umm, I was just wondering... after the Northrail and Southrail have been constructed/rehabilitated, will they be able to carry freight and cargo? I mean like containers and stuff? if they are designed to do so, then it could definitely reduce traffic along the NLEX and SLEX. hopefully the stations and terminals and other facilities are well designed and are of acceptable standards...

in my assumption.. they're mainly passenger trains... right?... but yeah.. it would be best if these lines could carry out freight trains as well...

umm, I was just wondering... after the Northrail and Southrail have been constructed/rehabilitated, will they be able to carry freight and cargo? I mean like containers and stuff? if they are designed to do so, then it could definitely reduce traffic along the NLEX and SLEX. hopefully the stations and terminals and other facilities are well designed and are of acceptable standards...

Ive seen PNR errrr its not PNR train its more like a cargo train but it uses the PNR rail tracks before carrying some cargos when it passes by at magallanes interchange. Despite of the current condition of the rail tracks it still can accomodate trains with cargos and i'm sure the upgraded one will also accomodate cargos.

There was an old proposal by ICTSI to have an inland depot in Laguna (somewhere in san pedro or binan) they would consolidate all containers there and bring all the conatainers by train to the ICTSI terminal. This was to disperse congestion. I think it did not push through because of problems connecting tutuban to the port itself. In any case it shows that the present track can actually be used to bring freight as it was initially designed to.

There was an old proposal by ICTSI to have an inland depot in Laguna (somewhere in san pedro or binan) they would consolidate all containers there and bring all the conatainers by train to the ICTSI terminal. This was to disperse congestion. I think it did not push through because of problems connecting tutuban to the port itself. In any case it shows that the present track can actually be used to bring freight as it was initially designed to.

the rail tracks are still operational along the pier in Tondo. When I went to Divisoria I saw this rail tracks and my friend told me that it is still being use by heavy rails. I also saw gates for the rail tracks but inside the gates are lots of squatters people living beside the rail tracks huh whats the use of that gate anyways.

The rail is there but i dont think any trains pass through it.

Well considering they turned the train station in Tutuban into a mall, it is no wonder why they have problems connecting rail to a wider network inland.

Tutuban actually has rail lines in it, I've personally seen it! It was part of the TOR that it still be used as a station but not the main station which is now in Paco.

http://news.inq7.net/metro/index.php?index=1&story_id=31481

Posted 00:02am (Mla time) Mar 24, 2005
By Christine Avendano
Inquirer News Service

Editor's Note: Published on page A16 of the March 24, 2005 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer

PRESIDENT Macapagal-Arroyo Wednesday ordered housing and railways authorities to clear within three months the seven-kilometer railway line from Caloocan City to Valenzuela City. The order was given to speed up the North Luzon Railways Corporation (Northrail) project.

Ms Arroyo issued the directive while turning over the responsibility of clearing the 1.7 kilometer Northrail line of informal settlers from the National Housing Authority (NHA) to railway officials.

The cleared areas include four barangays in Malabon City: Barangays Acacia, Tugatog, Teneros and Potrero, according to a statement from Malacanang

Some 2,000 squatters from these barangays had moved to relocation sites.

President Arroyo inspected the cleared area in Barangay Tugatog. She thanked officials involved in the project, which aims to put up a new railway system that will run from Metro Manila to Clark Special Economic Zone in Pampanga.

Accompanying the President during her inspection trip were Vice President Noli de Castro, NHA General Manager Federico Laxa, Philippine National Railways General Manager Jose Ma Sarasola II, Malabon City Mayor Canuto Oreta, and Northrail President Jose Cortes Jr.

Cortes said President Arroyo issued the directive to ensure that there would be no further delays in the project. He said heavy equipment to be used for the rail tracks were due to arrive this month, including four drilling machines, a compressor, and geodetic instruments.

------------------------------
also....

Residents along Caloocan-Valenzuela railway asked to leave

http://news.inq7.net/breaking/index.php?index=2&story_id=31469

RESIDENTS along the seven-kilometer railway line from Caloocan City to Valenzuela City have three months to vacate the site to give way to its rehabilitation as part of the North Luzon Railways Corporation (Northrail) project.

On Wednesday, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo gave the directive to housing and railways officials to clear the area.

It is not immediately known how many families will be affected by the clearing operations and where they will be relocated.

About 2,000 families living in the 1.7-kilometer stretch of the Northrail line covering three barangay (villages) in Malabon City have been relocated, the National Housing Authority reported to Arroyo during her visit to one of the villages on Wednesday.
----------------------------

hope there are no more ROW-related delays... the last time GMA issued a similar order to expedite things (MRT-3 Phase-2), nothing really happened much as of the present...

about time!

yes...Finally!

more news...

