‘Delayed 2019 budget slowing down MRT-3 rehab, other infra projects’

MANILA, Philippines – The multi-billion peso rehabilitation of the Metro Rail Transit 3 (MRT-3) is being affected following the delay in the passage of the 2019 national budget, a transportation official said Wednesday.

Transportation Undersecretary for Railways Timothy John Batan said that the funding for the MRT-3 rehabilitation would be sourced from the 2019 General Appropriations Act.

“Lahat po noong may panggagalingang pondo for the first time sa GAA 2019 ay to a certain extent po mayroong effect,” Batan said during the weekly economic forum in Malacañang.

Batan said the rehabilitation of the MRT-3 is largely dependent on the 2019 national budget.

Batan said the government still needed P500 million for the road right of way, which was included in the 2019 GAA.

“So far po nasa – mayroon pong 500 million para po doon sa initial payment at mayroon po kaming balanse para po doon sa additional na right of way na kailangan pong i-acquire,” he said.

Aside from the MRT-3 rehabilitation, Batan said the Metro Manila Subway project, which broke ground recently, would likewise be affected.

“Iyong subway, dahil po kahit na mayroon na tayong budget noong 2018 sa subway na one billion po, iyong majority noong kinakailangan po nating budget ay ngayon pong 2019 natin kinakailangan,” he said.

He added that the  North-South Commuter Railway project would likewise be affected particularly the Tutuban-Malolos segment.

“Mayroon pong effect doon sa availability of funds,” said Batan. / gsg