Rehab of Manila-Bicol railway starts in 2015

MANILA, Philippines - The government will rehabilitate the Manila-Bicol train system next year.

For this purpose, the House of Representatives has approved a request of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) for P1.750 billion for the rehabilitation of the Manila-Bicol rail line run by Philippine National Railways (PNR).

The House, upon recommendation of its appropriations committee, included the amount in the proposed P2.606-trillion 2015 national budget.

Of the amount, P600 million will be for “capacity expansion to allow two-way rail operations, which will reduce travel time and increase the number of trains running on the line.”

Another P600 million will be for “repair and restoration of nine non-serviceable units to cater to increase in passenger demand” and the purchase of spare parts.

An additional P200 million will be for the “procurement of a rail-mounted crane with pile hammer and vibratory hammer,” and the repair of 400 bridges along the rail line.

Existing tracks will be rehabilitated to increase safety and reliability of train operations, for which P200 million was approved.

The remaining P150 million will be for the “repair of three general electric locomotives.”

Davao City Rep. Isidro Ungab, appropriations committee chairman, said it was DOTC Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya who requested funding for the rehabilitation of the Manila-Bicol rail line.

Ungab said more commuters between Metro Manila and areas in Southern Tagalog and Bicol are patronizing the rail system.

During a recent House hearing, DOTC and PNR officials said the system should be rehabilitated, since both tracks and trains are old.

They said more commuters are using it because it is safer, faster and cheaper.