his testimony at the Senate last week when he gave �incomplete facts� regarding the status of the project.

The government has yet to finalize the funding arrangements for Southrail, which has prevented the PNR from implementing the rehabilitating the railway from Calamba, Laguna to Sorsogon, he added.

Sarasola said the PNR had not submitted their feasibility study on the Southrail project to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).

What NEDA had reviewed and approved was the first phase of the Southrail project, the 77-kilometer route from Calamba to Lucena City, he added.

Sarasola said the Southrail�s first phase has not been started because it has yet to get funding.

relax guys. BILOG ANG MUNDO. lets not be hypocrites. okies. stop the bickerings.

there would always be hope. for me all is well lng naman as long as we don't mind whats happening politically (those sharks are fighting amongst themselves), we must focus our attention to ourselves nlang mka.contribute tayo in a small way. pay your taxes nlang honestly, obey traffic rules, and be a good citizen... :)

^^ and kick the crap out of the senators when you see them walking down the street!!!

The Lopex would not have rehabilitated NCLEX if they weren't going to profit from it. In the end, its the profit that leads them to these ventures, not the prospect of helping their countrymen.

^^ Tama, hmmm... Bakit po nakikinabang ang mga Lopez na yan, tsskkk... What I know is that they are the operators of our major infrastructures... Traydor tlaga ang pamilyang yan. :ohno::ohno::ohno:

^^ Si Atty. Bautista, ang cute ng boses nya... he he he... nakakatuwa siyang pakinggan. Ang ikli kasi ng dila... he he he.. Joke!!!

Out of Topic

Meanwhile, Jose Ma. Sarasola II, Philippine National Railways (PNR) general manager, doubts that Lozada was familiar with the South Luzon Railway (Southrail) project, the government�s effort to rehabilitate the railway from Calamba, Laguna to Sorsogon in Bicol.

�His statement during the hearing boggles the imagination,� he said.

�The project has gone through proper diligence, its implementation has not been started as the funding arrangements have not yet even been finalized, and here he is implying that there is something anomalous in the project.�

According to Sarasola, Lozada was �way off track in his mention of the South Railway project considering that Mr. Lozada is not knowledgeable as he attended only one meeting.�

Sarasola said Lozada�s �lack of familiarity� with the project was betrayed during his testimony at the Senate last week when he gave �incomplete facts� regarding the status of the project.

The government has yet to finalize the funding arrangements for Southrail, which has prevented the PNR from implementing the rehabilitating the railway from Calamba, Laguna to Sorsogon, he added.

Sarasola said the PNR had not submitted their feasibility study on the Southrail project to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).

What NEDA had reviewed and approved was the first phase of the Southrail project, the 77-kilometer route from Calamba to Lucena City, he added.

Sarasola said the Southrail�s first phase has not been started because it has yet to get funding.

^^ We'll this is trure. NEDA approved but still needs funding. The government on the other side has the counterpart. They have already started it as a goodwill in the form of relocation and housing to those who will affected by the project so that by the time the funding is available, the contractors will imediately start the project.

It's very much easy to understand. Just like Northrail, the government counterpart was the relocation and housing fund. They have already finished it first and now the actual construction of the project. See how it is very much credible, the proponent said that the government must complete first the relocation from Caloocan to Clark in order for them to start. This is the truth. Not for the reason of controversies. It's very clear that the delays was caused by the delays in the relocation of the squatters. It's only in Novemeber they have completed it and the contractors imeediately restarted their construction.

It's very clear that the proponents of the Northrail is very much careful in handling the project. The need to assure that everything will be going well from the construction to the operation of their project. They have to make sure that the funding really goes to the construction. :)

^^ bakit mo tinitira ang mga Lopez eh they contributed much to the economy of our country e.g. the rehabilitated NLEx through MNTC.. and now they have bag the contract for the next phase of NLEx (TLUEx) through their joint venture with the Consujis

^^ Nope, they are silently jeopardizing the economy to take advantage of the situations. Their media is thier key of destabilization because they earn much money from these controversies. They always received enourmous cash amounts from personalities asking for a press release. They turn simple situation into money making business. Then they show telenovelas and tv programs that is so good enough for the people not to have a negative image on them. Pang masa na mga palabas para kampi sa masa at bayan....:ohno:

^Then when we will have a functional railway? We DESPERATELY NEED a functional railway. WE NEED IT NOW! Not in the next 15-20 years, BUT NOW!

We all know that there are vultures in the senate. Kung anong hindi sa kanila, lalapain nila. Besides that, Investigations will take what? forever? So please leave this project/s alone.

We all know how Philippine Politics works. There is no win-win solution for us common people. Buti nga, me ginagawa ang government eh.

I'd like to see this project go ahead as soon as possible.

I too am no fan of the senate.

BUT

Having an overpriced project is no win win for the common people.

While the credibility of the accusations are up to debate, it still should looked into. I'm sure there are those who would like to let things just slide under the guise of progress. But there are many others for whom such dealings can not be tolerated.

Unfortunately there is no other recourse to investigate this allegation properly. The very institutions which are supposed to be the guardians of such laws are compromised. And while it's clear that the players have their own agenda's and the Senate is suspect, Should it not even be discussed then?

I'm very sure more than a few people if not most believe that such shenanigans are happening anyway. What is sad is that most people do not realize we are already in a lose lose situation. If we investigate and create political issues and problems then progress in terms of economic development, however pyrhic, may get affected. Yet if we do nothing, if we just accept that this is how the world should be, that corruption , lies , deceipt goes hand in hand with progress, then the Filipino people loses a much bigger part of themselves... their soul.

The choice is of course each persons. I for one prefer to keep my soul.

not just lose their souls but their shirts. the very reason we're always short of funds for infrastructure in the first place is because most of the budget is alloted for debt servicing ,isn't it? leaving us very little for infrastructure and social services. and what causes our huge debt? because of all the kickbacks and anomalies. doesn't it defeat the purpose.

"While the credibility of the accusations are up to debate, it still should looked into. I'm sure there are those who would like to let things just slide under the guise of progress. But there are many others for whom such dealings can not be tolerated."

This is somewhat a deja vu. I remember the constant power failure that bedeviled Manila and environ back then. Because the decision was a rushed one, we acceded to overpriced powerplants. Now, the Filipinos are second only to Japanese when it comes to payment for electricity consumed. Postponement hurts, but money going out of our own pocket even hurts more.

Then who will investigate this allegation? "The Senate" again? Who's their "Star" Witness? Mr. Lozada again?

Buti pa itigil na lang lahat ng projects so everyone will be happy. We save our money, we save our soul. Yun nga lang hanggang ganito na lang tayo.

Then who will investigate this allegation? "The Senate" again? Who's their "Star" Witness? Mr. Lozada again?

Buti pa itigil na lang lahat ng projects so everyone will be happy. We save our money, we save our soul. Yun nga lang hanggang ganito na lang tayo.


:lol::lol::lol: You've got it baby... he he he... Up to the future, ganito lagi tayo. And then, just to make a ride on a modern high speed train, you'll have to go to Vietnam, the nearest country then by that time would have this.... :bash::bash::bash:

Then who will investigate this allegation? "The Senate" again? Who's their "Star" Witness? Mr. Lozada again?

Buti pa itigil na lang lahat ng projects so everyone will be happy. We save our money, we save our soul. Yun nga lang hanggang ganito na lang tayo.

^^ Hey ladies, how's things going up there at the Buendia Station? Was it better than the last update. Im very much glad if they are working now on the roof cause I really love it so much I see this station renovated and be given life...:cheers:

Ewan ko ah.. IMO, most of us are still haunted with what happened in the past years. To the point that we all resign to the fact hanggang dito na lang tayo at asa na lang tayo dun sa kapalaran natin.

The Filipinos today are not bullish on progress and are not afraid to take a risk for their future. This hurts more than anything else.

^^ Hey ladies, how's things going up there at the Buendia Station? Was it better than the last update. Im very much glad if they are working now on the roof cause I really love it so much I see this station renovated and be given life...:cheers:

Ganun pa din.. pero for the meantime, asa na lang muna tayo because of these hulabaloos. :ohno::

tanong lang mga peepz, if in good condition pa ang riles, pwede ba ito i-relocate sa ibang lugar? (yung tracks)

^^korek ka dyan bro :)

Good Evening Davao!!!

;18359712']tanong lang mga peepz, if in good condition pa ang riles, pwede ba ito i-relocate sa ibang lugar? (yung tracks)

^^ We can still use the old rails but the specification would be needing a 50kg/m rail. That means the new tracks will be specifically designed to withstand heavier trains capable of running cargo trains, container cars and other heavy loadings. The old rails which some weighs 32kg/m and 35kg/m cannot withstand the requirements. So all tracks would be replaced with 50kg/m.

^^ I bet you guys, this Mindanao Railways would be unstoppable... :banana: I love this project I wish it would start the construction now!

^^ This is our first time to see a dual track standard railways, similar to that of MRT and LRTs, the U.S., China and Korea. Japan, Taiwan, NE Australia and Indonesia use cape gauge(1067mm) while Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Burma and Thailand all use a metre gauge (1000mm). ^^

WoS: some quick news. I passed by Buendia Station yesterday.. It seems there are some diggings going on on the other side of Dela Rosa St. I honestly have no idea what is it all about.. Maybe an extension of the station? hehe

I don't want to turn this thread into a political discussion, there are other threads for that. For those who want to find out more about problems in the republics projects, i recommend reading the series of articles published by PCIJ in a lot of the broadsheets the last few days. You may not agree with them but at the very least food for thought.

Anyway I can easily empathize with the sentiment of frustration and lack of hope here. Suffice it to say that perhaps what can be done here, if we wish to be actually productive is to get the facts.

What part of south rail is exactly overpriced?

Is he referring to the first phase, which is pretty small so unlikely or the one that goes all the way to Legaspi.

If so several people in this forum seem to have a very good grasp of the inner workings of the PNR. It would be good if we focus on trying to get a better picture of the actual plan and doing comparables on it.

It's a reason I used to ask what sort of trainsets would be used. So we can actually compare it with other models. Alignment , tracks, right of way, stations, all of this cost money so there must be budgets for it.

Let's focus the forum and this thread to not only cheering announcements (which many times do not happen) but to as smart and factual a discussion as we can make it so that it can be used as a tool to actually better the system.

I see a lot of rants and raves here about what is happening and can only understand this because WE are ALL frustrated, but there are things we can do. The power of mass collaboration for a forum like this brings out the truth and having a central repository of collected and weeded out facts will make it easier to learn and go forward. So discouraged we may be let's not distract us from the reasons we join forums like this which is to learn and learning though collaboration and discussion and enjoining of various perspectives and disciplines will reveal a far greater truth that is alway useful and powerful.

It is always better to light a candle then to curse the darkness.

Let's focus the forum and this thread to not only cheering announcements (which many times do not happen) but to as smart and factual a discussion as we can make it so that it can be used as a tool to actually better the system.

I see a lot of rants and raves here about what is happening and can only understand this because WE are ALL frustrated, but there are things we can do. The power of mass collaboration for a forum like this brings out the truth and having a central repository of collected and weeded out facts will make it easier to learn and go forward. So discouraged we may be let's not distract us from the reasons we join forums like this which is to learn and learning though collaboration and discussion and enjoining of various perspectives and disciplines will reveal a far greater truth that is alway useful and powerful.

It is always better to light a candle then to curse the darkness.

So true and so right--I cannot but agree. There is enough mudracking in many major dailies. Thanks for this comment!