NHA completes 1st phase of clearing operations for $503.15-M North Rail project

By JEFFREY O. VALISNO, Reporter
The National Housing Authority (NHA) has completed the first phase of relocation of informal settlers in Malabon and Navotas to give way for the construction of the $503.15-million North Rail Project.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was in Malabon yesterday morning to personally inspect the clearing operations to ensure the implementation of the North Rail Project remains on schedule.

Vice-President Noli L. De Castro, currently the chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC), went with the President. The HUDCC is tasked with handling the clearing and relocation of the informal settlers along the railroad.

More than 2,000 families from barangay Acacia, Tugatog, Potrero, and Tenejeros in Malabon within 20 meters from the railroad tracks were removed, clearing 1.7 kilometers out of the 32.2-kilometer stretch of the North Rail from Caloocan City to Pampanga.

Mr. De Castro explained the affected families from Caloocan City, Malabon, and Valenzuela City were given two options: to take P50,000 from the government under the "Balik Probinsya" program, or to stay in the relocation sites allotted in Valenzuela City and San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan.

Clearing operations and relocation of the remaining 19,000 informal settlers in at least four towns in Bulacan are expected to be completed by the end of the year, as soon as the government identifies the relocation site for the affected families.

In February 2004, the North Luzon Railways Corp. (NLRC) signed a $400-million loan agreement with the Export Import Bank of China for the implementation of the first phase of the project. The NLRC counterpart fund is $103.15 million.

Under the first phase of the North Rail project, the NLRC, under the Bases Conversion Development Authority, will reconstruct and convert the existing single track of the Philippine National Railways into a double rail track.

The project will have six stations: Caloocan and Valenzuela in Metro Manila and Marilao, Bocaue, Guiguinto and Malolos in Bulacan.

The NLRC will procure 30 four-car diesel multiple unit-type (DMU) train sets from China within the next three years.

At present, the NLRC has only 12 train sets, although it is set to use secondhand trains donated by Japan next year while waiting for the new trains from China. The project will also provide for a modern train control and signalling system.

Once completed, the project is expected to provide efficient transport service for both passengers and cargoes between Metro Manila and Central and Northern Luzon.

Some 150,000 passengers are expected to use North Rail each day in the first year of the project. This is expected to increase to more than 350,000 passengers in 10 years. Cargoes would be transported at night.

With the reconstructed track, the trains are expected to run at a maximum speed of 100 kph and an average speed of 50 kph. This would significantly reduce to only 37 minutes the transportation period from Malolos to Caloocan aboard a North Rail train from two and a half hours on board public utility vehicles.

Transport fare from Malolos to Caloocan, he added, would also go down to P43 from the present P70 aboard public buses.

It only proves that if the president interfere in certain projects especially in infrastructure it will really push thru and materialize.

so Clark is at phase 2 pa?.... :( Too bad. Sana may connection na since two budget airlines will have flights Clark-Singapore and Clark-KL.

dun dun dun dunnnn.......... :happy:

good news...! is the government planning to open the line station by station or will they wait for the whole phase to be done first? why would they need to use the donated Japanese trains next year? can the first phase be done in a year and a half...?

anyway, I hope they build nice stations. hehe! even if they're not super world class or anything. something like the Davao airport would be good enough... and hopefully they fence up and beautify the areas that have been cleared.

im really looking forward to this north rail project. hopefully when they proceed to the succeeding phases a station near my hometown in pangasinan will be considered so i could just take the train to go to manila :D siguro naman mas mabilis na yun kasi walang trapik :lol:

base on the news

"The NLRC will procure 30 four-car diesel multiple unit-type (DMU) train sets from China within the next three years."

di ba diesel train na rin yong ginagamit ng PNR ngayon? daig pa tayo ng india kasi yong mga diesel train nila noong a 1990's electrified train na ngayon.

I think the diesel is electro-diesel. India's train is also mostly of the same type, even the common ones in Europe and the US. Still the cheapest way to get a railway line started. The hi-speed ones are of course all electric. Ok lang iyan as it can be upgraded naman through time pag may pera na tayo. That way they don't spend a billion dollars and can spend the rest on some other worthwhile project.

Yes, they are electro-Diesel (DMU's to be exact). Once fully operational and when demand requires it, they can be easily upgraded to become fully electrical like Hong Kong's Airport rail line.

but there is still the 7 kms stretch of the railways from valenzuela suatters that has to be relocated yet,

You think the North Rail Stations will be as good as these?


http://img108.exs.cx/img108/383/lrtcavite4gm.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)
http://www.via-architecture.com/images/pics/worldwide/international/bg_37300H_STAR01.jpg
LRT I Extention to Cavite

^ang ganda naman yan, pang-Sim City :D

^ang ganda naman yan, pang-Sim City :D

Haha! ;) I hope it would look like those ;)

TO THE NON-BELIEVERS HAPPY EASTER! FROM THE GREAT BUNNY ON THE RIVER:)



27 MARCH 2005
bulet-arow.gif (856 bytes) Chinese engineers, equipment arriving for North Rail Project
bulet-arow.gif (856 bytes) President earmarks P2.1 billion for SME development supports, P1.3 billion for SMEFP
Chinese engineers, equipment arriving for North Rail Project

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has cleared the way for the smooth implementation of the North Railway Project (North Rail) ahead of the arrival next month of Chinese engineers, heavy equipment and assorted materials to be used in the construction of the multi-million-dollar railway system, which will link Metro Manila and Northern Luzon.

