By KRIS BAYOS
The proposed construction of a fully elevated commuter rail service from Malolos City in Bulacan to Calamba City in Laguna will be the most expensive transportation infrastructure project of the Aquino III Administration.
Transportation Undersecretary Rene Limcaoco confirmed that the proposed North-South commuter express line would be more expensive than the P64.9-billion Light Rail Transit (LRT) 1 Cavite Extension project, which is currently the single most expensive project of the government.
“If it gets National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) approval, it will be,” Limcaoco told the Manila Bulletin during the inauguration of the Philippine National Railways’ new stations in Muntinlupa City and Laguna.
Limcaoco, however, declined to disclose the cost of the ambitious project, saying the costing is “still subject to verification.” Limcaoco is the alternate chairman of the PNR Board of Directors.
Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya said the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is funding the feasibility study for the proposed North-South commuter express line, which will use the PNR’s right of way.
“The Malolos-Calamba line will cater mostly to the Greater Manila area. This line will be convenient for people who live in the provinces and work in Metro Manila. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is helping us on this and the feasibility study is about to finish soon,” he said.
Based on JICA’s proposed design, which the Manila Bulletin was able to secure, the 91.37-kilometer commuter express will have 27 stations. It will utilize elevated tracks from Malolos to Paco station in Manila. The mass transit line will then go underground from Buendia to FTI stations in Makati and Taguig cities, and will use elevated tracks again from Bicutan to Sucat stations. The commuter line will use at-grade tracks from Alabang in Muntinlupa City to Calamba City in Laguna. The new commuter rail facility is envisioned to use train sets of 10 cars each and the maximum running speed will be 100 kilometers per hour. JICA is proposing that the new mass transit facility be operational for 20 hours a day up to 2 a.m.
Abaya, however, said government is still studying whether to implement the project through public-private partnership (PPP) scheme or through Official Development Assistance (ODA) loan, considering the high cost of investment in a rail facility.
He said the project would be completed five or six years after awarding of contract.
The PNR currently operates an at-grade city commuter service from Tutuban in Manila to Sta. Rosa in Laguna and a provincial commuter line from Sipocot to Naga City in Camarines Sur. The government was sup - posed to revive operations of the Bicol Express up to Legazpi City in Albay until one of its trains was derailed in Quezon province last year. Rehabilitation work is underway to revive the operation of Bicol Express.