WoS: some quick news. I passed by Buendia Station yesterday.. It seems there are some diggings going on on the other side of Dela Rosa St. I honestly have no idea what is it all about.. Maybe an extension of the station? hehe

^^ We'll how big was that? I mean if extensions will be done, then that's so nice. Does it mean If I am coming from Expressway then going to Dela Rosa St., it's on the right? :)

^^Quick look lang ginawa ko eh.. Baka lalagyan ng fence or something pero I'm not sure about it. yep, it's on the right.. Kung northbound ka ah.. :D

Wala ba balita from buendia hanggang Tutuban?? San si Kaelthas?

^^ Don't wory about Nathan, dito lang tayo sa mga consistent... We'll baka nga kasi all signalling and communication ang gagawin. Station Extensions are not part of the of projects budget.. We'll until we have a photo of that I can possbily guess the diggings....:)

Pwede din.. pero hindi ko sure kung ganun kahaba yung ginawa nilang hukay dun eh.. Try ko ulit dumaan dun mamya.. Anyway, lagi naman ako naglalakad pauwi sa apartment ko eh. hehe

Pwede din.. pero hindi ko sure kung ganun kahaba yung ginawa nilang hukay dun eh.. Try ko ulit dumaan dun mamya.. Anyway, lagi naman ako naglalakad pauwi sa apartment ko eh. hehe

^^ wow!!! Class ka ha, may apartment ka na ha!!! we'll m happy you've got a job there very near to PNR...

The line from Sta. Mesa and Tayuman and Caloocan are already underway, relocation sites need to be finished but meron na ring mangilanilan ng kusang ginigiba yung kanilang mga hauz. Further more south to Taguig and Muntinlupa, I am sure, a lot of developments had happened already. Maganda ang relocation system doon, concretes muna ang ginigiba at wala masyadong resistance from the affected people...

^^ In this photo, we can clearly see how high will be the new platform of Buendia Station. I think, we have already 100 percent assurance that we will be using the Brand New DMUs in a matter of time. They are preparing already the platforms of all the stations... Though slow, but they are moving surely... Thanks for this el...

http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/6814/buendiaab1.jpg

3 kami nagsshare ng apartment. :D

Actually, I live very near sa riles.. Isang wall at isang canal/creek/whatever ang pagitan ng apartment namin tsaka nung riles.. Mga 7:30, me dadaan na ang mga tren. Kapag dumaan na ibig sabihin kelangan ko na umalis at kung hindi malalate na ako. :lol:

3 kami nagsshare ng apartment. :D

Actually, I live very near sa riles.. Isang wall at isang canal/creek/whatever ang pagitan ng apartment namin tsaka nung riles.. Mga 7:30, me dadaan na ang mga tren. Kapag dumaan na ibig sabihin kelangan ko na umalis at kung hindi malalate na ako. :lol:

^^:lol::lol::lol: Wow!!! Good Idea.....

Hindi ko masyado napansin yun ah.. AFAIK, the new platform is the same height as the old one.. Yung roofing lang ang tumaas. However, I'm not too sure about it..

Hindi ko masyado napansin yun ah.. AFAIK, the new platform is the same height as the old one.. Yung roofing lang ang tumaas. However, I'm not too sure about it..

^^ Nop, hindi ppwede the same pa rin ang height ng platform. The DMU Train Platform is higher than the old station platform by 2Ft. The pax cannot immediately get inside the train and it will take several minutes to unload and load the passengers.

^^ Oh my goodness this is such a wonderful news... Guys, friends, ladies wag mawawalan ng pag-asa ha, our government is really working on our railway projects. :banana::banana::banana:


http://www.balitapinoy.net/clients/balitapinoy/2-10-2008-1-50-58-PM-5188653.jpg


STA. CRUZ RAILWAY FAMILIES READY FOR RELOCATION
February 9, 2007

RAILWAY families in Sta. Cruz, Manila are gearing up for their relocation to government resettlement areas in Bulacan, Cavite and Laguna, Vice President and concurrent Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) chairman Noli 'Kabayan' De Castro.

In fact, a number of families were already moving out using several trucks provided by the National Housing Authority (NHA) when the Vice President visited them in Sta. Cruz, Manila yesterday (Feb. 8).

During a dialogue, De Castro assured the families of their respective shelters the moment they are relocated in Trece Martirez, Cavite , Cabuyao, Laguna and Marilao and San Jose , Bulacan.

"Don't worry. You will not be advised to move out if there are no available houses in our relocation sites," De Castro said.

Those who moved out yesterday were already provided with houses in Northville 4 in Marilao, Bulacan, he said.

He said the NHA has until February 18 to March 6 to completely clear the Sta. Cruz railway of informal settlers to give way for the national railway improvement program.

Meanwhile, De Castro said the Office of the Vice President (OVP) has already signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with public hospitals to provide assistance for the relocatees.

Under the MOA, De Castro said the OVP will provide financial assistance to relocatees who are confined at hospitals run by the government.

Likewise, the Vice President said he has already asked the Manila local government to eliminate the NBI clearance requirement for relocation. He said such requirement is not needed in relocating the families.

^^ he he he... Nagkamali sa date, dapat Feb. 9, 2008... si Ka Noli Talaga!!!:bash:

Wow!!! By March 6 The Tayuman Station to Tayuman Triangle and Blumentrit sections of PNR will be cleared already... Ohhhh... Yess!!!! :banana: Only the portions of Tondo. We'll I guess Tondo will be relocated already this Month but only in the in-settlement which is located right at Tondo. I don't know much from Caloocan but there is already a go signal from NHA. In Sampaloc Areas, only the elite has yet to be demoloshed ....:)

Thanks for the good news!

Thank you for your updates!

This is great for RP! More photos please!!! I wanna be updated!!! Thank you! :D

^^ Standard Gauge for sure.... 1440mm....:)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2113/1726589872_0473ee8504_o.jpg



Thanks man! Any renderings and anymore photos of the trains (locomotive) they like to get though? Thanks again! :)

3 kami nagsshare ng apartment. :D

Actually, I live very near sa riles.. Isang wall at isang canal/creek/whatever ang pagitan ng apartment namin tsaka nung riles.. Mga 7:30, me dadaan na ang mga tren. Kapag dumaan na ibig sabihin kelangan ko na umalis at kung hindi malalate na ako. :lol:

hindi na-demolish ung apartment mo,...??:D

I think Blumentritt area (Lrt/PNR) station has gotten worse in years.To say it in tagalog.Grabe na ang kababuyan ng tao sa lugar na yan.It's plain anarchy in that place.(Kakalungkot.)That's why I can't wait for the relocation of the informal settlers there.Grabe na talaga.

PJ: nope. Hindi na sakop yung apartment namin. :)

Me report kahapon ang saksi regarding the Southrail Project. As usual kulang kulang ang report nila regarding the Southrial-Northrail Linkage Project. Yes, they showed some infrastructure works pero hindi pinakita yung ginagawa sa Buendia pati sa Pasay road. Tsaka they are implicating na walang ginagawa sa me Bicutan to Alabang tapos kalahati na daw yung nagagastos sa budget. Oh Ka-mon! If they only knew.. :bash:

WoS: Nagjogging ako kanina along South Super Highway (well, from Vito Cruz to Buendia). It seems Fencing nga yung gagawin dun kasi along the way me nakikita akong mga maliliit na mga hukay.. Tapos nakasalubong ko pa yung mga workers ata..

Sana naman bilis bilisan nila ang pag gawa.

PJ: nope. Hindi na sakop yung apartment namin. :)

Me report kahapon ang saksi regarding the Southrail Project. As usual kulang kulang ang report nila regarding the Southrial-Northrail Linkage Project. Yes, they showed some infrastructure works pero hindi pinakita yung ginagawa sa Buendia pati sa Pasay road. Tsaka they are implicating na walang ginagawa sa me Bicutan to Alabang tapos kalahati na daw yung nagagastos sa budget. Oh Ka-mon! If they only knew.. :bash:

WoS: Nagjogging ako kanina along South Super Highway (well, from Vito Cruz to Buendia). It seems Fencing nga yung gagawin dun kasi along the way me nakikita akong mga maliliit na mga hukay.. Tapos nakasalubong ko pa yung mga workers ata..


^^ We'll if it is really fencing works then that's a whole lot of beauty and protection to the railway. Wow!!! :):):)

^^ Honestly guys, if I were too ask about our current coaches... pwede pa po nating gamitin ang tren. It only needs a minor repair. Not to mention guys, these trains are second handed from Japan. Meaning its all original and we know guys Japanese made trains are very much rigid than Madras Made Trains which PNR had used before. Not only that, I've been into Japan last year and honestly I can still see JR Blue Trains, just exactly the same as that of our commex trains still running on major trunk lines in Japan. Only they had to pushed by an electric locomotive.

^^ We'll Im just too glad this things are coming lightly nowadays with the addition of 18DMU sets, that's 3 trainsets per ride...:cheers:

I think Blumentritt area (Lrt/PNR) station has gotten worse in years.To say it in tagalog.Grabe na ang kababuyan ng tao sa lugar na yan.It's plain anarchy in that place.(Kakalungkot.)That's why I can't wait for the relocation of the informal settlers there.Grabe na talaga.

^^ Worst than worse... I mean exacaltly opposite than those what you see there in your country... Witness how government will wipe out this image and turn it into a Japanese look a like train station...
:banana:

Sana naman bilis bilisan nila ang pag gawa.

^^ Kaya natin yan, though medyo slow, but they are moving. After March, the line from Tayuman to Alabang, is as good as 90% cleared while waiting for the other line like Caloocan to Triangulo, Sampaloc, San Martin De Porres and the lines to Calamba....

^^ Let us always pray and hope that everybody will cooperate in this historical move. Let us always be positive. It really takes hardwork to do a well done project that favors us... the riding public...

^^ Sorry guys, medyo hindi detailed ang aking figure.. But I wish in the coming days, I can rework it and have reposted it again with the confirmation of the the project...:):):)

This is great for RP! More photos please!!! I wanna be updated!!! Thank you! :D

^^ Sorry spearhed, im still here in Bicol waiting for my clients go signal for thier building construction. Once okayed, I will come to Manila for the materials and also I will visit the project site again and have some new photos..

PJ: nope. Hindi na sakop yung apartment namin. :)

WoS: Nagjogging ako kanina along South Super Highway (well, from Vito Cruz to Buendia). It seems Fencing nga yung gagawin dun kasi along the way me nakikita akong mga maliliit na mga hukay.. Tapos nakasalubong ko pa yung mga workers ata..

^^ Saan ba malapit yung mga hukay? It is along the road or near the tracks? If along the sidewalk chances are it will be fenced but if it is near the tracks, probably it would be an uncovered platform. Yup you're right, it's an station's extension but I think it will have no roofing. Similar style in Japan, just to accomodate bulk of passengers loading and unloading... In case of rain, loading and unloading will be just confined on areas under roofed...

^^ Kaya natin yan, though medyo slow, but they are moving. After March, the line from Tayuman to Alabang, is as good as 90% cleared while waiting for the other line like Caloocan to Triangulo, Sampaloc, San Martin De Porres and the lines to Calamba....

^^ Let us always pray and hope that everybody will cooperate in this historical move. Let us always be positive. It really takes hardwork to do a well done project that favors us... the riding public...

Hey, Wheel of Steel, let's see if you can ask those nuns:ohno: and bishops:ohno::ohno: who want to organise rallies to pray instead for this project. They will be doing something more constructive and productive. Thanks for the updates!

Hey, Wheel of Steel, let's see if you can ask those nuns:ohno: and bishops:ohno::ohno: who want to organise rallies to pray instead for this project. They will be doing something more constructive and productive. Thanks for the updates!