The National Housing Authority (NHA) has already completed the relocation of 2,000 squatters along the 1.7-kilometer stretch of the North Rail line cutting across four densely populated barangays in Malabon City.

Cleared of squatters are the railroad tracks in Barangays Acacia, Tugatog, Tenejeros and Portrero, all in Malabon City.

NHA is a member of the inter-agency group overseeing the implementation of the project, a key component of the government’s program to decongest Metro Manila and accelerate the economic development of the Luzon countryside.

Malacañang said the modernization of the railway system will make travel convenient to areas that will be served by the project, and movement of goods will also be enhanced.

North Rail would ease vehicular traffic along MacArthur Highway as commuters would have an alternative, faster and cheaper mode of transportation.

Aside from NHA, the other agencies behind the North Rail project are the Philippine National Railways (PNR), Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) and its subsidiary North Luzon Railways Corp., and Department of Transportation (DOTC),

Funding for the project comes from China, which extended a $400 million loan to the Philippine government for the railway system. The National Machinery and Equipment Corp., a Chinese government owned agency, represents Beijing in the project.

The President secured the loan during her working state visits to China.

With the relocation of the squatters along the Malabon railroad tracks, the President said NHA should now concentrate on clearing the seven km. Caloocan-Valenzuela PNR line to make sure that the implementation of the North Rail system is not delayed due to unresolved problems involving squatters.

She gave NHA until June to relocate the squatters along the Caloocan-Valenzuela PNR line.

glad to see that GMA is showing some political backbone.. i hope that construction starts soon..

wow that rendering looks nice.. I hope it would be as nice as those...they seem to be like Singapore's MRT and Bus hubs...

The station on the first rendering looks very much like the LRT2 stations.

yay...!! construction on the Northrail is finally commencing.

those LRT stations look really good. the first one reminds me of the Megatren and BKK's skytrain stations. except this one more modern with the glass and all... I like the way the rendering shows a large area with a place for busses to load and unload. I hope they do that with the Northrail stations as well as the LRT extension...

hope the lrt1 expansion would really look just like that, hope it wont be the same case as the mrt =(

Those LRT1 Stations looks nice.

they haven't shown any northrail renderings have they?

AFAIK there's none.

Some of the old LRT1 stations are already sporting new exteriors.
Anyone who has pictures?

I'd like to see those....... in the MRT/LRT thread:)

Some of the old LRT1 stations are already sporting new exteriors.
Anyone who has pictures?

Are you talking about just that Blue grey and yellow repaint? or something totally different?

yah, that's it.

I think it looks nice especially on those stations with open surroundings like the Central Station. Now if only they would replace the tiles on the platforms and stairs then that would be great.

I Found a pic from the old thread

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid157/pb60c53abf0ce865bcd92fda66783707e/f531da00.jpg

Edit: Should have posted it in the new thread.. :bash: sorry!

Philippines seeks $300-M credit for North Rail project

The Philippines is negotiating with the Chinese government for a $300-million credit facility to finance the Malolos-Clark leg of the delayed North Luzon Railways project.

Special Envoy to China Jose Antonio has disclosed that a memorandum of agreement (MOA) will be signed between China and the Philippines for a $300 buyer's credit facility during the state visit of Chinese President Hu Jintao scheduled from April 26 to 28.

The amount will reportedly come from the China Eximbank.

Antonio however declined to disclose the terms of the credit facility.

However, even before the MOA is signed, the government is reportedly campaigning to have the credit facility channeled to the Malolos-Clark portion of the North Rail project.

This leg comprises the section 2 of the first phase of the North Rail project that will cover an 80-kilometer rail line between Caloocan City and the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) at the Clark Special Economic Zone (CSEZ) in Pampanga.

The project also includes reviving the Philippine National Railway (PNR) Main Line North, which has not been in operation for 25 years.

Presidential Spokesperson Ignacio Bunye announced during a briefing Monday that the Philippines, through the Department of Finance is already negotiating with a Chinese bank to have the credit window earmarked to the delayed infrastructure project.

"The Philippines is negotiating this [$300-million credit facility] to be earmarked for the Malolos-Clark of the North Rail Project," Bunye said.

Bunye said there seems to be no hurdles in the MOA and that it is a done deal.

