MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) is completing the feasibility studies for two major railway projects in Luzon, connecting Cagayan in the north and Bicol in the south.
Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya said the feasibility studies for the proposed 900-kilometer Integrated Luzon Railway (ILR) and the 90-km commuter rail link (also known as airport express rail) would be completed soon.
Abaya said both projects would be presented to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) for approval.
He pointed out that the studies would help determine the feasibility of projects and would help determine the cost.
Options being considered by the government for the project include the private sector submitting unsolicited proposals, through Public Private Partnership (PPP), and funding the project through official development assistance (ODA) fund.
Abaya said CPCS Transcom Ltd. of Canada is set to complete the feasibility study for the ILR that would run from Cagayan in Isabela down to Sorsogon in Bicol.
The proposal railway would cover the entire north and south networks of the state-run Philippine National Railway (PNR). PNR’s north network runs from Manila to La Union as well as a branch line from Tarlac to San Jose, Nueva Ecija, and a possible extension to Cagayan while the south network traverses from Manila to Legaspi City, including the branch line from Calamba to Batangas City.
“There is no cost yet. The Canadian consultant for ILR is expected to give the study in January,†Abaya said.
Another option being considered for the ILR, he said, is to put up a connecting rail to Clark Airport as the international gateway in Pampanga is being developed under a twin airport system.
On the other hand, Abaya said the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is helping the government complete the feasibility study for the commuter rail that would run from Malolos in Bulacan all the way down to Calamba in Laguna.
“The airport express rail is a misnomer and we should change it to commuter rail that will service mega Manila elevated from Malolos far north and Manila to Calamba,†he added.
He said the proposed elevated commuter rail would be constructed above the existing rail of PNR. Initial cost of the commuter rail is between $4 billion and $5 billion.
“There is the integrated Luzon railway and the commuter rail which is elevated. Instead of building high-speed rail, you use the same rail to have an airport link. But at least have you have a decent rail system that could serve the airport,†the DOTC chief said.
Dr. Vic Abola, an economics professor at the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P), is urging President Aquino to transfer the much needed railway and mass transport functions to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) from the DOTC.