^^ We need ways that does not interfere with the affairs of the government not those organizations that tolerate the presence of squatters in the railroads... Cooperation with the government plus prayers is still the best..

^^ there should be a fine line between politics and the church..:ohno:

sorry OT..:D

^^ there should be a fine line between politics and the church..:ohno:

sorry OT..:D

^^ Hi pi, your photos in the flick are so nice. Can you take photos of the latest Malolos Railway construction, I think they are already in full swing now.

^^ i'll try, once i get back to the philippines..:D

^^ Hi el, this photo of Pasay Station was taken around 2006. Has there been any changed now as far as the renovation works underway..

http://www.unlawyer.net/photos/ipap-photos/pasay_road_pnr_station_06.jpg

http://www.unlawyer.net/photos/ipap-photos/pasay_road_pnr_station_04.jpg

^^ i'll try, once i get back to the philippines..:D


^^ awwwsss!:lol::lol::lol: I though you're just here in RP.. Ok! When you get backed, expect a lot of change in that area and more reasons to take a shot...:)

^^ Actually I noticed that there were 2 tracks behind the platform of the Pasay Stations. Im not sure if they resurfaced it now because the last time i've been there, they are working on it. From Tayuman to Alabang, I've seen several tracks sidings along the Paco, Pasay and Sucat Stations. They might be using it for bypass train. We'll i hope that they must build more of that in time of the rehabilitation to make the ride much more faster.

pete loud pala pangalan mo? :D

Hopefully, it won't hit with "Overpriced daw" virus. :nono:

How funny how they forgot about LRT2 and MRT which are not overpriced, but are severely overbudget, and we ended up paying the contractors until today.

I was with the impression that the Southrail Ph.1 funding has been already approved!... why is it that the PNR General Manager himself said that the funding's approval is still pending? Does this mean the original targets for completion of this project (2009?) was for publicity purposes only?

Searching for answers... could someone please shed light on this...

I was with the impression that the Southrail Ph.1 funding has been already approved!... why is it that the PNR General Manager himself said that the funding's approval is still pending? Does this mean the original targets for completion of this project (2009?) was for publicity purposes only?

Searching for answers... could someone please shed light on this...

^^ This time around will be so gloomy, Southrail1a might be in danger... :ohno::ohno::ohno: You right Lucentino.

I think the problem was the government counterpart fund that causes delays. Though thier fund is already underway for the constructions of relocations sites, still not enough to complete the clearing in due time. In every railway projects specially the revival of the old lines where there's a lot of squatters, as a goodwill to the project, the Philippines will be taking care of the relocation and acquisition of the additional PNR right of ways. This goodwill expense will be the counterpart of the PNR. The Chinese on their part would never compromise into the agreement unless the government shows support to the project. That is the complete clearing of the line concerned.

Just like what happened in Northrail. The proponents need to clear the line first so as to assure that the project will be running smoothly until it's completion. :)

Nograles makes Mindanao Railyway System his priority (http://www.mindanews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3844&Itemid=50)
MindaNews
Friday, 15 February 2008 09:53

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/14 Feb) – The Mindanao Railway System will be the priority project of the first ever Mindanawon Speaker of the House of Representatives, Prospero Castillo Nograles.

In his first press conference here since assuming the speakership on February 5, Nograles said he cannot promise he can make the railway system happen in two years but “I will give it my best shot.”

Mindanao’s representatives have signed a resolution to make the Mindanao Railway System a priority.

Nograles said the first thing they have to do now is to make a feasibility study on the project and after they will have to "go out and seek foreign assistance."

Nograles explained that a railway system that will connect all of Mindanao is such a huge project that foreign fund is needed.

The railway system has always been promised by administrations since the Marcos era.

"Hindi na papayag ang mga congressmen galing sa Mindanao na may iba pang railway na itatayo sa Pilipinas na hindi sa Mindanao (Mindanao congressmen will not allow it that there will be another railway that will be built in the Philippines that is not in Mindanao),” he said.

Nograles vowed to prioritize projects in Mindanao. He said Mindanao representatives will meet here in Davao City in April to discuss plans and projects for the island.

Nograles said they will invite the Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCO) to present their projects for Mindanao so they will know what projects to support.

He said they will choose projects that are doable in two years.

Nograles also said they will implement projects where the problem is "to be able make the peace process acceptable to everybody." He did not elaborate. (MindaNews)

From Manila Times!!!

Friday, February 15, 2008


Govt turns to China for additional loans

By Darwin G. Amojelar, Reporter

DESPITE the alleged corruption on some of the infrastructure projects funded by Beijing government, the Arroyo administration is in talks for a five-year bilateral loan framework to fund government’s project.

Acting Director-General Augusto Santos of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said the five-year Joint Action Plan for Strategic Cooperation between the Republic of China and the Philippines will finance agriculture and infrastructure projects.

He said the Light Rail Transit Authority’s $683-million Manila Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 1 south extension project, which will run from Baclaran to Cavite, and a housing project may be included in the new agreement.

Santos said the Chinese ambassador to the Philippines, Song Tao, said China is still keen on doing projects in the Philippines.

The director general said the new framework is expected to be approved within the first half of the year.

Santos added that despite the controversy on the $330-million National Broadband Network project, the government will still push through with other Chinese-funded projects.

The Senate is continuing a hearing on the controversial broadband deal that was given—and later scrapped— by President Gloria Arroyo to China’s ZTE Corp. Witnesses have linked the President’s husband and allies to brokering and overpricing the deal, which they have denied.

“There’s no decision to put all Chinese projects on hold,” Santos said.

On January 16, 2007, the government represented by former NEDA Director General Romulo Neri signed an economic partnership agreement with the People’s Republic of China.

Some of the documents signed include the Framework Agreement on Expanding and Deepening Bilateral Economic and Trade Cooperation, which formalizes the two countries’ pact to engage in economic and trade cooperation, particularly in agriculture, fishery, public works and infrastructure, housing, mineral resource development, energy, among others.

The NEDA documents showed that there are seven projects covered by the agreements, but only three of these were included in the signed agreements. These three are the Northrail Project, Phase 1, Section 2 (Malolos, Bulacan, to Clark, Pampanga) amounting to $673.67 million; Main Line South Railway Project Phase 1 (Calamba, Laguna, to Lucena, Quezon), $314.8 million; and the Non-Intrusive Container Inspection System Project Phase 2 (at the Bureau of Customs), $115 million.

The NEDA document said the remaining four projects in the pipeline are the $1-billion Laiban Dam Project; Metro Manila Skyway Stages 2 (Bicutan to Alabang in Metro Manila), and (Makati to Balintawak) Project, worth $633.54 million; Angat Water Utilization and Aqueduct Improvement Project, Phase 2, $63.85 million; and the Laoag International Airport Expansion Project, the details of which have yet to be determined.

^^ Kaya natin yan, though medyo slow, but they are moving. After March, the line from Tayuman to Alabang, is as good as 90% cleared while waiting for the other line like Caloocan to Triangulo, Sampaloc, San Martin De Porres and the lines to Calamba....

^^ Let us always pray and hope that everybody will cooperate in this historical move. Let us always be positive. It really takes hardwork to do a well done project that favors us... the riding public...

Nakakakaba kasi baka mamya biglang mabinbin... wag naman sana. Anyway lets be optimistic! :okay:

the area between sampaloc and sta mesa...is still not cleared of squatters....mukhang kina cuddle ni lim itong mga ito...kala nya natutulungan nya itong mahihirap sa ganyang klaseng pulitika...

Nakakakaba kasi baka mamya biglang mabinbin... wag naman sana. Anyway lets be optimistic! :okay:

^^ Optimistic pa rin ako. We'll I can see that some are moving especially those in the Sampaloc Area, left of Espanya going to Manila. May risk na mabibin pero sa tingin ko, diretso na ang project na ito. Rehabilitation lang kasi ang gagawin plus simple fencing. Then the new DMU's will immediately start rolling. :)

the area between sampaloc and sta mesa...is still not cleared of squatters....mukhang kina cuddle ni lim itong mga ito...kala nya natutulungan nya itong mahihirap sa ganyang klaseng pulitika...

^^ parang ganon ang nangyayari. Karamihan kasi sa mga ito ay untouchables at inabuso nila yung binigay sa kanilang pabahay. Actually this pabahay sa riles has conditions to be met that when the time comes the PNR will be needing it. What happened that they want to get the lot. :ohno:

the area between sampaloc and sta mesa...is still not cleared of squatters....mukhang kina cuddle ni lim itong mga ito...kala nya natutulungan nya itong mahihirap sa ganyang klaseng pulitika...

Daddy, what happened to your posts nos. Bakit kumunti na sya? hmmm... kinakalimutan mo na kami dito sa thread no?:ohno:

o akala ko ba overpriced daw ang southrail? eh bakit iba yugn figures sa sinabi sa media?! weird.

o akala ko ba overpriced daw ang southrail? eh bakit iba yugn figures sa sinabi sa media?! weird.

^^ Medyo weird talaga, tapos ngayon ang dami na namang negative na news...:ohno:

Elections are coming, that's why. Need for media exposure, media exposure and more media exposure.

Joker Arroyo vows to derail SouthRail probe (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20080215-119204/Joker-Arroyo-vows-to-derail-SouthRail-probe)

‘Finish NorthRail inquiry first’
By Dona Pazzibugan
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 23:04:00 02/15/2008

MANILA, Philippines -- Administration ally Senator Joker Arroyo on Friday vowed to oppose a Senate investigation into another allegedly anomalous loan deal that the Arroyo administration entered into with China, the $932-million SouthRail project, saying the NorthRail project deserved greater priority.

“First things first. Bigger ones first,” Arroyo said.

Senate witness Rodolfo Lozada Jr., who said he had acted as a “consultant” to former Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Romulo Neri, claimed the SouthRail project was overpriced by around $70 million.

Lozada mentioned the SouthRail project in the course of his testimony regarding the alleged $130-million kickback in the aborted $329-million National Broadband Network deal that would have also been financed by a loan from China.

“I would oppose an investigation of the SouthRail project unless the Senate first disposed of its investigation of the gargantuan $500-million loan for the NorthRail (project),” Arroyo said in a statement.

Arroyo claimed the SouthRail project paled in comparison to the NorthRail project in terms of cost.

But according to the Philippine National Railways website, the total project cost for SouthRail stood at $932 million, $627.8 million for Phase I and $304.2 million for Phase II.

Phase I covers the rehabilitation of the existing railway line from Calamba to Legazpi City covering 423 kilometers.

Phase II covers the construction of a new railway line from Comun, Camalig, Albay to Matnog, Sorsogon, covering 135 kilometers.

“The $500 million NorthRail project is worth P20 billion. It involves 38 kilometers, from Caloocan to Malolos. In round figures, the government will spend an astronomic P500 million for each kilometer,” Arroyo said.

In the previous 13th Congress, the Senate, constituting itself into a committee of the whole, investigated the contract for the NorthRail project which senators claimed was grossly disadvantageous to the government.

Former House speaker, Pangasinan Representative Jose de Venecia was also implicated in the deal as its broker. But the Senate never got around to investigating De Venecia.

I was really curious when I read this article. Is the Northrail really overpriced?

They said the the loan was $1.126B for 80.2km from Caloocan to Clark OR $500M for 38km from Caloocan to Malolos. Joker was right in saying that it would cost Php20B if converted into pesos but I think he forgot that it would be DOUBLE TRACK so the cost would also double. So instead of having 38km we will now have 76km from Caloocan to Malolos. If we divide it from Php20B it would be Php263M and not Php500M per kilometer. Now, the question is: "is it really expensive to have a Php263M per kilometer line?" And take note, everything is brand new including the stations, tracks, rolling stock, etc. AND no one are also interested to start the project esp from the private sector.