Meanwhile, the Chinese government is also expected to assist the Philippines in implementing various infrastructure projects as both nations agree to enter into a memorandum of understanding on infrastructure cooperation, according to a report released by the Philippine Embassy in China. The MOU will also be signed during the Chinese President's state visit.

The agreement is especially crucial on the part of the Philippines as it struggles to find enough investments to fund its priority infrastructure projects.

A deal is also set to be reached between the Philippines and the state-owned China National Machinery and Equipment Corp. (CNMEG) for its involvement in the North Rail and South Rail projects.

The CNMEG is set to release some $400 million in soft loan for the North Rail while the company has expressed interest in participating in the construction of the second part of the 123-kilometer Southrail.

Extending 70 kilometers, the second phase of the project involves the construction of the Sorsogon Railroad extension, which is expected to be completed by 2011.

The first phase covering 50 kilometers is already set to be shouldered by a Korean firm.

yey!

ei.. I just heard from the morning news a while ago that this project is now a go after it got the $5B loan from the Chinese government for the Malolos to Clark connection... it will be finished in 3 years.. and if I'm correct with what I heard they'll start it this year....

anyways... I'm still looking for a write-up of this news... :D

great news... thanks for the update!

it's just that implementation will be a big big problem. at least for ths first section to Malolos, which has been heavily delayed because of the relocation of illegal settlers. do you guys know if the first section is already being constructed? hopefully the second leg to Clark isn't as crowded and have less "squatters" that have to be evacuated.

what about the Southrail? it says the Chinese company is investing in the second part. there were articles from a couple months ago about South Korea funding the first leg, right? I wonder how that one is going... not as much news out there on the Southrail.

any news on the northrail guys?

Sana matapos na problema sa illegal dwellings so they can start off with the project.
This was taken from journal.com.ph
Northrail clearing reaches Meycauayan

MEYCAUAYAN, Bulacan ・The Metro Clark Northrail project will soon sweep through Bulacan.

The clearing of illegal dwellings at the old tracks of the Philippine National Railways where the Northrail project will be constructed from Caloocan City to Clark Special Economic Zone in Angeles City, Pampanga, will reach this town on May 27, authorities said yesterday.

Mayor Eduardo Alarilla said the municipal government and representatives from the National Housing Authority have already conducted a census of some 10,000 families in five affected barangays.

Alarilla said the affected families will be relocated in a 15-hectare lot in Barangay Bayugo. During a recent dialogue, he assured them that they would not be relocated outside the town.

He said NHA officials have assured them that each family would be allotted loans of P100,000 for the lot and P40,000 for construction materials and P10,000 for labor and hauling. An additional P1,000 would also be given as food assistance.

"Tuloy-tuloy na ang paglilinis para sa Northrail project at hindi na ito mapipi-gil," Alarilla said.

In the case of the 24 affected commercial establishments, Alarilla assured them that their case will be forwarded to housing czar Vice President Noli de Castro.
Emil G. Gamos




Monday, May 23, 2005
4:16:14 PM

Sana matapos na problema sa illegal dwellings so they can start off with the project.


so puro clearing palang sila? tsk.. at least its moving forward.. hopefully the construction would start this year

was there ever any renderings or plans showed to the public about this project?

So yung sked na May 27 eh, clearing pa lang yun ng illegal dwellings...
Then the construction of the project will commence "soon" daw :D
as for renderings, maybe some of our more knowledgeable forumers can show us, kung meron man.

was there ever any renderings or plans showed to the public about this project?

there were centerfold ads in the newspapers for a while showing the route map and the trains to be used. that's about it

there were centerfold ads in the newspapers for a while showing the route map and the trains to be used. that's about it

okay, i thought the gov't have a big add about this project, showing how the stations and train would look like. i just hope that since they are spending this amount of money that it would look good for years to come.

North Rail families moved today
De Castro assures best facilities for beneficiaries
Meycauayan, Balagtas folk are priority

At least 12,878 families living in the Bulacan segment of the North Rail project of the government will be relocated starting today, Friday, the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) announced yesterday.

Vice President Noli de Castro, who is also HUDCC chairman, said the housing agency has already prepared the relocation facilities and the relocation benefits that will be given to the families to be transferred from the Bulacan segment of the North Rail project.

"We are starting with the families that volunteered to move to the agreed relocation sites. The selection of relocation sites was made with the consent of the beneficiaries," De Castro said, noting that the initial target is to move 50 families to Meycauayan and 200 others to Balagtas town, both in Bulacan.

De Castro also reported that the HUDCC has already completed the orientation of the affected families, and has prepared the relocation packages to be given to them.

"We have completed the orientation of the affected families through the Local Inter-Agency Committees (LIAC) created for the purpose," De Castro said.

