A portion of the 147-kilometer North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) project is on track to start partial operation by 2027 as the Balagtas station in Bulacan has reached 95 percent completion rate.
Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said completion of the Balagtas Station is in preparation for the NSCR’s partial operation between Clark International Airport and West Valenzuela stations in 2027.
The Balagtas station of the NSCR is part of the project’s Northern leg, the Malolos-Tutuban segment which includes nine other stations, including Tutuban, Solis, Caloocan, West Valenzuela, Meycauayan, Marilao, Bocaue, Balagtas , Guiguinto and Malolos.
Bautista said materials used in the construction of the Balagtas Station are state-of-the-art and environment-friendly.
“The designs are very different from other stations.This is really a part of what we call the railway renaissance in the Philippines,” Bautista said during his inspection of the Balagtas Station and Malanday Depot in Valenzuela on Thursday.
The NSCR Balagtas Station roof is made of polytetrafluoroethylene roofing membrane known for its resistance to high temperature, chemicals, corrosion, and ease of maintenance.
The station has a concourse and platform, two elevators, six escalators, and other features that are gender-inclusive, PWD-friendly, and accessible to senior citizens.
The 14-hectare NSCR Malanday Depot has attained a 72 percent overall completion rate as of end-June. The depot features four major buildings, including an Operation Control Center.
Meanwhile, the DOTr yesterday opened the bidding for improvement of Puerto Princesa International airport and Taclabon airport for total cost of P529 million.
DOTr asked interested firms to submit bid for the P290.9 million Puerto Princesa International Airport development project involves asphalt overlay of runway and the P238 million for Tacloban Airport development project involves the completion of overlay of runway.
The pre-bid conference for these two projects is set on July 26 and the bid opening was schedule on August 7.
Last week, 25 firms have submitted bids for the expansion and improvement of four regional airports with a combined project of P1.15 billion in Laoag, Vigan, Borongan and Central Mindanao.