Joker Arroyo vows to derail SouthRail probe (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20080215-119204/Joker-Arroyo-vows-to-derail-SouthRail-probe)

‘Finish NorthRail inquiry first’
By Dona Pazzibugan
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 23:04:00 02/15/2008

MANILA, Philippines -- Administration ally Senator Joker Arroyo on Friday vowed to oppose a Senate investigation into another allegedly anomalous loan deal that the Arroyo administration entered into with China, the $932-million SouthRail project, saying the NorthRail project deserved greater priority.

“First things first. Bigger ones first,” Arroyo said.

Senate witness Rodolfo Lozada Jr., who said he had acted as a “consultant” to former Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Romulo Neri, claimed the SouthRail project was overpriced by around $70 million.

Lozada mentioned the SouthRail project in the course of his testimony regarding the alleged $130-million kickback in the aborted $329-million National Broadband Network deal that would have also been financed by a loan from China.

“I would oppose an investigation of the SouthRail project unless the Senate first disposed of its investigation of the gargantuan $500-million loan for the NorthRail (project),” Arroyo said in a statement.

Arroyo claimed the SouthRail project paled in comparison to the NorthRail project in terms of cost.

But according to the Philippine National Railways website, the total project cost for SouthRail stood at $932 million, $627.8 million for Phase I and $304.2 million for Phase II.

Phase I covers the rehabilitation of the existing railway line from Calamba to Legazpi City covering 423 kilometers.

Phase II covers the construction of a new railway line from Comun, Camalig, Albay to Matnog, Sorsogon, covering 135 kilometers.

“The $500 million NorthRail project is worth P20 billion. It involves 38 kilometers, from Caloocan to Malolos. In round figures, the government will spend an astronomic P500 million for each kilometer,” Arroyo said.

In the previous 13th Congress, the Senate, constituting itself into a committee of the whole, investigated the contract for the NorthRail project which senators claimed was grossly disadvantageous to the government.

Former House speaker, Pangasinan Representative Jose de Venecia was also implicated in the deal as its broker. But the Senate never got around to investigating De Venecia.

I was really curious when I read this article. Is the Northrail really overpriced?

They said the the loan was $1.126B for 80.2km from Caloocan to Clark OR $500M for 38km from Caloocan to Malolos. Joker was right in saying that it would cost Php20B if converted into pesos but I think he forgot that it would be DOUBLE TRACK so the cost would also double. So instead of having 38km we will now have 76km from Caloocan to Malolos. If we divide it from Php20B it would be Php263M and not Php500M per kilometer. Now, the question is: "is it really expensive to have a Php263M per kilometer line?" And take note, everything is brand new including the stations, tracks, rolling stock, etc. AND no one are also interested to start the project esp from the private sector.

Actually Northrail isn't that too much overpriced, it is overpriced in some terms but hey, what is overpriced if the benefits outweigh costs? Those senators just want to show up for the 2010 elections. Go Senator Joker! Derail it and let the work begin so that this project will be finished!

^^ We need ways that does not interfere with the affairs of the government not those organizations that tolerate the presence of squatters in the railroads... Cooperation with the government plus prayers is still the best..

Wheel....Lacson and Madrigal who were the culprit behind the lies of lying Lozada were busted!

Panfilo Lacson and Jambi Madrigal were the crooks behind the lies of the lying Lozada. The two secretly met and cornered Lozada and Neri to press the latter to link the innocent PGMA with the ZTE-NBN deal. When they couldn't force Neri to link Malacanang, they threatened the lying Lozada to lie. Lacson and Madrigal’s main intention was to force the resignation of PGMA because that’s the only way they can control the Philippine Executive position. Lacson and Madrigal knew very well that they wouldn’t win in 2010 so they would do anything; create any lies, even threaten the lying Lozada to lie to forcibly take the Philippine leadership. Pinoys, beware of Lacson and Madrigal, they are the evil amongst the evils in the opposition. Lacson is the number one opportunist trapo that threatened to kidnap Lozada yet Lacson was able to turn the table against the more credible Atienza and Rason.
Huwag magpaloko sa mga pakana ni Lacson at Madrigal na mga Tuso.

Nabuking din ang kalansay sa likod ng baul in Lacson at Madrigal. Dapa ang manglolokong si Lacson at Madrigal ang ilagay sa mahabang baul.

Sen. Arroyo opposes Southrail inquiry

http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2008/feb/16/yehey/metro/20080216met7.html

By Efren L. Danao, Senior Reporter

Sen. Joker Arroyo gave notice on Friday that he would oppose any investigation of the Southrail project while there is no report on the Senate inquiry into the $500-million Northrail project.

In a press statement, Arroyo said that the Senate should first dispose of its investigation of the “gargantuan” $500-million loan for the Northrail project before it conducts an investigation of the alleged $70-million overprice of the Southrail project.

“First things first. Bigger ones first,” he said.

He noted that the Senate had already completed its inquiry into the Northrail project and all that remains is to make the committee report. The inquiry was conducted during the 13th Congress by the Senate which constituted itself into the committee of the whole.

However, the probe ran into a blank wall when President Gloria Arroyo issued Executive Order 464 that prevented executive officials from testifying before the Senate without Malacañang’s permission. The minutes of the inquiry had been consigned to the Senate archives.

The Northrail project covers 38 kilometers, from Caloocan to Malolos. In round figures, the government will spend an astronomic “P500 million for each kilometer,” Arroyo said in explaining why the Northrail committee report should be finished first before starting any inquiry into the Southrail project.

Broadband witness Rodolfo Lozada Jr. said at the Senate investigation into the $329-million broadband deal that the Southrail project was one of the projects whose cost had gone up because of graft. He said that the Southrail project was one of the three projects that he handled. The other two are the broadband and the Philippine Postal projects. He cleared the latter project of any anomaly.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson has filed a resolution seeking an inquiry by the Senate blue-ribbon committee into Lozada’s allegations. He clarified that the $70 million does not pertain to the total cost of the project, which is $932 million, but the alleged overprice in the project’s first phase.

The Southrail, with a total cost of $932 million, was meant to rehabilitate the railway from Manila to Bicol. The first phase involves the 423-kilometer stretch from Calamba, Laguna to Legazpi City costing $627.8 million and Phase 2, the new 135-km railway line from Legazpi City to Sorsogon costing $304.2 million. Like the $329-million broadband project, the Southrail will be funded by loans from the Export-Import Bank of China.

^^ This time around will be so gloomy, Southrail1a might be in danger... :ohno::ohno::ohno: You right Lucentino.

I think the problem was the government counterpart fund that causes delays. Though thier fund is already underway for the constructions of relocations sites, still not enough to complete the clearing in due time. In every railway projects specially the revival of the old lines where there's a lot of squatters, as a goodwill to the project, the Philippines will be taking care of the relocation and acquisition of the additional PNR right of ways. This goodwill expense will be the counterpart of the PNR. The Chinese on their part would never compromise into the agreement unless the government shows support to the project. That is the complete clearing of the line concerned.

Just like what happened in Northrail. The proponents need to clear the line first so as to assure that the project will be running smoothly until it's completion. :)


So does that mean my being pessimistic about this project paid off???

This is a viable project, and I hope it would push through as soon as possible... people in South Eastern Luzon badly needs infrastructure such as road and rail!

So does that mean my being pessimistic about this project paid off???

This is a viable project, and I hope it would push through as soon as possible... people in South Eastern Luzon badly needs infrastructure such as road and rail!

^^ Napanood ko yung GMA news na Feb. 13 ang release. We'll I'll be thankful na underway na ang construction ng Linkage Project... Wow!!! :banana:

Constructions going on at Pandacan, Pandacan Bridge, Tayuman Yard, Buendia and Pasay Stations....:):):)

Wheel....Lacson and Madrigal who were the culprit behind the lies of lying Lozada were busted!

Panfilo Lacson and Jambi Madrigal were the crooks behind the lies of the lying Lozada. The two secretly met and cornered Lozada and Neri to press the latter to link the innocent PGMA with the ZTE-NBN deal. When they couldn't force Neri to link Malacanang, they threatened the lying Lozada to lie. Lacson and Madrigal’s main intention was to force the resignation of PGMA because that’s the only way they can control the Philippine Executive position. Lacson and Madrigal knew very well that they wouldn’t win in 2010 so they would do anything; create any lies, even threaten the lying Lozada to lie to forcibly take the Philippine leadership. Pinoys, beware of Lacson and Madrigal, they are the evil amongst the evils in the opposition. Lacson is the number one opportunist trapo that threatened to kidnap Lozada yet Lacson was able to turn the table against the more credible Atienza and Rason.
Huwag magpaloko sa mga pakana ni Lacson at Madrigal na mga Tuso.

Nabuking din ang kalansay sa likod ng baul in Lacson at Madrigal. Dapa ang manglolokong si Lacson at Madrigal ang ilagay sa mahabang baul.

meron pa palang mga bulag kayaga mo... este nagbubulagbulagan pala.

^^ if that's how you call them, then that means i'm also blind too...;)

that's just a matter of opinion IMHO..:)

meron pa palang mga bulag kayaga mo... este nagbubulagbulagan pala.

Tanong ko lang, are you willing to sacrifice several government projects just to oust the president, I am defending her pero may saysay ang mga proyekto niya. Makakatulong ng malaki ang Southrail, Northrail at NBN pero kung hindi dahil sa mga oposisyon senators na gustong umupo bilang presidente upang sila ang purihin, malamang tapos na ang mga proyektong ito.

Remember, these projects are all worth it at mauungusan ang pagiging overpriced ng mga ito. Tapusin na lang muna natin ang mga itong proyekto na ito saka tayo maghabol para may natapos na tayo, makakapaghabol pa tayo, right?

Subukan lang nilang i-delay ang North Luzon East Expressway, Tarlac-La Union Expressway at ang opening ng Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway at magkakamatayan kaming lahat ng mga whistleblowers na iyan! Dada sila ng dada wala naman silang alam sa ganyang mga proyekto, sila nga ang gumawa niyan at pupurihin ko pa sila kung makakagawa sila ng mga ganyang proyekto sa loob lamang ng anim na buwan at maliit lang ang gastos. Mga bwisit!

Para kay Jun Lozada: Siguraduhin lang niyang totoo ang mga pinagsasabi niya dahil nasasagasaan ang trabaho ng mga senador at nagtatagal tayo. Dapat may NBN na tayo kung hindi lang may sumigaw. Para sa sumigaw, tingnan muna niya ang benefits nito bago siya sumigaw.

Senator Lacson at Senator Roxas: Buko na kayo! Gusto niyo lang ng publicity upang sumikat kayo sa eleksyon! Dapat sa korte inilalapit iyan hindi sa senado! May sarili kayong trabaho at iyon ay ang gumawa ng mga batas at hindi ang gumawa ng anomalya!

meron pa palang mga bulag kayaga mo... este nagbubulagbulagan pala.

^^ if that's how you call them, then that means i'm also blind too...;)

that's just a matter of opinion IMHO..:)

Tanong ko lang, are you willing to sacrifice several government projects just to oust the president, I am defending her pero may saysay ang mga proyekto niya. Makakatulong ng malaki ang Southrail, Northrail at NBN pero kung hindi dahil sa mga oposisyon senators na gustong umupo bilang presidente upang sila ang purihin, malamang tapos na ang mga proyektong ito.

