Manila, Nov. 4, 2009 - Senator Jose Miguel Arroyo says the snail-paced development of the country's railway system could be remedied by privatizing the Philippine National Railways.
"We need effective infrastructure to facilitate the smooth operation of commerce and industry," Arroyo said in a statement. "To my mind, nothing beats railroads and rail transport as the cheapest, most efficient and most environmental-friendly way of transporting goods, people and services."
The senator pointed out that although the government had embarked on a rehabilitation program for the PNR system, "all we see is some repair work on some railroad tracks in Paco, Manila, Pasig and Cavite. At this rate of piecemeal, patchwork rehabilitation, we cannot expect to see a fully revitalized PNR rail line operating until the next decade."
To hasten such initiatives, Arroyo proposed that the private sector enter the picture. "If we have to privatize the PNR to speed things up, let us do so. We can also enter into joint venture agreements or build-operate-transfer arrangements."
"We need effective infrastructure to facilitate the smooth operation of commerce and industry," Arroyo said in a statement. "To my mind, nothing beats railroads and rail transport as the cheapest, most efficient and most environmental-friendly way of transporting goods, people and services."
The senator pointed out that although the government had embarked on a rehabilitation program for the PNR system, "all we see is some repair work on some railroad tracks in Paco, Manila, Pasig and Cavite. At this rate of piecemeal, patchwork rehabilitation, we cannot expect to see a fully revitalized PNR rail line operating until the next decade."
To hasten such initiatives, Arroyo proposed that the private sector enter the picture. "If we have to privatize the PNR to speed things up, let us do so. We can also enter into joint venture agreements or build-operate-transfer arrangements."
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