No derailing the revival of Bicol Express – PNR

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Railways (PNR) is undertaking new construction work for the revival of the Bicol line, indicating that the project is still on track despite uncertainty in funding.

The PNR is looking for a contractor that would take on the P19.64-million project to build fences for the right-of-way (ROW) in San Pablo, Laguna for the PNR South Long Haul Project.

The contractor will be given 190 days to complete the fencing, which is one of the crucial works to ensure ROW is cleared until such time actual construction begins.

The PNR said the South Long Haul is a big-ticket project that requires a higher standard of site management. The agency emphasized the importance of keeping the integrity of properties along the ROW.

As such, fencing must be undertaken to prevent setbacks that could obstruct future stages of the project. Without this, the PNR said the alignment is exposed to reoccupation of informal settlers, trespassing and vandalism, all of which could lead to potential legal challenges.

“To mitigate such risks, proactive measures must be implemented to secure the area and maintain compliance with regulatory requirements,” the PNR said.

The PNR held a pre-bid conference yesterday and will close the bidding and open the offers on July 21.

The project is one of the few movements keeping the South Long Haul alive, as the government is still looking for a financing partner to co-sponsor construction.

Originally, the South Long Haul was supposed to be funded by a loan from China, but President Marcos cancelled the borrowing application in 2023. The withdrawal stemmed from the reported inaction from Beijing and disputes on the interest rates.

The South Long Haul, worth about P175.32 billion, will stretch for 557 kilometers between Sucat, Muntinlupa and Matnog, Sorsogon. It will partly mirror the old line of the Bicol Express, which connects Metro Manila and Bicol Region.

In another big-ticket railway, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) informed motorists that the southbound lane of a portion of the East Service Road would be closed starting July 18.

The segment, from Arca Boulevard to Narra Street, will be closed to motorists to make way for the construction of the FTI Station of the North-South Commuter Railway.