Pabayaan niyo na. Sila lang naman talaga ang "nakakakita ng liwanag" at "hindi bulag." Kaya nga tingnan ninyo pinalit nila kay Erap si GMA tapos gusto nila ulit palitan. Kasi nga hindi sila bulag at nakakita sila ng liwanag.

Call me a bulag too but I want this project finished! If being bulag-bulagan would only be the way, so be it, as long as this rail gets built!

^^ Agreed, i want these projects done first

Everyone who had a bad thing to say about SCLEX during its early phases should take a ride down that expressway. Then wipe the salt off of their shoulder.

meron pa palang mga bulag kayaga mo... este nagbubulagbulagan pala.

Ikaw anG bulag dahil you are a victim of LACSON'S POLITICAL MANEUVERING.
You seem to believe the Lies concocted by the lying Lozada who is a dubious corrupt guy himself who used the church for his own haven. Corrupt people that use that church to create more lies is now being eaten by worms, each piece of carcass destroyed. Lozada used government money to pay for his insurance taken from his wife. Lozada leased a sizable government land to his brother. Lozada avoid government project biddings to favor the deals with his relatives. Lozada lies about being kidnap when he's already hiding in LaSalle Greenhills with the nuns & priests (so the nuns and priests were his kidnappers then). Lozada lied on Southrail when bidding hasn't taken place yet - but he's already making up stories. Lozada's lies keeps on logarithmically increasing. Liar, Liar, Liar of the lying Lozada.
Demented Pigeon, Ikaw ay hindi lang bulag, mang-mang din sa paniniwala sa mga kawalanhiyaan ni Lacson.

Most importantly, the president SCRAPPED the ZTE-NBN deal, there was no corruption that took place.

Call me a bulag too but I want this project finished! If being bulag-bulagan would only be the way, so be it, as long as this rail gets built!

:) Same with me JH, I really wanted this to be finished na. Whatever words they are saying against this project does not really help us. Not only theres a lot passengers that will be benifited from this railroad but I see excitements because this railway will open the gates for us Bicolanos. It signifies that Bicol will be backed again. Bicolanos has suffered enough from the ravage of PNR.

Count me in as one of the "Bulags" and probably one of the "soul"-less people.. From the start, I wanted this project to be finished BECAUSE ALL OF US WILL BE BENEFIT FROM THIS. Not just a section or a group of people but all of us.

We won't just save a single soul but we will save all our souls. :)

To demented pigeon: I am enlightened and definitely not a dumb. I can differentiate a hearsay versus proof. I am a bicolano but ashamed of Mr. Lozada. He is giving testimony based on hearsay and the alleged kidnapping because he feared for his life due to his trauma on the experience of his brother. His feelings and words from other people cannot be taken as proof. Don't tell me you are the "bulag".

This is what we get when we put to the stand someone who's was made famous by the media and who knows a little about something but is not sure about it because he needs the self-serving senators to guide him to link everyone and everything to this so-called "overpricing scandal!"

My point is, why the heck is the media buying into this guys so-called insider information about the Southrail being overpriced when the project is yet to begin? How could he have personal knowledge about a project which he does not have professional and official links with?

I wouldn't be surprised if he would also testify that the Package 3 (NLEX to Buendia) of the Skyway is Overpriced by 20%.

Objection Your Honor! Hearsay!

Mr. Lozada's testimonies will not even stand up in any court of law anywhere, he wasn't able to prove anything, all he said was his personal knowledge, be he has no one to corroborate them, and he state hearsays as facts. I wonder who how stupid are those people supporting him.

Why do you trust the Senate to investigate? its not thier job, its the job of the Ombudsman. They are only seeking the publicity instead of doing thier jobs.

I bet, they will never be able to prepare a law regarding this stupid investigation, more so, if the their case will not pass the court of law.

And for the priests and nuns supporting Mr. Lozada, shame on you! You should be more concerned with the welfare of Christ's people and not politicking.

If Mr. Lozada is proven lying, you would all bring down the Catholic Church with him.

The crowd of only 10,000 in the rally last Friday at Ayala really showed that people are so tired of people power. Most of those who attended are the usual "left", that whoever is in power or in Malacanang, they will surely protest and say "RESIGN". They will object to progress, to the building of roads, railways, and whatever.

it's a cliche but i'll say it anyway -

"the end does not justify the means"

:)

RonnieR: That is what you call "Crab Mentality". I don't have any idea why most people worship it.

I saw Sen. Gordon last week. I was a few inches away from him. Sayang, kung alam ko lang nakagawa ako ng letter about this project and northrail. Maybe I could muster some courage and we could have some sort of conversation about it. Kaso nga lang Official Business din ako dun kaya sorry. :D

It's kinda weird moment when you see people from opposition and admin and business rivals in one place. Hindi ko lam kung nagpplastikan lang sila or wala ganun talaga. hehe

Guys, Masyadong na atang OT ito.. We better get back to our topic. :)

Monday, February 18, 2008
Ledesma: Railway
By Jun Ledesma
Sunbursts


I HEARD it again. Mindanao railway project. I heard it first from then Batasan member now Davao del Norte Gov. Rodolfo del Rosario. He never abandoned the idea even when he was already congressman. Because Mindanao was, and still is, a low priority in the centrist government that we have, the proposal never went beyond first base. When he became governor his nephew Tonyboy Floirendo inherited his congressional post. Tonyboy re-filed the proposal but was again snubbed by the leadership of the house headed by Pangasinan Congressman Jose de Venecia Jr.

When Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ran for president in 2004, Speaker De Venecia suddenly materialized at the Waling-waling function room of the Apo View Hotel. I distinctly remember how he mesmerized local business and political leaders when he revealed that the Mindanao Railway System would now be realized. I will never forget how he made us believe that $400-million is already available to start the first phase of the project which he said will initially link Cagayan de Oro City and Iligan City in the northern corridor of Mindanao.

Who will not believe Joe de V? How can one not believe him? During that forum he has a retinue of Caucasians whom he introduced as representing the lending institutions and the technical experts of railways technology of Europe. I almost believed Joe but I had serious doubts about the so-called bankers and technicians who did nothing but nod their heads at the cue of the dream merchant. Why? There was nothing of a corporate look and smell in them. The barong Tagalog that they wore seemed to have been salvaged from an ukay-ukay joint and their smell is not far from the western vagabonds who found their way to the Philippine shores.

Of course, the railway of de Venecia remained simply a dream. The speaker is second to none when conjuring beautiful - and fantastic - plans. Now he is no longer House speaker. Good riddance.

It is with this background that I hope our own congressman and now Speaker Boy Nograles will not take us to dreamland. Two years, assuming he will last that long in the house of rats, is too short for him to realize that gargantuan dream. The project seems to be feasible only if bankrolled with an Overseas Development Assistance (ODA). These days when ODA, government-to-government (g2g) loan and even Build Operate Transfer undertakings are suspects following the ZTE-NBN scam, it will be a Herculean job for Speaker Nograles to swing anything for a railway system that would require millions, if not billions, of dollars.

It is much better to trim down, or to borrow a word from Jun Lozada's quip, to "moderate" your plan. It's better to have your feet on the ground and look at projects, which you can swing given your position today and being the anointed son of the First Family. Consider the Saug Irrigation dam of Governor Dolfo del Rosario. That project has already a prepared feasibility study. It stands to irrigate not less than 12,000 hectares, provide potable water for five municipalities in Davao del Norte, will control chronic flooding in several towns in the province. If you can make it to the senate later, there is a chance you can move on to tap and fund the development of hydroelectric system using the waters from Saug dam.

Since you claim it is through your initiative that the Bankerohan Bridge is finally being done after 10 months of waiting, just see to it that this is done by April. Or August. You see DPWH changes schedules as quickly as their whims permit. Furthermore, I think you should prod the regional Office of the Ombudsman to look into why after all these months of delay, DPWH rejected the original plan of "Tulay ng Pangulo" and changed this to cement bridge? And if you really meant to curb corruption, ask DPWH why the initial estimate was for P320-million and when questioned by President Arroyo brought down the cost by what they earlier said resulted from a "bidding" to P206-million ++. You may also want to inquire why the Regional Office came out with an announcement that the winning offer was for P216-million then to say later that they brought down the price to P206-million to justify this as a "negotiated" project?

Too many questions to ask, but even with a few that begged to be answered this remained unanswered.

If the Regional Ombudsman won't act then maybe the Commission on Audit can look at the mystery behind the Bankerohan Bridge contract like it did with the People's Park and Task Force Davao.

I wish you the best of luck Mr. Speaker and to your express train!

Sun.Star Davao (http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/dav/2008/02/18/oped/jun.ledesma.sunbursts.html)

^^ No, this is NOT OT! Lozada was the one that brought the North Rail/South Rail into this mess of his, not one forumer did. So it should be okay to discuss him in this thread since these particular projects are now in doubt because of him and only because of him. He has absolutely no knowledge and involvement in these projects and yet he dragged it for the sole purpose of fulfilling his agenda and those of his opposition allies, including cry baby Joey De Venecia whose only bitter for not getting the contract himself for the NBN project. I agree wholeheartedly with all those forumers that support these rail projects, even if it means they have to be labeled as "bulag". Count me in as well to the group of supporters. The benefits of these rail projects will last for generations to come, its economic benifits outweights all forms of corruption tied to it, if they at all even exists!

At the end of the day, if these rail projects and other infrastructure of the Arroyo administration somehow pushes through, its effects on the lives of so many people would be so profound their standard of living would increase, their economic benefits would increase, and thus they and their children would gain more knowledge and wisdom that results in a much more improved way of life. That said, they will then LEARN themselves who the right people would be needed to govern them properly and who to vote for in the future and THAT MY FRIENDS IS WHY THE OPPOSITION WANTS THE COUNTRY TO REMAIN POOR SO THEY CAN KEEP STAYING IN THE HIGH END OF SOCIETY VOTED SOLELY DUE TO SHEER STUPIDITY AND IGNORANCE!

Thanks, everyone, for such enlightening comments. Overseas you do not get to know the real story. Many (no, not all) in the Philippine media seem to be in the payroll of some politician. That's why I use this forum to check the veracity of newspaper claims.

Yes, the Southrail project is so obviously for the benefit of millions of travelers and businesses that it is just appalling to see efforts to derail it (forgive the pun) for the sake of political mileage. Filipinos deserve something better. They've been working so hard at home and abroad, and here come a few brash and unconscionable comedians who come to wreck what had been patiently and painstakingly built.

Yes, but actually the atmosphere here in the streets, offices, and everywhere is totally different from what is portrayed in the media. Even a rally of 1,000 people or their biggest rally last Friday at Makati of 10,000 people is so pathetic. Metro Manila has 12 million people and yet they showed as if the people are in revolution and against this government. They are totally wrong. I and the rest of millions of Filipinos want PROGRESS

Thanks Queetz.. I don't even care if I will be even labeled as "Soul"-less person as long as the everyone will benefit from this project. Kung magkaroon man ng rally para sa project na ito and other infrastructure project, sasama ako eh.

Manchowyin: Don't trust the media. Yes, they show some "good" news but in the end it will only benefit themselves.

Side note: I'm quite sure that Mr. Lozada will run for senator ala Sen. Trillanes.

^^ Actually I noticed that there were 2 tracks behind the platform of the Pasay Stations. Im not sure if they resurfaced it now because the last time i've been there, they are working on it. From Tayuman to Alabang, I've seen several tracks sidings along the Paco, Pasay and Sucat Stations. They might be using it for bypass train. We'll i hope that they must build more of that in time of the rehabilitation to make the ride much more faster.

