Negros Occidental Rep. Jacinto Paras said that the ambitious three-year, P39-billion plan to improve on and expand the PNR’s facilities around the country will consist of six simultaneous projects.
These are: the rehabilitation of the existing main railway line from Manila to Legazpi, rehabilitation of the mainline North Manila to San Fernando, La Union, the construction of a new railway line from Legazpi to Matnog, Sorsogon, the construction of of a new railway line from Cagayan de Oro to Iligan City, and the construction of Panay Railway Line with an existing right of way from Iloilo to Roxas City.
Paras points out that the House under the leadership of Speaker Jose de Venecia is prepared to allot the needed funds to partially fund the project.
"An efficient mass transportation system is a must if we are to improve economic conditions in the country," Paras stressed.
Currently under study, says Paras, is how to ensure that the needed $100 million in Congressional appropriators will be made available for calendar years 2002 and 2003.
The balance of the funding, he says, can be sourced from the unused Official Development Assistance from Japan, Canada and European states that may well amount to $400 million.