Preps begin for Phase 1 of PNR Clark railway project

FILE: Railway (Shutterstock photo)

MARILAO, Bulacan — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Philippine National Railways (PNR) began Friday various preparations for the construction of the first phase of the PNR Clark railway project that will run from Tutuban in Manila to Malolos in Bulacan province.

Pre-construction activities include site clearing, grading of unleveled surfaces, and demolition of obstructions to the PNR line.

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said the department is committed to pursuing measures, such as doing parallel activities, to fast-track the completion of the railway project.

Tugade noted that based on previous practices, site clearing works had to wait after the awarding of a project to a general contractor.

“DOTr understands the need to complete this project faster. That is why we pursued these works parallel with the procurement of the general contractor, which is scheduled to be selected by the second quarter of 2018 for PNR Clark Phase 1,” Tugade said in his address during the commencement of works for the railway project in Barangay Tabing-Ilog in Marilao, Bulacan.

Tugade also appealed to Bulacan’s local government officials to assist the department in right-of-way issues by informing their constituents of the benefits of the railway system.

“Tulungan ninyo kami sa right of way. Hindi namin kakayanin mag-isa yan. Tulungan ninyo kami na masabihan ang ating mga kababayan na tatamaan ng proyekto para ito sa ikabubuti ng sambayanang Pilipino (We seek your help in settling right-of-way issues. We cannot do this alone. Help us inform those who might be affected by the construction of the railway project that this is for the benefit of our countrymen,” Tugade said.

Meanwhile, Senators Joel Villanueva and JV Ejercito, who both attended the event, lauded the efforts of the DOTr and other government agencies in ensuring the completion of transportation projects that would bring the country inclusive economic growth.

“Binabati po natin ang ating mga kasamahan dito sa public service na ito po na matagal na pangarap namin ni Secretary Tugade ay magkakaroon na ng katuparan. At kasama ang pagbati natin doon sa ‘Build, Build, Build’ program ng ating Pangulong Duterte ang susunod po diyan ay ‘Jobs, Jobs, Jobs’ program (We are grateful that the vision of Secretary Tugade and other government officials is now being put into reality. We are expecting a ‘Jobs, Jobs, Jobs’ program to follow the ‘Build, Build, Build’ program of the Duterte administration),” Villanueva said.

“We are already 20 years behind in terms of infrastructure development and I would like to commend and congratulate Secretary Tugade that this is now being implemented,” Ejercito said.

The event was also attended by PNR executives, including Chairman Roberto Lastimoso and General Manager Junn Magno, Japanese Ambassador Koji Haneda, and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) country representative Susumo Ito.

Phase 1 of the PNR Clark Project involves the construction of the rail system along the 38-km. segment from Tutuban, Manila to Malolos, Bulacan. Once completed in 2021, it will have 10 stations and is expected to serve an estimated 340,000 passengers daily.

The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) has already approved Phase 2 of the project, a 70-km. stretch from Malolos, Bulacan to Clark, Pampanga, to be further extended north to La Union, Tuguegarao, and the Subic Freeport.