The relocation package for the affected families includes individual service lots worth P100,000 each, housing materials, loan assistance of P 50,000 cash and community facilities at the resettlement sites. It also includes grants of up to P 12,500 for trucking and manpower requirements during the dismantling and relocation, provision of tents for the staging area, and food allowance.

De Castro said the HUDCC will start with the clearing of the Right- of-Way (ROW) of commercial and business establishments in Bulacan.

Demolished business and commercial establishments, however, are not entitled to any benefits, the HUDCC said.

"We already gave the proper notices to the owners of these establishments two weeks ago, and we have given them 10 days so they would have enough time to look for places where they could transfer," De Castro said.

The clearing of the Bulacan segment is the second phase of the North Rail relocation program, after the relocation of at least 7,442 families from Caloocan, Malabon and Valenzuela cities for the Metro Manila alignment.

Mabuhay si Kabayan. I hope this is not a PR statement but the beginning of the North Rail implementation.

President orders De Castro: ‘Relocate Northrail-affected families by December
By Ding Cervantes | The Philippine Star | 06/04/2005

MAGALANG, Pampanga — President Arroyo wants some 26,000 families squatting along the old government railway in Bulacan and Pampanga relocated elsewhere by December to pave the way for the full-blast construction of the modern Manila-Clark Northrail system.

Vice President Noli de Castro, concurrent head of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC), said here the other day that the President has ordered him to make sure that some 12,000 affected families in Bulacan are resettled by September, and another 14,000 families in Pampanga by December.

The government needs some P7 billion to relocate all the affected families, he said, noting that thousands of families along the old railway in Metro Manila, particularly in Valenzuela, Caloocan and Malabon, have been resettled.

He said the contractors, which won in the government bidding for the development of the resettlement areas, are spending for the projects and will be refunded by the National Housing Authority (NHA) once funds are available.

De Castro said scores of families in Meycauayan, Balagtas and Bocaue towns, all in Bulacan, have volunteered to move to relocation sites within their respective municipalities.

"For as long as the relocation site is ready, we want the affected families to voluntary move in," he said.

"Many are volunteering to leave their homes along the railway so they would have more option in choosing the best location at the resettlement sites," De Castro said.

He said all the resettlement sites are located in the towns where the affected families reside.

He said local inter-agency committees, headed by the mayors of the affected towns, have started "social preparations" and documentation of the displaced families.

"We want only the original settlers as beneficiaries. The problem in resettlement cases is that the number of squatters grows once we announce that they are entitled to resettlement benefits," he said.

De Castro said the government has allocated P175,000 for each family to be relocated.

"The beneficiaries are to pay in installments over 30 years only P150,000 of the amount," he said.

Of the P175,000, he said P50,000 will be in the form of housing materials so the beneficiaries can build their own houses at the relocation sites.

"They will buy this back in 30 years without interest," he said.

The balance will be for the cost of the lots to be paid in 30 years with an interest rate of only six percent, he added.

Early last year, the President signed a bilateral agreement with China for a $400-million loan for the Northrail project.

Work on the first 32-kilometer stretch of the railway in Metro Manila started late last year.

The next phase will cover another 100 kilometers up to the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport at the Clark special economic zone in Pampanga.

The Northrail project is expected to be operational by 2008.

Meanwhile, De Castro said some land titles still have to be processed for some 40,000 families displaced by the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo.

The families now live in properties which the Arroyo administration gave them for free in various resettlement sites in Central Luzon.

Since 2002, after the President issued an order to give the resettlement house-and-lot packages for free to the Mt. Pinatubo victims, the government has already processed 10,044 titles.

De Castro distributed 1,500 of the land titles at the San Isidro resettlement here the other day.

27,000 families to be moved for railway plan
Project seeks to cut short travel time to 45 mins.

MAGALANG, Pampanga-Government lands along the Bulacan and Pampanga segments of the old Philippine National Railways tracks will be cleared of about 27,000 families by December this year, to start the construction there of the $503.4-million NorthRail, a modern train system, Vice President Noli de Castro said here.

Relocation programs by the National Housing Authority moved down north after the agency completed the transfer of some 10,000 families from Malabon and Caloocan cities, De Castro, also chair of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council, told reporters here on Thursday.

Target date

The resettlement of more than 12,000 families in Meycauayan, Balagtas and Bocaue towns in Bulacan began last Monday and was expected to be finished by September, the target set by President Macapagal-Arroyo, he said.

According to him, many informal settlers have opted to avail of voluntary relocation to be able to select housing lots in new sites located in the towns.

"We have adopted an in-town policy (in the relocation)," De Castro said, without specifying where all the new sites are located.

"Kaya yung mga tao hindi namin inilalayo kasi sila naman ang pasahero (We're not taking them away from their towns of origin because they would also be the train's passengers)," he said.

Urban poor groups like the Kadamay and Lupa have opposed the relocation because there were no clear-cut plans, the sites were either far from work or not yet available, and the cost of housing assistance was too high.

