Marcos: Big-ticket infra projects to help Filipinos have better post-pandemic future

MANILA: President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said that the ceremonial signing of the contracts for the South Commuter Railway Project (SCRP) demonstrates that the Philippines is “serious” about initiating major projects that are essential for maintaining economic progress and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Marcos said this during the contract signing for the project’s four stages, which will be overseen 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,” Marcos stated.

He expressed his gratitude to the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency for funding the 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,” Marcos said.

As part of his administration’s commitment to the project’s success, Marcos promised to make sure that every resource will be used to its fullest potential.

“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,” Marcos added.

He also expressed optimism that these initiatives will help the country and the Filipinos have 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,” Marcos stated.

SCRP is part of the 147-kilomter North-South Commuter Railway network that will connect Clark, Pampaga to Calamba, Laguna by 2028.

In June, ADB gave its approval for $4.3 billion to help finance the construction of the railway line that will connect Metro Manila with Calamba City.

SCRP will have 18 stations located in the cities of Manila, Makati, Taguig, Parañaque, Muntinlupa, San Pedro, Biñan, Santa Rosa, Cabuyao, and Calamba.

The 56-kilometer project aims to cut travel time between Manila and Calamba from three hours to just one hour.

Once completed, the railway is expected to serve up to 340,000 passengers daily.

Photo from Philippine News Agency

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