(FILE) The first of the Japan-made trains of the North-South Commuter Railway arrives at the project’s Malanday depot in Valenzuela City on Friday. The 148-kilometer mass transport system is expected to reduce travel time from Laguna to Pampanga by half, and will have 35 stations in 28 local governments along its route. —GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Thursday assured the public his administration is “serious” in pursuing major infrastructure projects to boost the country’s economy.
Marcos said the signing of contracts for the South Commuter Railway Project in Laguna, which he claims is the largest infrastructure project to be funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), is the proof.
“With the signing of these packages, we demonstrate to our people that we are serious about pursuing large projects for infrastructure to foster growth and revitalize our economy in spite of the adjustments that we have had to make to compensate for the shocks that the world situation has brought to the Philippines,” the President said in his speech during the signing ceremony.
Marcos said the railway project is expected to cut travel time from Laguna to Manila from three hours to just one hour.
The railway is also expected to accommodate up to 340,000 commuters a day.
“The South Commuter Railways Project is expected to contribute to seamlessly transporting passengers from Clark, Pampanga and Calamba City, Laguna and all the train stations in between,” the President said.
Marcos vowed that every resource for the project would be maximized, as he called on the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and other agencies to ensure the smooth and faithful implementation of the project.
“I call upon the DOTr, all the concerned agencies, local government units as well as our partners and other stakeholders to ensure the smooth and faithful implementation of this essential undertaking,” he said.
Marcos likewise expressed gratitude to the ADB, DOTr, and the Japan International Cooperation Agency for the project.
“Let us all work together in the spirit of unity and cooperation so that we can all build a future where we can achieve our goals and aspirations and also for all the generations to come,” he said.
READ: PH, ADB ink $4.3B loan agreement for South Commuter Railway project