Opposition

Private contractors, De Castro said, were developing the sites on behalf of the NHA. A 15-hectare village is being readied in Meycauayan.

He said local inter-agency committees have gone full blast in documenting the settlers. The revalidation process is purging out fake claimants from the lists of beneficiaries.

From Apalit to Angeles City in Pampanga, more than 14,000 families will be moved out, he said.

"We should be over with the work before Christmas. What we are clearing are areas 15 meters on each side of the tracks," said De Castro.

In the Pampanga capital city of San Fernando, the settlers would be transferred to Barangay San Pedro Cutud where the government owns a 50-hectare lot, according to NHA general manager Federico Laxa.

Christmas task

De Castro said the government has set aside P7 billion for the relocation component of the NorthRail, which he called a priority project of Ms Arroyo.

It links Clark, an American military air base-turned-special economic zone, to Metro Manila to boost trade and investments in northern and central Luzon.

Under the program, every family is allotted P175,000 in relocation assistance. That amount covers P50,000 worth of construction materials, which will be paid without interest in 30 years, and P100,000 for the land cost, which comes with a 6 percent interest payable in 30 years.

i cant wait for this project to finish... :D

can't wait for it to get started!:)

SM agrees to finance one Northrail station

SM Prime Holdings Corp. has committed to shoulder the cost of one station of the North Luzon Railways Project Phase I Section I in exchange for the right to build a mall in the area, an official of the North Luzon Railways Corp. said.

In a telephone interview, Jose L. Cortes Jr., North Rail chair, said the Henry Sy-led firm has committed to shoulder the cost of one station. The government will save at least P10 million due to the deal, he said.

Cortes said he will talk to other mall developers for similar deals.

North Rail will construct free-parking areas for commuters who may want to leave their cars and ride the train, he said.

Construction of the first phase of the North Rail project will start in September.

Cortes said the relocation of informal settlers from Caloocan to Valenzuela is already complete, adding the Bulacan area will be done by August.

Given these developments, the first and second phase of the North Rail project may be finished in four years, he said.

Phase 1 Section I of the project is expected to cost $503 million. Of the $503 million, $421 million will be lent out by the Chinese government through its Export-Import Bank.

Loan terms include a 20-year repayment period, inclusive of a five-year grace period at 3-percent interest rate.

The remaining $82 million will be funded by the Philippine government as counterpart fund to include expenses for the relocation of informal settlers.

Phase 1 Section 1 of the North Raill project spans 32.2 kilometers from Caloocan City to Malolos in Bulacan. The project will have six stations, namely, Caloocan, Malabon, Valenzuela (the main depot), Bocaue, Marilao and Malolos.

The North Rail is expected to spur economic growth in Metro Manila and Central Luzon, alleviate traffic congestion in Metro Manila and improve its environmental condition.

“The initial-fare rate will be P10 boarding plus P1 for every kilometer for a total fare of P42 from Caloocan to Malolos,” said Cortes, who is also undersecretary of the Department of Transportation and Communication. “The fare rate has been approved by the NEDA [National Economic and Development Athority] and it’s cheaper compared to public-utility busses averaging of P70.”

North Rail will construct free-parking areas for commuters who may want to leave their cars and ride the train, he said.


i hope that this does push thru.. unlike what happened to the MRT...


Construction of the first phase of the North Rail project will start in September.

sweeeet!

cool.. hmmmm... is there any information which station will be sponsored by SM?.... hmmm... would it be Malolos or Bocaue?... :D

Work on $530-M North Rail slated to start in September

PNA
Manila Bulletin
Sunday, June 19, 2005

The government is set to start the construction of the North Rail by September.





Transportation and Communications Secretary Leandro Mendoza said the $530-million North Rail project that is expected to provide an affordable mass transport system to Metro Manila involves a total of 32 kilometers from Caloocan City to Malolos, Bulacan.



"This is a major undertaking of the Arroyo administration which seeks to provide an answer to the overwhelming demand for an affordable public transport system," Mendoza said.



He said the 32-kilometer Caloocan-Malolos segment under Phase 1, Section 1 of the project was approved by the National Economic and Development Authority-Investment Coordination Committee (NEDA-ICC) in December 2003.



The ICC based its decision on the economic viability of rail transport to impart social benefits by providing reliable efficient, environmental friendly, and time saving mode of transportation.



"Some R6 billion was earmarked for the relocation of estimated 70,000 squatters along the railroad track who will be relocated in several resettlement areas," Mendoza said.



The project is the second largest Philippines-Republic of China venture described as a "proof of the strengthened bilateral relations between Philippines and China."



The project will be financed through loan from the Chinese government with 20-year repayment period, including five-year grace period at three percent interest.



