CEZA pursuing expressway, railway projects in Cagayan

MANILA — The Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA) is pursuing expressway and railway projects to link the northern part of the country to the capital, its top official told reporters.

In an interview over the weekend, CEZA Administrator and Chief Executive Officer Raul Lambino said the agency is eyeing to build a new six-lane expressway that will connect Cagayan North International Airport to Port Irene in the town of Sta. Ana and Lal-lo to Tuguegarao City to Aparri and Claveria.

Lambino said this will complement the planned Global TransPark System in Cagayan, which targets to have an international cargo airport and seaport; manufacturing, distribution and cold-storage facilities; multi-modal transport linkages; efficient cargo transfer system; and central cargo area.

The Global TransPark System aims to provide seamless and efficient supply chain in the economic zone and the freeport.

Aside from the six-lane expressway, Lambino said CEZA aims to build a parallel railway system for passengers and cargo to provide better connectivity as well as faster, cheaper, and more efficient way to transfer goods.

He mentioned that a Russian company is studying and looking into linking Cagayan and Manila through a high-speed train system.

To pursue these infrastructure projects, Lambino said CEZA is requesting Congress to release the remaining PHP14 billion investment of the government in the agency as stated in the Republic Act No.7922 or the Cagayan Special Economic Zone Act.