Howdee Wheels,
From memory, I think Pandacan also had a side track on the Manila bound side, however it was mostly obscured by demolition work.
While I can't confirm, I am guessing these lines were mostly used for goods purposes, back in the days when metro goods services once existed.

Cheers
Brad
*** Who is currently discussing a possible Philippines return around December.

Constructions going on at Pandacan, Pandacan Bridge, Tayuman Yard, Buendia and Pasay Stations....:):):)

Wheels, can you clarify what construction is currently happening in Tayuman yard?
Would be really interested to know how this area is changing.
Many thanks
Brad

Howdee Wheels,
From memory, I think Pandacan also had a side track on the Manila bound side, however it was mostly obscured by demolition work.
While I can't confirm, I am guessing these lines were mostly used for goods purposes, back in the days when metro goods services once existed.

Cheers
Brad
*** Who is currently discussing a possible Philippines return around December.

I guess the way they do the new station work at the Pandacan is really we'll the side track is included. The new platform as I've seen from the GMA Southrail: No overpriced video.., is spaced exactly so that there will be 2 tracks in the center and 1 side track at the side near the high and long wall adjacent to the station.

Wheels, can you clarify what construction is currently happening in Tayuman yard?
Would be really interested to know how this area is changing.
Many thanks
Brad


^^ In Tayuman yard, they are yet to do the track clearing. As of now only roofing works are being done including paintings of the trussess and walls. Also included the clearing of the area near the depot. I don't know much about the relocation of squatters from Tayuman to Bluementritt since it is currently under implementation up to March 6 but hopefully we could have update anytime soon...

^^ In Tayuman yard, they are yet to do the track clearing. As of now only roofing works are being done including paintings of the trussess and walls. Also included the clearing of the area near the depot. I don't know much about the relocation of squatters from Tayuman to Bluementritt since it is currently under implementation up to March 6 but hopefully we could have update anytime soon...

i've seen the buendia station....its the same design although the flooring has been raised .....is my observation correct?

meron pa palang mga bulag kayaga mo... este nagbubulagbulagan pala.

i guess...dami ninyo.....all these noise is nothing but political posturing for 2010...mag isip kau ng malalim....don't just take what the media feeds you...we might end up again....just like before....we kicked out the brilliant (with all his faults) marcos only to replace it with an incompetent cory...napa buti ba tau...we were worse daw....sa panahon ni makoy dahil walang kalayaan pero maraming infrastructure projects...maraming rin daw corruption ....sa panahon ni cory may kalayaan...walang infrastructure projects marami pa ring corruption... do you see the similarities?.....ngayon..... maganda ang ekonomiya dahil kay little evil gloria...kahit IMF, WB, moody's, Standard & Poors and other rating agencies bilib sa kinalabasan ng ekonomiya natin....nakuha yun dahil sa pag sacrifice ni little evil gloria sa popularity niya...pinili nya ang tough decisions kesa sa mag pa cute sa masa....ngayon gustong palabasin si PGMA pa ang kontrabida....para nde kau mapariwara sa paninimbang ninyo....base it on tangible outputs...nde yung mga heresay ni Lozada...nde malayo na meron kamay sa likod ni Lozada na nagpapagalaw dito....tumingin kau sa paligid ninyo sa mga dinadaanan ninyo....sa edsa, sa commonwealth, c5 at iba pang daan....wala ba kaung napapansin?.....mas maayos ngayon meron ng mga malinis at maluwag na pavements....nagsusulputan na mga projects....nangyayari yan dahil meron ng pera ang gobyerno...na wala noon sa mga nagdaan na presidente....for the first time in history na nagrereklamo tau na malakas ang peso at mahina ang dollar....nde ka ba nagtataka nyan kung bakit?...meron mga bagong airports na binuksan na...sa ilo-ilo sa bacolod at iba pa.... meron southrail at northrail at yung southrail northrail linkage project....meron ngayon bagong nlex, slex....meron sctex....mga seaports, shipyards...yung nautical highway...meron ngayon mga..call centers at bpo offices na sikat na ngayon...trading post o bagsakan ng produkto....nangyari yan lahat sa panahon ni PGMA....ang dami pang iba...kulang ang space dito.....ito ang pahalagahan ninyo....dahil napag iiwanan na tau ng mga kapit bansa natin..... PGMA may vision na first world in a generation...or 25 years na kinukutya nitong makikitid ang utak na mga oposisyon....na wala rin namang alternatibong maibibigay sa bayan kundi kaguluhan.....saan kayo.....sa evil...mataray nde pala ngiti na presidente pero workaholic at magaling magpatakbo ng ekonomiya, o sa mga taong walang magawa kundi guluhin ang ating pamumuhay....sa pamamagitan ng mga leftist na panggulong mga NPA-NDF sa mga rightist na nag take over ng oakwood at manila pen....o sa mga laos ng mga pulitiko na gustong ipagsiksikan ang mga sarili...para masiguro lang ang sarili na maganda ang kalalagyan ng mga pangalan nila sa history.....abay....sagot na...ano pa iniisip isip mo?....isa lang sagot dyan......OUT OF TOPIC KA NA...

i've seen the buendia station....its the same design although the flooring has been raised .....is my observation correct?

^^ Yup, that's right daddy, purely repair and rehab only.. Except those communication system and the crossing improvements where they will pay much attention in order to speed up the operation without depending much on manual operation. Also with the addition of brand new railroad (new ballast, rails but the same usable ties) that will happen in it's late construction since laying out the rails would be easiest task...

...I don't know much about the relocation of squatters from Tayuman to Bluementritt since it is currently under implementation up to March 6 but hopefully we could have update anytime soon...

the shanties were already cleared, but it seems that some shanties along tayuman to blumentritt re-settled.. as of now, some illegal settlers who came back are still there.. but there are only few of them as compared then..

I hate being the bearer of bad news but it should be announced. If this bad news is official, then it would be a very sad day for us supporters of Southrail project. I just read from Manila Standard that...

THE GOVERNMENT SUSPENDS 11 FOREIGN-AID PROJECTS. This includes the southrail project.

I still have to look for other newspaper for further detail.

Sh!t talaga si Lozada. Ano masaya na sila na naipatigil na nila ang ilan sa mga infrastructure projects ng gobyerno?

Correct me if I am wrong, wasn't the Northrail project also included in the list of projects put into a halt?

Ang alam ko, pati yung LRT 6 (LRT 1 extension to Cavite) and the LRT 2 extension up to Masinag, Antipolo are included in the list.

Tamaan na sana ng kidlat sina Lozada, Lacson, Cayetano at Madrigal. Mga anay sila ng progreso.

^^ Those were the days..... Southrail near Manila with 32kg/m rails and new ballasts upon John Holland Rehabilitation. Still with the presence of squatters...

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2277/2271091013_9500d0798b_b.jpg


The New Linkage Project Phase 1 and Phase would be extremely better than this. New heavy 50kg/m rails plus new ballast without anymore squatters..

^^ Ok na sana kaso may squatters pa rin. Those were the days again.!!!

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2026/2271070697_011b54688a_b.jpg

I don't think Southrail within MM is affected by the cancellation, only Phase 1A (laguna to quezon) is, and they did not cancel the project, What they cancelled was the ODA. Budget for the project is to be sourced locally.

I don't think Southrail within MM is affected by the cancellation, only Phase 1A (laguna to quezon) is, and they did not cancel the project, What they cancelled was the ODA. Budget for the project is to be sourced locally.

^^ I think they are mentioning the Calamba to Lucena Section. We'll as far as project is concerned, it is to be funded by the Chinese but definetely they will not cancel the project. This is a priority project approved already. We'll if they can do it with our local funding, why not...

Yup, the project subphase in question is the one you mentioned. The current upgrade and squatter demolition is not part of this,it's a different phase, and this is going through as planned.
Actually I believe that any ODA suspension will only be for a short time.

Correct me if I'm wrong but the southrail in MM is part of the northrail-southrail linkage project. It is a seperate project from the suspended Southrail project.

Correct me if I'm wrong but the southrail in MM is part of the northrail-southrail linkage project. It is a seperate project from the suspended Southrail project.no. it's another project.

Excerpted from ABS-CBN
(Political insinuations in the article have been expunged. ABS-CBN does not seem interested in this project pushing through.)
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/topofthehour.aspx?StoryId=109738

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/images/news/newspics/02-20-2008/rail400.jpg

Despite legal impediments, construction of the Northrail's 32.3-kilometer phase 1 is quietly pushing through. In a telephone interview, Northrail Corporation's president Arsenio Bartolome III said design and civil works started in October 2007.

Bartolome also said they have already drawn about $50 million from the $503-million loan with the Chinese Export and Import Bank.

At the site, existing utilities, like water pipes, electrical posts and telephone lines have been diverted. He confirmed that relocation of the residents is "100 percent complete."

...

The Northrail project refers to the rehabilitation of the old Philippine National Railway's north line: an estimated 80.2-kilometer rail road project from Caloocan City in Metro Manila to Clark in Pampanga.

...

With the construction underway, Bartolome said they hope to complete the rail connection to Malolos by 2010. President Arroyo completes her term that year.

Tourism and aviation industry players are particularly keen on the second section of the 80-kilometer railway—from Malolos to Clark in Pampanga—since there are plans to make Clark an alternative hub for international flights. The railway will cut traveling time between Manila and Clark from one hour to just about 30 minutes.

Bartolome said they expect to begin construction of this section by end of 2008, and complete it also by 2010, or at the latest, early 2011.

The second phase of the Northrail project is to connect San Fernando City in La Union to Clark. The entire railway stretch from Caloocan to La Union has been abandoned for more than 30 years.

...

Southrail On Track

Meantime, the southern regions are not to be left behind. A planned 542-kilometer stretch from Calamba to Matnog in Sorsogon is due for rehabilitation and new construction. Called the Southrail project, it will be implemented in two phases: Phase 1 would cover the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the existing 423-kilometer railway line from Calamba to Legazpi City, while Phase 3 would involve the construction of a new 135-kilometer railway from Legazpi to Sorsogon.

Like Northrail, the Southrail project is also a government project, which the Chinese government will be funding. National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) and China's Ministry of Commerce signed a memorandum of understanding for the Southrail project in July 2007.

Construction for phase 1a, which costs $314-million and covers 74 kilometers Caloocan to Alabang (see graphics), is underway.

Building the rail project in phases is a way to deliberately build up traffic and economic activity, says Ruben Reinoso, deputy director general at Neda. "We have traffic projections for the entire stretch. But we wanted to spur economic activity in the succeeding phases as we start the first one. That way, we let the things build up first so we have higher potential to achieve our projections for traffic, economic activity, and movement of goods and people."

Linking Northrail, which starts in Caloocan, and the Southrail, which commences at Calamba station, is the 70-kilometer Commuter rail (see graphics). Koreans are financing it.

Already heavily traveled, the reconstruction of the existing railway has been a priority. It will service commuters from the Southern outskirts of Metro Manila who prefer to take a one-hour train ride to go home everyday instead of renting a place in the metropolis.

"The train can carry more passengers than a bus. So given that the South Luzon expressway is already congested, there was a need to build a high capacity transport," Reinoso explained.

...

ABS-CBN does not seem interested in this project pushing through.

That is because ABS-CBN is owned by the Lopezes and if North Rail/South Rail is completed as envisioned, it would bring economic efficiency to a significant segment of the country, thus attracting more foreign investments, including those that would invest in other power companies, thus threatening the Lopezes dominance in that sector. It will also attract investments in other media outlets as well such as the publicly traded GMA Network, which means more stiff competition to ABS-CBN. Its all about maintaining the status quote, something the Lopez family and their ABS-CBN puppet is trying to ensure by helping to keep the country poor through their support of anti-administration opponents.

