Country's longest rail system, Laguna-Pampanga's NSCR closer to completion

By Nimfa Estrellado President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. with the DOTr, contractors, ADB, and JICA at the contract signing ceremony in Malacañang...

By Nimfa Estrellado

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. with the DOTr, contractors, ADB, and JICA at the contract signing ceremony in Malacañang. (Photo from Bongbong Marcos/FACEBOOK)

CALAMBA CITY, Laguna - The country's longest rail system, 147 kilometers long and worth P52.1 billion, is closer to completion.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has signed three civil works contracts with two contractor consortiums for the construction of the Metro Manila segment, the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR), on July 13, 2023.



President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said during Thursday's contract signing ceremony in Malacañang, "We continue to show our commitment to realizing the dream of a more efficient and inclusive public transportation system that every Filipino deserves."

He added that the construction of the Metro Manila segment of the NSCR is a significant step towards achieving this goal. The DOTr remains dedicated to providing a reliable and convenient transportation option for Filipinos, and this project is a testament to that commitment.

Transport Secretary Jaime J. Bautista stated that a world-class railway line equipped with modern facilities will transform lives and communities, restoring the country's mass rail transport culture.

"We want to impress on the contractors the importance of meeting schedules so the whole NSCR project can be completed as promised," said Bautista.

The transport chief said the two joint venture companies, PT Adhi Karya (Persero) Tbk and PT PP (Persero) Tbk of Indonesia and Leighton Contractors (Asia) Ltd. and First Balfour Inc. of Australia, must be able to construct a combined length of 14.9 kilometers of elevated and ground-level rail tracks, including modern train stations in Blumentritt in Manila, Buendia in Makati, EDSA, Senate in Pasay City, Bicutan in Taguig, and Sucat in Paraaque.

Meanwhile, the Senate station will be close to the Senate subway station, and the Bicutan station will share the same platform as the Bicutan subway station.

Bautista expressed confidence as the country "inched closer to completing the flagship rail infrastructure" with financial support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and the governments of Indonesia and Australia.

The Metro Manila segment is part of the overall 147-kilometer NSCR System, which aims to reduce travel time between Clark, Pampanga, and Calamba, Laguna, to just two hours and service more than 800,000 passengers daily once operational. (with reports from DOTr)