By Raymond Carl Dela Cruz | Philippine News Agency
Several railway projects mark a “renaissance” in rail transport, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said during his third State of the Nation Address on Monday.
In his speech, Marcos showcased the Metro Manila Subway Project (MMSP) for accomplishing “significant” progress in its tunneling works.
“Sa puntong ito, katumbas na ng tatlo hanggang anim na palapag ang lalim ng nahukay, at tuloy-tuloy na umuusad sa susunod na istasyon,” he said.
According to the Department of Transportation (DOTr), the project is about 15% complete, with an estimated 1.3 km of land dug from Valenzuela toward Quirino Highway in Quezon City.
On the other hand, the Metro Rail Transit Line 7 (MRT-7) and the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) are both progressing, with construction for both projects in full swing.
“We will make sure that right-of-way issues are resolved in the most equitable, efficient, and expeditious manner so that these will not get in the way of our infrastructure development,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Sucat-to-Baclaran expansion of the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) is set to open to the public within the year, with further extension toward Bacoor in Cavite to be realized in the next few years.
“Nagdagdag din tayo ng 76 na bago at modernong mga tren sa LRT-1 upang mas dumami, bumilis, at maging mas komportable ang biyahe ng mga pasahero,” he said.
He also announced the reopening of the Philippine National Railways (PNR) Bicol Line, which spans 100 km from Naga City in Camarines Sur up to Legazpi City in Albay.
More seaports, airports
In addition to railway transport, the Marcos administration continues to build more seaports and airports to connect the country’s more than 7,000 islands with the rest of the world.
The operation and maintenance of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport will soon be in the hands of the private sector.
The President expressed confidence that the private partnership would improve both the airport’s infrastructure and service in the coming years.
“Soon, it will be capable of accommodating 48 flights per hour, servicing our ever-increasing local and international flight routes, and catering to more than 62 million passengers per year,” he said.
To date, he said, more than 70 airport and seaport development projects have been completed and 350 more ongoing projects are going to be completed by 2028.
These completed projects include the expansion of the passenger terminal buildings (PTB) of the General Santos Airport and the Bicol International Airport by 300 percent and 500 percent—now catering to 2,000 and 1,600 passengers, respectively.
In addition, the Batangas Port PTB has been expanded to accommodate 8,000 passengers at any given time.
“Thanks to Congress, the Public-Private Partnership (PPP), as a crucial funding mechanism for big-ticket projects, is now institutionalized by force of law,” he said.
The PPP, he said, is expected to facilitate strategic investments and timely development of projects under the administration’s “Build Better More” program.
“Around one-fourth of our flagship projects have been envisioned to be funded through this modality,” he said.
“PPP is seen to facilitate strategic investments and the timely development of projects under our ‘Build Better More’ program, especially since around one-fourth of our flagship projects have been envisioned to be funded through this modality.”