Glad that the project is still trudging on despite some obstacles that are trying (tried) to derail the economic train. :D

^^ The Southrail1A project is on-going because of the NHA relocation program. The government shoulders all of the expenses in the relocation program. This is still part of the Southrail1A modernization since any development could not happen if all those squatters are still there. So despite the fact that they cancelled the ODA fund for Southrail, the relocation continues while the government is looking for locals for funding. Relocations finishes and the construction gets in with a brand new local financier. :cheers:

For the critics,

Are you happy now? The government have suspended 11 government projects that should help boost our economy but because of you, you have successfully halted the growth of the economy.

To Brother Villanueva, you should dance now, the government suspended the projects and oh yeah, to the opposition senators also, shame on you!

Excerpted from ABS-CBN
(Political insinuations in the article have been expunged. ABS-CBN does not seem interested in this project pushing through.)
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/topofthehour.aspx?StoryId=109738

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/images/news/newspics/02-20-2008/rail400.jpg

Despite legal impediments, construction of the Northrail's 32.3-kilometer phase 1 is quietly pushing through. In a telephone interview, Northrail Corporation's president Arsenio Bartolome III said design and civil works started in October 2007.

Bartolome also said they have already drawn about $50 million from the $503-million loan with the Chinese Export and Import Bank.

At the site, existing utilities, like water pipes, electrical posts and telephone lines have been diverted. He confirmed that relocation of the residents is "100 percent complete."

...

The Northrail project refers to the rehabilitation of the old Philippine National Railway's north line: an estimated 80.2-kilometer rail road project from Caloocan City in Metro Manila to Clark in Pampanga.

...

With the construction underway, Bartolome said they hope to complete the rail connection to Malolos by 2010. President Arroyo completes her term that year.

Tourism and aviation industry players are particularly keen on the second section of the 80-kilometer railway—from Malolos to Clark in Pampanga—since there are plans to make Clark an alternative hub for international flights. The railway will cut traveling time between Manila and Clark from one hour to just about 30 minutes.

Bartolome said they expect to begin construction of this section by end of 2008, and complete it also by 2010, or at the latest, early 2011.

The second phase of the Northrail project is to connect San Fernando City in La Union to Clark. The entire railway stretch from Caloocan to La Union has been abandoned for more than 30 years.

...

Southrail On Track

Meantime, the southern regions are not to be left behind. A planned 542-kilometer stretch from Calamba to Matnog in Sorsogon is due for rehabilitation and new construction. Called the Southrail project, it will be implemented in two phases: Phase 1 would cover the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the existing 423-kilometer railway line from Calamba to Legazpi City, while Phase 3 would involve the construction of a new 135-kilometer railway from Legazpi to Sorsogon.

Like Northrail, the Southrail project is also a government project, which the Chinese government will be funding. National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) and China's Ministry of Commerce signed a memorandum of understanding for the Southrail project in July 2007.

Construction for phase 1a, which costs $314-million and covers 74 kilometers Caloocan to Alabang (see graphics), is underway.

Building the rail project in phases is a way to deliberately build up traffic and economic activity, says Ruben Reinoso, deputy director general at Neda. "We have traffic projections for the entire stretch. But we wanted to spur economic activity in the succeeding phases as we start the first one. That way, we let the things build up first so we have higher potential to achieve our projections for traffic, economic activity, and movement of goods and people."

Linking Northrail, which starts in Caloocan, and the Southrail, which commences at Calamba station, is the 70-kilometer Commuter rail (see graphics). Koreans are financing it.

Already heavily traveled, the reconstruction of the existing railway has been a priority. It will service commuters from the Southern outskirts of Metro Manila who prefer to take a one-hour train ride to go home everyday instead of renting a place in the metropolis.

"The train can carry more passengers than a bus. So given that the South Luzon expressway is already congested, there was a need to build a high capacity transport," Reinoso explained.

...

^^ Maling mali ang report na ito at sinadyang iminali talaga. Just looking for the numbers does really tells mistakes. :ohno::ohno::ohno:

^^ Why am I not surprised... :ohno:

We need to correct them. Their errors are blatant. We need an end to all this misinformation brought about by the media. Honestly, I think the media is the number 1 evil in Philippine society.

Ano yung mga mali? Nung binasa ko mukhang ok naman. Wala kasi akong masyadong alam sa project na ito.

^^ ako din..:D pakilinawan naman po kami..:)

We need to correct them. Their errors are blatant. We need an end to all this misinformation brought about by the media. Honestly, I think the media is the number 1 evil in Philippine society.

I totally agree.

We need to correct them. Their errors are blatant. We need an end to all this misinformation brought about by the media. Honestly, I think the media is the number 1 evil in Philippine society.

I am sure we would all be open to suggestions about how we would achieve this?
The media worldwide is full of bollocks, all that is published is aimed at increasing sales. Whether or not it helps to destroy the government and country in the process is totally irrelevant to them :ohno:

Its all very sad, but I have to say I pretty much expected this sort of thing will happen.
My trip to Bicol next year may well now be for photographing the remains of the PNR before it crumbles away, more so than covering the 'old' PNR before modernization sweeps through.

On that subject, I hope to catch up with Wheels while down in his part of the country.

Brad

^^ Pandacan Station before demolishing. Notice that they completely remove the old station platform for total reconstruction. There is no assurance whether they will retain the track formation or there will be some alterations including the addition of side tracks...

http://www.photrade.com/photos/personal_19051_430x350_0.jpg?pip

SOUTHRAIL OVERPRICING: IMPOSSIBLE

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2357/2280493275_650885d1db.jpg?v=0 (http://www.gmanews.tv/largevideo/latest/18047/Alleged-Southrail-overpricing-impossible-%E2%80%93-PNR)

^^ Please click on to the picture...

^^ You will notice guys the PNR Train (from 0:54 to 1:06) is running so fast at 60kph to 70kph after the PUP curve going to Pandacan Bridge where it is already free of squatters. Notice how this train is able to run that fast considering the condition of the tracks. What more if we completely rehabilitate it with a new rails and grade...:cheers:

^^ We're using those old trains??


Anyway, nice work there. Thank god.

^^ We're using those old trains??


Anyway, nice work there. Thank god.yup

^^ When the rehabilitation is complete, we're using those old trains? What happend to the DMUs or something?

^^ We're using those old trains??


Anyway, nice work there. Thank god.

^^ Still ok, only minor repairs. Important is that it has been proven already that without squatters and ignoring the rail tracks condition, the old trains can perform 200% of it's speed. This is absolutely good already considering the speeds of LRT1-60kph, LRT2-80kph, LRT3-60kph, the PNR's-70kph is not that bad at all. All we need is a clean and well-maintained tracks.

Relax, the Brad New DMU's will also roll. So we expect upon completion of the Linkage Projects that all trains will be running at least 80-100kph...:cheers:

There will be trains.. I have no idea if they will still be using the old ones(Of course, it will also be rehab or something)...

^^ Still ok, only minor repairs. Important is that it has been proven already that without squatters and ignoring the rail tracks condition, the old trains can perform 200% of it's speed. This is absolutely good already considering the speeds of LRT1-60kph, LRT2-80kph, LRT3-60kph, the PNR's-70kph is not that bad at all. All we need is a clean and well-maintained tracks.

Relax, the Brad New DMU's will also roll. So we expect upon completion of the Linkage Projects that all trains will be running at least 80-100kph...:cheers:oh, so lrt1, 2 and mrt3 are all running at an ave speed of 60-70kph. I didn't know that.

There will be trains.. I have no idea if they will still be using the old ones(Of course, it will also be rehab or something)...The DMU's would be used in northrail; I'm not sure about the linakge project though. I think these are 28-32 BRAND NEW DMUs. So just think how much of that would already cost? How much is a DMU, anyway?

that's a relief. salamat. :)

SOUTHRAIL OVERPRICING: IMPOSSIBLE

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2357/2280493275_650885d1db.jpg?v=0 (http://www.gmanews.tv/largevideo/latest/18047/Alleged-Southrail-overpricing-impossible-%E2%80%93-PNR)

^^ Please click on to the picture...

^^ You will notice guys the PNR Train (from 0:54 to 1:06) is running so fast at 60kph to 70kph after the PUP curve going to Pandacan Bridge where it is already free of squatters. Notice how this train is able to run that fast considering the condition of the tracks. What more if we completely rehabilitate it with a new rails and grade...:cheers:

This is the report I watched a week ago. You'll notice that they didn't mention anything about the construction going on at Buendia and Pasay Road Stations. Even some of the remaining squatters living in the vicinity of bicutan to alabang. What the hell is that?

This is the report I watched a week ago. You'll notice that they didn't mention anything about the construction going on at Buendia and Pasay Road Stations. Even some of the remaining squatters living in the vicinity of bicutan to alabang. What the hell is that?It's because southrail doesn't include those stations. ;) southrail in this cntext refers to the line from Calamba (?) - Sorsogon.

I know. I'm referring to their report regarding the Northrail-Southrail linkage project. AFAIK, The stations I mentioned are part of the linkage project. The southrail project starts at Alabang and ends at Sorsogon.

Nice news video, its really sad that there are some people that hates progress. They should be on that curved track and be run over by that train.

I know. I'm referring to their report regarding the Northrail-Southrail linkage project. AFAIK, The stations I mentioned are part of the linkage project. The southrail project starts at Alabang and ends at Sorsogon.I see, because I thought it was just about southrail

Nice news video, its really sad that there are some people that hates progress. They should be on that curved track and be run over by that train.:lol: yeah, we should let them hit by the train.

hehe. Nope, the linkage project is its side story. Btw, Can anyone remember the name of that reporter of the Northrail mess?

Vol. XXI, No. 144
Thursday, February 21, 2008 | MANILA, PHILIPPINES
The Nation
Downsouth
By Hernani P. De Leon
Revisiting the Mindanao railway system

DAVAO CITY — A major news item here last week was a call by regional leaders for the central government to proceed with the Mindanao Railway System proposed during the time of President Fidel V. Ramos. The call was supported by new Speaker Prospero C. Nograles.

Documents prepared in the mid- to late-’90s, however, showed a Mindanao railway was not feasible. Just one section of the project alone covering the Iligan-Cagayan de Oro-Malaybalay-North Cotabato-Davao route will cost P46 billion, or a little less than $2 billion based on the then prevailing peso-dollar exchange rate. The two other sections will connect Zamboanga to Iligan and Iligan to Davao via Cotabato.

The Davao-Cagayan de Oro-Iligan section’s pre-feasibility study concluded that while the project’s economic rate of return was acceptable at that time, the financial rate of return was too low for an investor to realize a net income. Government planners suggested a better option was to pursue an infrastructure program costing less than $2 billion. Such program could cover the entire island.

A Saudi financier who visited this city last year made a practical suggestion: If Mindanaoans really wanted a railway system, the local government units should co-finance it, or, in short, be prepared for the financial risks. Still, that remark makes the Mindanao railway project a long shot considering the best section in the planned system will only pass through five provinces.

Assuming the 1995 pre-feasibility cost estimates remain constant, even at only 25% share in the Davao-Iligan railway project’s equity, the cost for the local governments would be a staggering $500 million. Where would that kind of money come from and for how long will the trains be running before they turn into junks?

But then, discussions on the project during the mid-’90s mentioned the Mindanao railway system was not feasible "in the next 10 years," which had already passed. While the chance of getting better results at this time is slim, a second look at the project through a reasonably priced study may be worth the effort.