Of the amount, $421 million will be sourced from the Chinese government. (PNA)

cool.. hmmmm... is there any information which station will be sponsored by SM?.... hmmm... would it be Malolos or Bocaue?... :D

Or it could also be the Caloocan station since there had been plans for an SM Caloocan.

hmmm...the start of this project keep on moving later...

taken from inq7.net.. im not even sure which railway they're talking about.. im only assuming it would be the southrail...

RP, Poland sign accords to upgrade Luzon railway
Posted: 4:12 PM | Jul. 06, 2005

Agence France-Presse

PRIME Minister Marek Belka of Poland and President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo oversaw the signing Wednesday of agreements to expand ties between their countries and for a Polish firm to upgrade a Philippine railway system.

Belka's two-day state trip was the first by a Polish head of government to this country, the Philippine government said.

The leaders witnessed the signing of an agreement between the heads of Poland's BUMAR Group Co. Ltd. and the state-run Philippine National Railways about the upgrading of a railway line on Luzon island.

BUMAR is to prepare a feasibility study and "endeavor to provide project financing" for the planned work, officials said.

The foreign ministries of the two countries also signed an agreement, pledging to hold political consultations every two years to identify ways to improve relations between their countries.

Bilateral trade stood at 14.75 million dollars in 2004, the Philippine government said.

While there is virtually no Polish investment in the Philippines, a Philippine port-handling company, International Container Terminal Services Inc., invested 100 million dollars in the Polish port city of Gdynia in 2003.

There's a similar story in the mindanao thread and I remember reading something about bicol area!

last night while changing channels... I came across this network, not sure if it was Channel 4 or what.. in Cable.... and it was a public hearing for the Northrail project... well it discussed the budget of the project and some details of it....

I wasn't able to capture most of the details except for one that I didn't expect... they plan to build 10ft concrete fence on both sides of the rail tracks to keep the rails from getting stolen.... but wouldn't that obstruct the passengers' view?

the Northrail project president also stated that they already have cleared the area from Caloocan to Valenzuela of illegal settlers and construction will commence on September....

The tracks will also be used for passenger trains and cargo... they'll be building double tracks too...

last night while changing channels... I came across this network, not sure if it was Channel 4 or what.. in Cable.... and it was a public hearing for the Northrail project... well it discussed the budget of the project and some details of it....

I wasn't able to capture most of the details except for one that I didn't expect... they plan to build 10ft concrete fence on both sides of the rail tracks to keep the rails from getting stolen.... but wouldn't that obstruct the passengers' view?

the Northrail project president also stated that they already have cleared the area from Caloocan to Valenzuela of illegal settlers and construction will commence on September....

The tracks will also be used for passenger trains and cargo... they'll be building double tracks too...


september? lapit na nun a.. cant wait.. :D 10 ft concrete fence?!? jeez.. thats like traveling in a tunnel.. but i guess they do have to do that..

Why not build see-thru fences instead to preserve the view.

Like wrought iron metal fences that's so infamous in Chicago. With metal fences they can even do something fancy. IF they want walls they should get school children to paint murals on the wall with love, peace, or harmony themes.

Before Benpres repaired the North Expressway, there were some carabaos prowling along the expressway. Some of the fences are just makeshift that the carabaos can easily wreck it. Besides the fences along the rail lines will make sure that "home along da riles" won't come back. I hope rail lines on some crossings are going to be elevated so that accidents (intentional or not) like that in Los Angeles won't happen.

cool... so much info, paul! haha! thanks...

I hope they reconsider using concrete walls along the tracks. unless they're gonna clad it and then decorate them. whenever cement is used in gov't projects it always looks so ugly and uneven. and then they get dirty so easily too... hopefully the trains don't smoke belch too much. haha i agree, they should use strong see through metal fences instead...

see-thru fences are also better in terms of security. see-thru fences would allow the inside to be visible so people would know if there's any accident or whatever incident happening inside.

IMHO, I prefer Landmines over the concrete walls ... to fence the tracks from intruders.

If it's see thru, it's gonna be graffitied. Same goes for concrete. Either way it has to be strong... they could put a basketball ring in the concrete walls though:D

IMHO, I prefer Landmines over the concrete walls ... to fence the tracks from intruders.

landmines could destroy the tracks itself as well... I'd rather have a see through fence with 10,000 watts voltage to it.... pag may umakyat pa sa bakod, ewan ko na lang.. hehehee....

IMHO, I prefer Landmines over the concrete walls ... to fence the tracks from intruders.

Wow! How could u possibly use landmines? While the world is trying to get rid of the landmine horror in war torn countries, here we are adding to the problem. But then again nobody in their right mind would do that.

If we instal wrought iron fences....hmmm...if I were the track burgles, id go for the wrought iron fences. Thats the easier target. Dilema isnt it. So concrete still wins. No choice.

