Rail project talks to move forward - Noy

JAKARTA – President Aquino said the NorthRail and SouthRail projects would be pursued as he announced that talks with the Chinese side have yielded positive results.

Speaking to reporters Saturday night after attending the 18th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Leaders’ Summit, the President said the 32-kilometer NorthRail project from Caloocan to Malolos, Bulacan amounting to $503 million had been stopped but talks to resume the project would continue.

“The Chinese side and our side agreed that work would stop but there would be no penalty to each other. The good news is the SouthRail project in Bicol would be constructed for only P1 billion, that’s a big difference,” he said.

But the President said the SouthRail project would be a bit delayed because of the lack of rolling stock or railroad cars from Japan, which is still reeling from a disaster due to the massive earthquake and tsunami that hit the country last March.

The NorthRail and SouthRail projects became controversial during the Arroyo administration due to alleged overpricing.