MANILA – President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Thursday stated that the ceremonial signing of contracts for the South Commuter Railway Project (SCRP) demonstrates that the Philippines is “serious” about pursuing big projects that are essential for sustaining economic growth and recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.
Marcos made the statement as he witnessed the contract signing, which marks the successful bid for four different stages of the project, to be supervised by joint venture agreements between Korean and Turkish firms.
“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,” he said in a speech at The Plaza in Calamba City, Laguna.
He expressed gratitude to the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency for their contributions to the railway project.
“We welcome this development at a time when we are going — and we have used this phrase often — full speed ahead towards modernization and our transport system and we are reclaiming our lives from the Covid-19 pandemic. This is what all of this truly means,” he said.
In addition, Marcos promised to ensure that all project resources be optimized “for the success of this entire initiative.”
“I thus call upon the DOTr [Department of Transportation], 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.
Meanwhile, he expressed optimism that such programs will take the country and its people to a better post-pandemic future.
“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.
By 2028, the SCRP will be a part of the 147-kilometer North-South Commuter Railway network that will connect Clark, Pampanga to Calamba, Laguna.
The ADB granted USD4.3 billion in June to assist finance the construction of a railway line connecting Metro Manila and Calamba City.
The railway system will have 18 stations traversing Manila City, Makati City, Taguig City, Parañaque City, Muntinlupa City, San Pedro City, Biñan City, Santa Rosa City, Cabuyao City, and Calamba City.
The 56-kilometer project between Manila and Laguna will reduce travel time between the two locations from three hours to only one hour.
The railway would be able to carry up to 340,000 passengers per day once finished.
