MANILA, Philippines — The Marcos administration is really committed to reviving the so-called Bicol Express — a Philippine National Railways project connecting Manila to the Bicol Region — as it has already taken steps to ensure the proper resettlement of Laguna and Quezon residents who will be affected, Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Brian Raymund Yamsuan said in a statement issued on Tuesday.
“President Marcos is not only bent on reviving and modernizing the Bicol Express as he had promised Bicolanos,” he said.
“He is also making sure that affected residents would not be neglected by ensuring that they get to resettle in livable communities. This is the strongest indicator that the project will push through.”
Yamsuan was referring to the Department of Transportation’s groundbreaking of resettlement sites, which the department says will be in San Pablo City in Laguna and in Tiaong, Candelaria, Sariaya, and Pagbilao in Quezon province
The project is formally called the PNR South Long Haul Project.
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Even with talks about the loan application from China failing — which was the initial mode of funding pursued for the project — Yamsuan believes such a development could be beneficial to the government as it allows flexibility in its options.
Previously, Yamsuan said that the government should instead go after public-private partnerships — such as tapping institutions like the Asian Development Bank (ADB) or the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to fund the electromechanical system of the project.
Furthermore, Yamsuan and other Bicol lawmakers — such as Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co — believe this project would stimulate development in areas near its stations, as these will become hubs for businesses and entrepreneurs.