MANILA, Philippines – Skyway Operations and Maintenance Corporation (SOMCO) on Friday announced it has postponed the planned implementation of window hours for trucks coming from Southern Luzon to Metro Manila.

SOMCO earlier said that Manila-bound trucks will only be limited to midday trips via the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) and STAR Toll Plaza beginning Monday, Oct. 14, in a bid to ease heavy traffic in the area.

The toll operator previously announced that trucks can only pass through the SLEX between 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., and between 9:30 p.m. to 4 a.m. For the STAR Tollway, trucks may pass from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and between 8 p.m. to 3 a.m.

Manuel Bonoan, president of SOMCO, explained that they decided to defer the implementation of window hours to refine the policy for sectors involved.

“May mga truckers kasi who have been asking reconsideration for ‘yung signages namin kasi there are trucks coming from the south na actually do not reach Alabang viaduct, irerefine lang namin siguro yung mga signanes sa mga toll plazas namin,” Bonoan told UNTV News in a phone interview.

The planned implementation of window hours for trucks comes amid heavier traffic flow towards the metro due to ongoing construction of a ramp extension.

This week, the toll operator imposed one-way traffic at the east service road northbound from Alabang to Sucat Interchange to give way for the construction of the at-grade portion of an extended Skyway ramp, seen to be completed next month.

The traffic jam along the expressway has prompted some lawmakers to call for the suspension or reduction of toll rates at SLEX to provide relief to motorists.

According to Julius Corpuz, spokesperson for the Toll Regulatory Board, the proposal has been forwarded to the toll operator for discussion.

“Naipaabot na po natin yan sa management ng ating project concessionaire at ganun din siguro sila tinitignan nila kung ano yung posibilidad tungkol dyan sa panukalang magkaroon muna ng toll fee reduction or suspension dito sa SLEX,” he said.

SOMCO said the construction is being fast-tracked to avoid further congestions during the holiday season.

A portion of the project is expected to be completed by November while the entire Skyway extension is seen to be finished by the last quarter of 2020. – RRD (with details from Correspondent Joan Nano)

MANILA, Philippines – Traffic situation has become heavier along the South Luzon Expressway (SLEx) after its third lane was closed specifically the section where the construction of the Skyway Project is ongoing.

Commuters have been complaining as travel time from San Pedro in Laguna to Makati City usually takes up to an exhausting four hours of ride.

Residents in Muntinlupa City area also lament that the project has not only affected their income but their daily routine as well.

“There was not enough lead time for them to be informed for them to come up with, for us to come up with a management plan,” said Rep. Rozzano Rufino Biazon.

“(Nowadays) from Alabang all the way to Tunasan is a daily bog down, so life practically stops,” he added.

To address the problem, House Transportation Committee Chairman Edgar Sarmiento urges government agencies to immediately come up with a traffic management plan based on the data that transpired in the House Committee hearing on Wednesday (October 2).

“Isang taon mahigit itong project nila. Ngayon we are only October of 2019. Matatapos po iyan December of 2020. Kung iisipin nyo po arawan na arawan ganyan ang ibibigay natin sa mga tao, napakahirap,” Sarmiento argued.

(This project has been ongoing for a year already. Now, it’s October 2019 and it is expected to complete in December of 2020. Imagine the situation each and every day. This is what we serve the public and this is inconvenient.)

The Skyway O&M Corporation that manages the Skyway Project has apologized for the problems the construction is causing the commuters.

But the firm maintains that once Stage 3 of the project is completed, traffic flow will return to normal.

Sarmiento expects that the traffic plan will be ready for the next Committee hearing. MNP (with details from Vincent Arboleda)

Experts warn of the so-called “Big One” – a staggering 7.2 magnitude earthquake brewing in the West Valley fault that could wipe out 114,000 homes in Metro Manila and claim 34,000 lives in one devastating hour.

The West Valley Fault is a 100-kilometer fault line that traverses the cities of Marikina, Quezon City, Pasig, Taguig, Makati, Muntinlupa, and other nearby provinces.

The fault moves every 400 years. Its recorded last move was 357 years ago. This means that the West Valley Fault is now ripe for another strong quake that could occur anytime.

A study conducted by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), paints a harrowing scenario of the Big One’s aftermath.

Around 10% of the buildings in Metro Manila will be severely damaged while seven bridges are expected to collapse.

Predicted to be severely affected are providers of utilities such as power, water and telecomunication.

Around 4,615 kilometers of water pipes will be subjected to 4,000 points of breakage. Thirty kilometers of electric cables will be cut resulting in a massive black out. Meanwhile, 95 kilometers of telecom cables will be disconnected, causing mobile phone services to be congested and out of use.

Fires are also expected to occur due to short circuits and gas leakages. Twenty thousand people are estimated to perish from being trapped in these burning buildings.

Aside from Metro Manila, some parts of Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna and Cavite will also be affected.

So, the question to all: Are you ready for the Big One?

Public service advocate, Kuya Daniel Razon, through his “Tulong Muna Bago Balita” campaign, has been hosting a UNTV Rescue Summit to help the government prepare the public and local government rescue units for the eventual movement of the West Valley Fault.

In partnership with the Marikina City government, the 4th Rescue Summit will be held on April 28, 2019, Sunday at the Marikina Sports Center.

Starting at 6:00 AM, the whole day event will be packed with rescue competitions, seminars and exhibits which will be capped by a mini-concert to be hosted by the Rescue Summit’s radio partner, Wish 107.5.

Prepare yourself and your family for the Big One. Join the 4th UNTV Rescue Summit. Admission is free. — Raymond Lacsa