The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is on track to begin the partial operations of the 560-kilometer Philippine National Railways (PNR) Bicol project by April 2022.
Arthur Tugade, DOTr secretary, who led the inspection of PNR Bicol in Legazpi City, Albay over the weekend said the project will be completed by the third quarter of 2025.
Tugade added the project is expected to generate 3,749 direct and 25,000 indirect jobs.
Once fully operational, travel time from Manila to Bicol will be reduced to six hours from the current 14 to 18 hours of travel time.
Four out of 35 stations will be operational — San Pablo, Candelaria, Lucena and Pagbilao stations for a segment in Quezon, said Timothy John Batan, DOTr undersecretary for railways.
The PNR Bicol railway line runs from Sucat, Parañaque in Metro Manila to Matnog in Sorsogon, and from Calamba to Batangas. It will service both passenger and cargo transport.
To recall, the DOTr signed a contract for the project management consultant of the PNR Bicol in 2018. Also, the basic detailed design for the civil works package 1 (Banlic, Laguna to Daraga, Albay) is already finished.
On-site activities are ongoing for the PNR Bicol project, including a land parcellary survey and the preparation of an environmental impact assessment.
In a related development, DOTr is pushing for the nonstop construction of the Bicol International Airport (BIA) to meet its target completion within the year.
BIA, known as the “Most Scenic Gateway” of the country, is now at 82.22 percent overall progress rate after 13 years of delay. Once operational, it is expected to serve a total of two million passengers every year.
During the airport’s construction phase, 755 jobs were created, while 1,100 more indirect jobs await locals once the airport becomes operational, DOTr said.
At present, package 2A of the BIA, which covers the construction of landside facilities and other buildings, is 94.40 percent complete and is targeted to be finished this month. – Myla Iglesias
