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

Tags: earthquake, Marikina, Metro Manila, UNTV News and Rescue Team, UNTV Rescue Summit, West Valley Fault

MANILA, Philippines – The operator of Skyway, Ninoy Aquino International Airport Expressway (NAIAX), South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) and STAR tollway is set to implement measures to ease the heavy traffic expected during the Lenten break next week.

SMC Tollways said additional ambulant tellers and traffic patrol teams will be deployed this week as vehicle volume is expected to increase by 10 percent during this season.

Temporary toll collection booths will also be added and all road works will be suspended.

All field personnel will also be required to be on standby and vacation leaves will be cancelled.

SMC said that beginning April 16 (Tuesday) to April 22 (Monday) heavy traffic is expected in the following areas:

Skyway Southbound At-grade 

April 16-18 & 20 (P.M.)

• C5-Alabang At-grade

April 17 (P.M.)

• Amorsolo to Magallanes Area

Skyway Northbound At-grade

April 21-22

• Alabang Viaduct to Skyway On Ramp (Skyway Main Plaza B) Elevated

NAIAX Westbound

April 17-20 (P.M.)

• NAIAX Main Toll Plaza B

NAIAX Eastbound

April 17-20 (P.M.)

• NAIAX Main Toll Plaza a

SLEX Southbound

April 17 (P.M.)

• Calamba Toll Plaza A and B
• Carmona, Sta. Rosa Exit
• Eton-ABI Exit
• Cabuyao Toll Plaza
• Ayala Toll Plaza

April 18

• Calamba Toll Plaza A and B
• Carmona, Sta. Rosa Exit
• Eton-ABI Exit
• Cabuyao Toll Plaza
• Ayala Toll Plaza

April 20

• Calamba Toll Plaza A and B
• Carmona, Sta. Rosa Exit
• Eton-ABI Exit
• Cabuyao Toll Plaza
• Ayala Toll Plaza

Northbound

April 21-22

• Ayala Toll Plaza
• Calamba Toll Plaza Entry
• Exits in Filinvest
• Exits in Alabang Viaduct

STAR Tollway

Southbound April 17 (P.M.)

• Sto. Tomas Entry
• Lipa Toll Plaza
• Balagtas Toll Plaza
• Sto. Toribio
• Ibaan-San Jose Interchange

April 18

• Sto. Tomas Entry
• Lipa Toll Plaza
• Balagtas Toll Plaza
• Sto. Toribio
• Ibaan-San Jose Interchange

April 20

• Sto. Tomas Entry
• Lipa Toll Plaza
• Balagtas Toll Plaza
• Sto. Toribio
• Ibaan-San Jose Interchange

Northbound

April 21-22 (A.M.)

• Toll Plazas in Sto. Tomas

TPLEX

Northbound

April 17-19

• Tarlac Central Toll Plaza
• Urdaneta Toll Plaza
• Pozorrubio-MacArthur T-intersection
• Binalonan Toll Plaza
• Pozorrubio Toll Plaza

Southbound

April 21-22

• Tarlac Central Toll Plaza
• Urdaneta Toll Plaza
• Pozorrubio-MacArthur T-intersection
• Binalonan Toll Plaza
• Pozorrubio Toll Plaza

SMC Tollways, together with Petron Lakbay Alalay, will also set up Motorist Assistance Stations at:

• TPLEX – Petron KM 134 Northbound and Southbound
• TPLEX Toll Operations Compound Northbound
• Skyway – C5 and Merville Southbound
• Sucat Lay-by At-grade Northbound
• SLEX – San Pedro Gas Station Southbound
• KM 44 Petron Gas Station Southbound
• KM 44 Petron Gas Station Northbound
• STAR – Petron Malvar Southbound
• Malainin Lay-by KM 92 Southbound
• Petron Lipa Northbound
• Lapu-Lapu Lay-by KM 90 Northbound

Tags: heavy traffic, Holy Week, NAIAX, skyway, slex, TPLEX

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is set to begin the construction of the P13.1-billion South Luzon Expressway Toll Road 4 (SLEX TR4) after the groundbreaking ceremony held on Tuesday (March 26).

The SLEX TR4 will connect the provinces of Batangas and Quezon through seven interchanges — Sto. Tomas, Batangas; Makban and San Pablo City in Laguna; Tiaong, Candelaria, Tayabas, and Lucena City in Quezon Province.

The project will be done in six packages: Package A from Sto. Tomas, Batangas to Makban, Laguna (11.32-kilometers); Package B from Makban to San Pablo, Laguna (12.75 km.); Package C from San Pablo to Tiaong, Quezon (7.5 km.); Package D from Tiaong to Candelaria, Quezon (15 km.); Package E from Candelaria to Tayabas, Quezon (10.21 km.); and Package F from Tayabas to Lucena City, Quezon (9.96 km).

The project is in partnership with San Miguel Corp. (SMC) through its subsidiary South Luzon Tollway Corp. (SLTC).

“Noong pumasok kami wala pang na-acquire na right of way. Wala pang permit to enter sa mga properties. So, ngayon lang, kita n’yo naman po naka-mobilize na ‘yung equipment at nakakuha na kami ng permit to enter. So, wala ng magiging delay sa implementation ng TR4,” DPWH Secretary Mak Villar said during the groundbreaking ceremony.

The DPWH expects to complete the construction of the 66.74-kilometer SLEX extension within three years and inaugurate it by 2022.

Villar said the travel time between Sto. Tomas in Batangas to Lucena City in Quezon will be lessened from four hours to one once the road is completed.

“During rush hour, motorists have to endure a long 4-hour drive due to the lengthy and busy Daang Maharlika between Sto. Tomas, Batangas to Lucena City, Quezon. This will only take an hour once TR4 is completed,” he said. 

An estimated 17,000 vehicles are expected to pass through the toll road every day.

The DPWH believes the road project will bring progress and new business, and growth to small enterprises in the provinces of Batangas and Quezon.

The Toll road is among the Luzon Spine Expressway Network projects under the Duterte government’s “Build, Build, Build” program that aims to connect and cut down the travel time between North and South Luzon. – Robie de Guzman (with details from Japhet Cablaida)

Tags: Build Build Build Program, DPWH, Mark Villar, slex, SLEX TR4