Tugade: PNR San Pablo-Lucena route to unlock economic potential of Southern Luzon

MANILA: The Philippine National Railways (PNR) San Pablo-Lucena route will not only connect the rail line to the Bicol network, but will also help generate economic potential and improve mobility in Southern Luzon, according to Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade.

“Itong bubuksan nating ruta na San Pablo-Candelaria-Lucena, ito ay idudugtong upang sa ganun ating mapatotoo at mapagtunay ang ‘Bicol Express,’ kaya malaki ang bahagi at ang kahalagahan ng linyang ito para sa Laguna at Lucena sa Quezon in the immediate term (This upcoming San Pablo-Candelaria-Lucena route will be connected to establish the ‘Bicol Express,’ that is why this route is important for the residents of Laguna and Lucena, Quezon in the immediate term),” Sec. Tugade said.

In addition to being used as a passenger commuter service, the PNR Lucena-San Pablo line can also be turned into a commercial or cargo freight service, according to Sec. Tugade.

“Mahalaga rin po na sabihin na itong rutang ito ay convertible hindi lamang papuntang Bicol, kundi maging convertible na maging commercial route dito sa Lucena (It is also important to note that this route is not only convertible going to Bicol, but it is also convertible into a commercial route here in Lucena), he stated.

The PNR San Pablo-Lucena route, which has been shut down for almost a decade, is a 44-kilometer inter-provincial commuter railway that was once part of the Bicol commuter train service with stations and flag stops for daily commuters and short trips.

Its operation halted in October 2013 after the collapse of an abutment.

When operations resume, the route will have two terminal stations and four flag stops in between, with a travel time of one hour and 32 minutes from Lucena to San Pablo.

Parts of the right-of-way of the long-distance rail network will be used for the PNR South Long Haul Project or the “Bicol Express.”

PNR General Manager Jun Magno thanked the provincial governments of Laguna and Quezon for helping the DOTr and PNR in “reaching the country’s aspirations in opening the mass transport.”

“Nagpapasalamat po kami sa mga kasama natin sa Laguna at Quezon. Salamat po sa inyo dahil tinutulungan niyo kami na maabot ang ating aspirations ng ating bansa na buksan muli ang ating mass transport at buksan ang economic corridors ng Laguna, Quezon hanggang Bicol (We are grateful for our colleagues in Laguna and Quezon. Thank you for helping us in reaching the country’s aspirations in opening the mass transport and the economic corridors of Laguna, Quezon, up to Bicol),” he said.

In parallel, San Pablo, Laguna Urban Development and Housing Officer Emilio Tirones also stated that the PNR Lucena-San Pablo line will significantly contribute on the city’s socio-economic development, including economic stability, mobility and connectivity, and relocation for informal settlers.

Tirones bemoaned the fact that the rail line ran every two days in 2012.

“Kung may train, may connectivity at mobility ang bawat bayan gaya ng sinabi ni Secretary Tugade. At the same time, ‘yung economic aspects ng San Pablo—‘yung mga products namin madadala sa inter-province, sa Manila (If there is a train, there will be connectivity and mobility among cities, just like what Secretary Tugade said. At the same time, [as for the> economic aspects of San Pablo — our products will be exported inter-province and to Manila),“ Tirones said, adding that the Lucena-San Pablo line will have 10 trips per day.

Photos from Department of Transportation

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