Metro-Clark bullet train impractical, says expert

The proposed high-speed rail line that will link Metro Manila and the Clark Freeport Zone, may not be a feasible mass transportation option given its high cost, said an official of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica).

The Philippine government is currently studying the proposed bullet train.

Dr. Shizuo Iwata, chiar of Japan’s Almec Corp and part of the group that crafted a P2.6-trillion plan to decongest Metro Manila through 2030, said a bullet train could provide quick access to Clark, particularly its international airport, but the estimated price tag of up to $7 billion would be “very expensive.”

“I don’t suggest it,” Iwata told reporters in a recent interview. “That should be discussed very intensely.”

He said a more conventional railway would be more feasible in addressing demand from commuters.

Earlier, it was reported that President Aquino was “open” to having a high-speed railway to the Clark Freeport Zone and ordered the relevant agencies to study this option.

The Clark International Airport, despite being newer and with more expansion options, has been struggling to draw large carriers and passengers, mainly because of its distance from Metro Manila.

The gateway is about an hour and a half away from Metro Manila, and most travelers prefer to fly out of the congested Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) instead.

Iwata clarified that developing Clark International Airport was still feasible, but that the government should focus on other markets in Luzon.

“Clark has its own catchment area because Central Luzon, Northern Luzon and Clark Green City itself are going to be developed. So Clark has its own [market]. Manila also has its own [market],” Iwata said.

Jica is pushing for the establishment of a new international airport in Sangley Point, Cavite by 2025 and eventually replace Naia, which is set to reach full capacity by next year. A short-term fix, it said, would be to open a runway in Sangley to supplement operations at Naia.

Meanwhile, the new Sangley airport, with an estimated development cost of P435.9 billion, is crucial in meeting the capital region’s passenger demand, which is expected to more than triple to 101.4 million in 2040 from 31.9 million in 2012, according to Jica.

The Sangley International Airport may be able to handle about 55 million passengers a year once it opens in 2025. With Naia, the two facilities may be enough to meet the area’s estimated demand of 59.1 million, the agency said.

The Sangley facility can eventually be expanded to handle 130 million passengers annually by 2050, it added.