Lawmakers, JICA join inspection of North-South Commuter railway

Photos from the DOTr

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) led the inspection of the North-South Commuter railway (NSCR) system, alongside lawmakers and officials from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

During the joint inspection on Tuesday, Oct. 13, the officials inspected the NSCR’s key operational hubs, such as the Main Operations Control Center (OCC) at Clark Depot, platform and track alignment progress at Balagtas Station, and the Malanday Depot OCC. 

Members of the House of Representatives, including Rep. Kenneth Gatchalian, Rep. Agatha Cruz, Rep. Elijah San Fernando, Rep. Antolin Oreta, Rep. Mark Anthony Santos, and Rep. Monique Yazmin Lagdameo, tested the state-of-the-art train simulator and examined the electric multiple unit train sets stationed along the tracks at the Malanday Depot.

The agency said that all eight cars of the fourth train set were delivered and positioned at the Malanday Depot.

READ: NSCR-Clark station now 73.29% complete – DOTr

 “Building a modern transport system of this scale requires an all-hands-on-deck approach. With the firm backing of Congress and our project partners, we are pushing forward to ensure that the Filipinos get a world-class, reliable, safe, and efficient commuter rail system,” Transportation Secretary Giovanni “Banoy” Lopez said in a statement issued on Wednesday.

Gatchalian, chairperson of the House Committee on Flagship Programs and Projects, then assured of the Congress’ support to ensure the railway’s completion by 2033.

“We are all here to help out and to ensure na ma-achieve natin ’yung target dates natin and on behalf of the Flagship Programs and Projects Committee, we want to make sure that all the projects, especially this major flagship project that will help many people and, connecting basically the North and South Luzon, be fulfilled by 2033,” Gatchalian stated.

(We are all here to help out and to ensure that we achieve our target dates and, on behalf of the Flagship Programs and Projects Committee, we want to make sure that all the projects, especially this major flagship project that will help many people and, connecting basically the North and South Luzon, be fulfilled by 2033.)

The Japanese government, through JICA, and the Asian Development Bank is jointly financing the NSCR project, the agency noted.

The 35-station railway system is set to connect Clark International Airport in Pampanga to Calamba, Laguna, which spans 147.26 kilometers. It is projected to accommodate 800,000 passengers daily. 

The agency also noted that the railway is expected to reduce travel time to two hours from the usual four hour-commute.

READ: North-South Commuter Railway full operations moved to Q3 of 2033

 “We will open po in phases. Our first phase would be called Partial Operations 1—the first 27 kilometers and 7 stations will open po end of 2027. Next year po, makikita na natin na may tumatakbong tren po rito,” DOTr Undersecretary for Railways Timothy John Batan said.

(We will open in phases. Our first phase would be called Partial Operations 1—the first 27 kilometers and 7 stations will open at the end of 2027. Next year, we will see a train running here.)

He added, “’Yung Partial Operations 2 natin, which will extend to Malolos to Clark Airport is an additional 53 kilometers, will open po end of 2028 to early 2029. So by 2029, you can already take a train from Clark Airport all the way to Malanday in Valenzuela.”

(Our Partial Operations 2, which will extend from Malolos to Clark Airport is an additional 53 kilometers, will open at the end of 2028 to early 2029. So by 2029, you can already take a train from Clark Airport all the way to Malanday in Valenzuela.)

The schedule of the NSCR’s full operations was moved from 2032 to 2033 due to the government’s budget adjustments. /cb