CONTRACTORS tied to political clans have been awarded a combined total of P306 million in contracts to build transitional shelter units and roads for residents of Marawi City and nearby villages of Lanao del Sur, where homes and villages last year were destroyed in the five-month battle between soldiers and Islamic State-linked militants. Eight separate contracts, three for transitional shelters and five for road projects, were bidded out by the National Housing Authority (NHA) and the Department of Public Works and Highways – Region X (DPWH Region X) from October to December 2017. All the road projects went to companies that are either owned, managed, represented by relatives connected to three political families based in Mindanao. These clans have members who are either incumbent or former congressional, regional, and local officials, or appointees of President Rodrigo R. Duterte. NHA has disclosed on its website only the notices of bid, but not the notices of award, of its … [Read more...] about News Firms of clans among winners of Marawi road, housing deals
Road user charges cost
High hosting fee for Memorial Cup increasing ticket costs, impacting attendance
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By Ryan McKenna The Canadian Press Wed., May 23, 2018 REGINA—The organizing committee chair for the 100th Memorial Cup says that a high fee to host the tournament has caused increased ticket prices and impacted attendance. Shaun Semple said that the Regina Pats, a team in which he is a co-owner, had to pay $3.65 million to host the Canadian major junior championship. He said that ticket prices start at $75 per game and that the Pats owners expect to lose upwards to $2 million between the tournament and opening ceremony, which featured a performance by the Eagles at Mosaic Stadium. Read more: Defence optional in Titan’s Memorial Cup win over Pats Article Continued Below Bulldogs beat Broncos late for first Memorial Cup win Hamilton Bulldogs face stiff test in Memorial Cup This year’s Memorial Cup has yet to sell out through the first four games at Brandt Centre, which has a capacity of 6,484, entering Tuesday’s night’s … [Read more...] about High hosting fee for Memorial Cup increasing ticket costs, impacting attendance
Electrified roads: Swedish project could slash cost of electric vehicles
OSLO: An electrified road in Sweden that is the first in the world to charge vehicles as they drive along is showing promise and could potentially help cut the high cost of electric cars, project backers Vattenfall and Elways told Reuters.The state-funded project, named eRoadArlanda and costing about 50 million crowns (US$5.82 million), uses a modified electric truck that moves cargo from Stockholm's Arlanda airport to Postnord's nearby logistics hub to test the technology.A electrified rail embedded in the tarmac of the 2-km-long (1.24 miles) road charges the truck automatically as it travels above it. A movable arm attached to the truck detects the rail's location in the road, and charging stops when the vehicle is overtaking or coming to a halt.The system also calculates the vehicle’s energy consumption, which enables electricity costs to be debited per vehicle and user.Elways' chief executive Gunnar Asplund said the charging while driving would mean electric cars no longer … [Read more...] about Electrified roads: Swedish project could slash cost of electric vehicles
Sweden unveils world’s first road that recharges vehicles
SINGAPORE: The world's first road that will allow vehicles to be recharged while being driven has been launched in Sweden, according to a joint press release from eRoadArlanda and construction firm NCC on Wednesday (Apr 11). The road works by transferring energy to the vehicle from a rail in the road through a movable arm. According to the Guardian, the electrified road is divided into sections - each section measuring 50m. Every individual section is only powered when a vehicle is above it.The current is disconnected when a vehicle stops. The system can also calculate a vehicle's energy consumption and charge the appropriate electricity costs to the vehicle's user.The newly developed road aims to be a "sustainable and cost-effective" solution to allow "existing public roads to be electrified and help to create a future of fossil-free road transport".This is largely in line with the Swedish government's target of "creating a fossil-free transportation … [Read more...] about Sweden unveils world’s first road that recharges vehicles
Why charges are needed to help pay for T5: Changi Airport Group Chairman Liew Mun Leong
SINGAPORE: There is no doubt that Liew Mun Leong has had an illustrious career. The current Chairman of Changi Airport Group (CAG) was also the founding President and CEO of CapitaLand Group, a public listed real estate company, between 1996 and 2012.At 72, you might think that he would look back on his achievements and decide it is time to call it a day. But he famously says in practically every interview that he does not believe in retirement. He tells me the same thing, “For sure, you will turn senile if you stop doing work.”His statement is influenced by what happened to his late father.Mr Liew and his brother felt that they could provide for their father and persuaded him to retire at 67 from his job as a lathe machinist. His father, he says, became senile, declined and passed on.Mr Liew clearly regrets this.Hence, in addition to his chairmanships at CAG, Surbana Jurong and Pavilion Gas, he is Provost Chair and Professor (Practice) pro bono at NUS Business School and … [Read more...] about Why charges are needed to help pay for T5: Changi Airport Group Chairman Liew Mun Leong