The Philippine National Railways (PNR) will continue negotiating with China for the financing of the P142-billion PNR South long-haul project.
Jeremy Regino, PNR general manager (GM), said at the Laging Handa public briefing yesterday the government has written to the Export-Import Bank of China (CEXIM) to pursue the negotiation for the financing of the project.
Regino said PNR continues to conduct feasibility studies, technical detail design and right-of-way acquisitions, so as not to delay the expansion and completion of the PNR South long-haul or Bicol project once the fund is ready.
The first 380 kilometers (km) of the PNR Bicol project from Banlic, Calamba to Daraga, Albay will span 39 cities and municipalities, four provinces and two regions. It will involve the construction of 23 stations, 230 bridges, 10 passenger tunnels and a 70-hectare depot in San Pablo, Laguna.
As part of the initiative to speed up the construction of the modern North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR), PNR will stop its operation this year by segment.
Regino said the government is studying when the operation will cease but for now, the indicative schedule is by May this year. The first to be halted is the train operation from Alabang to Calamba. The operations from Tutuban to Bicutan and Pascual, Malabon to Tutuban will follow in October.
Regino said the PNR will make sure there is an alternative mode of transportation available to affected passengers.
He added the PNR is coordinating with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board to provide new jeepney and bus routes, which will depend on the number of affected passengers.
The suspension of PNR’s rail operation will last for five years, but according to the Department of Transportation, the government’s expected savings will reach P15.18 billion with the quick completion of the NSCR.
Co-financed by the Philippine-based Asian Development Bank and the Japan International Cooperation Agency, the 147.26-km NSCR project will stretch from Clark International Airport in Pampanga to Calamba City in Laguna, and will cut across 28 cities and municipalities within the regions of Central Luzon, National Capital Region and Calabarzon.
The entire NSCR will have 35 stations, including three depots, and will run on 51 commuter trains and seven express train sets.
Once operational, the NSCR System will reduce travel time from Clark airport to Calamba to two hours. It is expected to service 800,000 passengers daily.
