Manila-Bicol railway up for Palace approval

The P285-billion south line of the North-South Railway Project (NSRP) that will connect Metro Manila and the Bicol Region will be up for President Duterte’s approval this month, the National Economic and Development Authority said.

The NSRP’s south line, to be financed with official development assistance, will revive the Philippine National Railways (PNR) south railway, it said.

Socioeconomic Planning Secretary and Neda chief Ernesto M. Pernia earlier said the Japanese government would finance NSRP’s south line.

According to Neda, the NSRP’s south line will have three tracks: a 72-kilometer commuter line from Tutuban in Manila to Los Baños in Laguna; a 581-km long-haul line from Los Baños to Sorsogon; and a connecting third track terminating at the Port of Manila via the FTI complex in Taguig City.

The NSRP’s south line was one of the three railway projects approved by the interagency Neda-Investment Coordination Committee (ICC) during the joint technical board and Cabinet Committee meeting last June 1.

Last week, Pernia said the NSRP’s south line, the P35.26-billion P102.28-kilometer Mindanao Railway Project’s Tagum-Davao-Digos segment, and the P211.43-billion Malolos-Clark Railway Project will be pitched for approval by President Duterte, who chairs the Neda Board, at a meeting.