This is the report I watched a week ago. You'll notice that they didn't mention anything about the construction going on at Buendia and Pasay Road Stations. Even some of the remaining squatters living in the vicinity of bicutan to alabang. What the hell is that?


^^ These medias are gangster, they destroy one another and they take advantage of the situation. They really could get as much as money by making a mistakess...:ohno::ohno::ohno:

So far renovation of Buendia Station is a bit victory already and as a sign of hope for thousands of passengers who continue to sacrifice...

I know. I'm referring to their report regarding the Northrail-Southrail linkage project. AFAIK, The stations I mentioned are part of the linkage project. The southrail project starts at Alabang and ends at Sorsogon.

^^ Maraming mali dun sa kanilang report. They really tried to show to the public that every government projects especially with regards to railways are confusing. As far as we are concerned, we are only after their shows not anymore news. Their news helps to destroy the welfare of the benificiaries of the projects....

I see, because I thought it was just about southrail

:lol: yeah, we should let them hit by the train.

^^ Yes, he he he.. That is exactly what I would do if I were to design a railway system especially at the Mother Ignacia and the Timog, Edsa Intersection. Im gonna smash this media stations with my GE900 Locomotive...:lol:

hehe. Nope, the linkage project is its side story. Btw, Can anyone remember the name of that reporter of the Northrail mess?

^^ Boy it's Ji_m_ M_n_ca_.... he he he... Guess what's missing....

^^ Nice article, very informative.. :)

It's Ji_g_y M_n_ca_ hehe...

British company eyes M’nao railway system
By Carmelito Q. Francisco Published : 2007-10-24


A BRITISH COMPANY is looking into funding the feasibility study and eventual construction of the Mindanao Railway System under the build-operate-transfer scheme.

Based on initial reports obtained during the business matching activity during the BIMP-EAGA (Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines-East Asean Growth Area) Investment Conference, Faisal Kasim, chief executive officer of the MCC Capital Projects Inc., met with Chair Vicente Lao of the Mindanao Business Council during the business matching activity to discuss the proposal.

The initial reports said Lao even proposed to Kasim that his company build the project in a build-operate-transfer scheme. However, Kasim proposed that in setting up the project, it is looking into possibly coming up with a joint venture agreement with local government units that the system will serve.

This prompted the representatives of the Trade department to propose that the agency convene these local government units to discuss with them the proposal. The agency even proposed that the local government units form a corporation and partner with Kasim’s company in a 60-40 percent partnership, with the local government units getting the biggest slice of the investment.

“Documentary requirements are being facilitated by end-October to pave the way for the conduct of the survey by MCC Capital Projects Ltd. engineers come November 2007,” the report said.

The Mindanao Times tried to contact Lao on this, but he did not return the call and the text messages. As chair of the local business council, he was to report the proposal during the closing event of the two day meeting, an information from the organizers revealed.

This writer also tried to talk with Kasim, who met with an official of the Trade department, but he begged off to talk about it, saying nothing is final yet.

The proposal to set up a railway in Mindanao was first announced when then President Fidel Ramos

The report said this was the biggest highlight of the event on Tuesday as there were 15 other projects discussed, although the initial reports did not mention the companies involved.

Other projects discussed were a development of a port in Davao del Norte, a housing project in Zamboanga City, a coal mining project, another mining project, rubber plantation, development of coconut derivatives, development of jathropa plantation, seaweeds, seafood processing and goat raising.

The report, however, did not identify the companies involved in the projects and did not name the areas that these will be implemented.

The proposal to set up a railway in Mindanao was first announced when then President Fidel Ramos first visited Davao City as president of the country on July 15, 1992. However, not much has been done since then.

Mindanao Times (http://www.mindanaotimes.com.ph/story.php?id=18348)

Guess who MCC is? In an earlier life they were PMC. Here is an article discussing their earlier project in Cambodia.

Vietnam wins bids to build Cambodian highways
HANOI - Two companies under the Construction Ministry of Viet Nam have won bids valued at a total of $113.8 million to build Cambodia's national highways 3, 33 and 33A. Contracts were signed in Phnom Penh on March 16 by the Cuu Long Housing Development Company and the Oil and Gas Construction Company of Vietnam, and investors the PMC-ITI Development Ltd and the Rasey Angkor Development Co Ltd of Cambodia.
You can see it here:
http://www.angkor.com/road.shtml

There is another project in Cambodia that they failed to finish. It left many contractors and investors bankrupt.

sana matuloy
This is a map made by Mark Ovenden, author of the book Transit Maps of the World (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Transit-Maps-World-Mark-Ovenden/dp/0143112651/ref=ase_goingunderground)

It's beautifully made and I thought some of you would appreciate this, and maybe buy his book as well.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/103/313981428_6c06a97180_b.jpg
Bigger version here (http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=313981428&size=o)

^well, hindi naman masama mangarap.. :D

ok.. It's the manicad boy.. Let's see if we can write a letter to him and inform him of the activities in buendia and pasay road stations.. hmmm..

For those wondering about earlier posts about some "on hold" projects, which include the LRT1 extensions North and South, here is a news source. Its a couple of days old but still.... :cry:

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/man/2008/02/20/news/arroyo.suspends.cybered.southrail.projects.html

Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Arroyo suspends CyberEd, Southrail projects

PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Tuesday ordered the official development assistance (ODA) funding for the Cyber-Education, Southrail Phase 1, and nine other projects to be put "on hold," saying government now prefers them to be funded locally.

The 11 projects amount to around P104.07 billion.

Post here your Valentine's Day greetings

Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said the order, which came after a review of ODA loans and infrastructure projects during the Cabinet meeting, was not an offshoot of the ZTE controversy but "a matter of managing our resources" in line with government's "social payback" program.

Bunye, who is also the Presidential spokesman, said government has enough funds due to strong peso and the fiscal reforms.

"Unless the project has been consummated, meaning if a project has already been approved, the general rule is we will fund these projects with locally generated funds," he said.

He identified the 11 projects as the following:

* New Communications, Navigation, Surveillance and Air Traffic Management Systems Development Project (P2.647 billion);

* Regionalization of Mental Health Services (P1.32 billion);

* Redevelopment of the Tacloban Airport Development Project-Phase II (P1.122 billion);

* Construction of Elementary and Secondary Classrooms in Acute Shortage (P45.67 million);

* Cyber Education Project (P26.48 billion);

* LRT Line 1 South Extension (Pasay-Bacoor) Phase 1 and 2 (US$683 million);

* Mainline South Railway Project Phase 1A Laguna-Quezon (P15.306 billion);

* LRT Line 2 Phase 2 from Santolan LRT 2 to Masinag in Antipolo (P10.335 billion);

* Bataan-Manila Pipeline Project (US$180 million);

* LRT Line 1 North Extension Project (P5.98 billion); and

* Angat Water Utilization and Aqueduct improvement Project Phase 2 Metro Manila (P5.751 billion).

Bunye said President Arroyo also ordered Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr. to talk to the representatives of multilateral agencies to come up with a "common reference point" or "standardized loan conditionalities" so that there would be only one set of conditions for borrowings.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said the President met with the Procurement Transparency Group (PTG) and reviewed 25 projects to ensure that "the process is followed and there will be no complaints whatsoever."

Ermita said Arroyo also wanted to be sure that the private sector representation in the PTG is fulfilling its mandate. He said the President wanted some interested priests to be included in the private sector representatives during the bidding process.

Andaya also said "trained" civil society organizations such as the Makati Business Club, Ateneo School of Government, Transparency and Accountability Network, and Procurement Watch have identified 24 "big-ticket" items that they would monitor.

He said the so-called big-ticket items included the Southrail, Cyber Education, and some roads and irrigation projects. (JMR/Sunnex)

It's Ji_g_y M_n_ca_ hehe...

:) Ayyy!!! oo nga pala.... he he he... Yan ang responsible journalism, kinokorek ang mga friends... :cheers:

^^ The Magallanes PNR Station doesn't need much repairs except for the raising of the platform and fencing the station premises...:cheers:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/149/365023111_efcc02e5a0_o.jpg

i've seen the buendia station....its the same design although the flooring has been raised .....is my observation correct?

Thanks @WOS....it is supposed to be completed by july this year.....sabi ni PGMA na imbitahin siya sa inauguration nito.....ganyan ka workaholic president natin.....may follow through pa.....

^^ Taken by someone between Espanya St. and Magsaysay Ave. in Sampaloc in Dec. 2007,

http://bp0.blogger.com/__5qVJorX4hQ/R15jkBFw89I/AAAAAAAAAtQ/DgTUjGs7taI/s1600/071212m%2Bgarage%2Bin%2Bthe%2Bslum%2BManila.jpg

^^ Squatters were gone just after the FTI PNR Station going to Bicutan.... Taken by someone from internet in Dec. 2007.

http://bp2.blogger.com/__5qVJorX4hQ/R15ozhFw9GI/AAAAAAAAAuY/slxGTliG-RM/s1600/071212d%2Blocation%2Bof%2Bslums.jpg

http://bp1.blogger.com/__5qVJorX4hQ/R15oERFw9EI/AAAAAAAAAuI/0hBwD0mkVu8/s1600/071212f%2Bafter%2Bdemolition.jpg

Thanks @WOS....it is supposed to be completed by july this year.....sabi ni PGMA na imbitahin siya sa inauguration nito.....ganyan ka workaholic president natin.....may follow through pa.....

^^ Ok, :cheers:.. And that's true, konti lang naman kasi ang gagawin na, just waiting for the removal of squatters.. Track laying will be easy then...

^^ The Magallanes PNR Station doesn't need much repairs except for the raising of the platform and fencing the station premises...:cheers:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/149/365023111_efcc02e5a0_o.jpg

yep. konti na nga lang.. Siguro after ng Pasay road and Buendia, eto na yung next na aayusin. Kung cleared (of squatters. Let's admit it but it is not yet 100% cleared) na yung area ng FTI to Bicutan, then FTI station will be next.

Well, guys let's focus na muna sa Linkage project. We don't know kung san mararating yung southrail project pati na rin siguro yung Northrail. Which reminds me.. We haven't got any update on the Northrail project.. No signs of Malolos Station(teka.. Can't recall hehe pero sa Bulacan).. :lol:

Yeah! Dancing Banana.:banana:

july this year yung linkage project? eh wala pang nangyayari sa ibang parts ah., dami pang squatters sa manila area. baka delayed nanaman to., :cry:

I hope we all weather this political storm. It surely affects the infrastructure projects in the country. Yaan na lang natin sila magrally ng magrally. We all know how karma works hindi ba? :D

july this year yung linkage project? eh wala pang nangyayari sa ibang parts ah., dami pang squatters sa manila area. baka delayed nanaman to., :cry:

Slowly but surely. Be patient my friend. :D

At least, kahit papano me progress at least sa linkage project.

Yeah! Dancing Banana again.:banana:

Slowly but surely. Be patient my friend. :D

At least, kahit papano me progress at least sa linkage project.

Yeah! Dancing Banana again.:banana:

^^ Yup, were very much sure, it will be delayed but at least andyan na yung construction. We have now several location that has signs of construction. The one in Pandacan is everything brand new kasi they are building the station from scratch. Hows about the Buendia el, how things are going out there this week? :)

july this year yung linkage project? eh wala pang nangyayari sa ibang parts ah., dami pang squatters sa manila area. baka delayed nanaman to., :cry:

Hi Richard, the PNR project near your school was already starting by initializing bridge supports. After this they will remove block by block the girder of the bridge and raise it into the desired level. The approach of the tracks will be adjusted also... :)