Have they considered elevated tracks. That would be better and eliminate the costs of fences in general. What's the suicide rate of people jumping into oncoming trains here in the Philippines. We get a lot of that in Chicago and it sucks not just for the person that jumped on the tracks but for the one driving the train, because it's been found that right before the person jumps onto the oncoming train, he or she looks into the eyes of the conductor. CREEPY.

i think elevated tracks would be more expensive than constructing them at grade level then putting up those fences.

yeah.. metal or concrete fences would still be less cheaper (more than thrice the difference) than building overhead rails.... and it would take less time to build them... :D

well.. put up a ground system in the metal fences and the thieves would have a hard time dismantling the fence before stealing them.. hehehe...

baka naman maki-jumper sila dun kuryente.... o diba, di na klangan magbayad sa meralco. lolz!!! :cheers:

For the case of Landmines, just use the one similar to Bombie used in Indochina ... since it is NOT explosive enough to knock down M48 and M60 tanks ... just
personnel stoppers ... that's all ...

Generally, the improvised landmines can be made from Hand grenades ...

taken from philstar.com... i wonder what full blast construction from the chinese government would look like.. hahaha.. 24 hour shifts? non-stop work? the chinese have a pretty good record at creating quality infrastructure..

DBM: China loan for North Rail project aboveboard

The Philippine Star 07/24/2005

Budget Secretary Romulo Neri yesterday said the $400-million loan granted by China to the Philippines is "aboveboard" and almost a "giveaway" to the government because of the long repayment period and the three-percent fixed interest rate.

Speaking in Filipino, Neri said during an interview with Vice President Noli De Castro on De Castro’s weekly radio program Para Sa’yo… Bayan that China offered very good terms for payment by giving the government 20 years to pay off the loan that will fund the construction of the North Rail project at a three-percent fixed interest rate and five-year grace period.

"This is very, very cheap if you consider that, when we borrow from the international market, we pay between nine and 10 percent (interest) on the loans," Neri said. "This loan and the terms offered by the Chinese (government) is practically a giveaway."

He added that the North Rail project, which has very little government subsidy, is expected to provide good cash flows and revenue once it is completed.

Philippine National Railways (PNR) general manager Jose Marie Zarazola and North Rail President Jose Cortez said the government agencies involved in the clearing of areas and relocation of informal settlers living along the railway will be completed next month, after the Chinese contractors informed them that they would start their "full-blast" construction of the project by September.

"But what they are waiting for now is what we committed to them that, by September, we will finish the relocation (of displaced informal settlers) to Malolos, Bulacan so the construction work can go full-blast," Cortez said.

Meanwhile, De Castro lashed out at the critics of the Arroyo administration who are allegedly behind a disinformation campaign to stop the North Rail project.

De Castro said he and the representatives of the government’s shelter agencies involved in the relocation of the "riles (railway)" settlers often visit the relocated beneficiaries due to reports they have been receiving regarding the railway project.

"We have to visit them every week because there are people who are speaking lies and spreading disinformation about the government," he said. "They are not opposed to the project, but they do want to see the government fail. They do not want the North Rail project to succeed."

He said that 12,878 families whose houses were demolished to give way to the railway construction have been relocated in the last four months.

De Castro ordered a change in the policy regarding purchases of housing materials by North Rail relocation beneficiaries, who may now buy from suppliers not accredited by the National Housing Authority (NHA).

The change in policy came after De Castro received complaints from beneficiary-families for the relocation sites in Bulacan during his surprise visit at the resettlement sites in the towns of Meycauayan and Balagtas.

The resettlement beneficiaries affected by the North Rail construction project complained that NHA-accredited suppliers have been overpricing their wares.

"I have heard numerous complaints regarding this, so it would be better to change the procedure to ensure transparent and speedy relocation of the families," De Castro said.

He said the relocation beneficiaries now have the option of buying construction materials for their new homes at the designated relocation sites from NHA-accredited suppliers or supplier of their own choice.

The government is still clearing the railroad right of way preparatory to the construction of the North Rail project.

Each beneficiary family is given a housing materials loan of P40,000 as part of the resettlement package.

The loan will be given directly to beneficiaries who can then exercise the option of approaching other building materials suppliers. The loan is payable within thirty years at zero-percent interest.

"The government wants to grant shelter security to the informal settlers of the North Rail area, while we modernize railway system in Luzon," De Castro said. "We will act immediately on complaints like this one in order to facilitate the process."

The loans will be released in four installments of P10,000 to ensure that they are used only for housing materials. The beneficiaries must present receipts for the housing materials they have purchased to receive the next loan amount. — Pia Lee Brago

That's great news, even more evidence that this project is going to move forward,
but not to rain on people's parade, I got this editorial from Philstar.

It shows how much the opposition is willing to fuck things up just for their own interests.

Forget the dream of Luzon railways
GOTCHA By Jarius Bondoc
The Philippine Star 07/27/2005

The Senate President’s Office has been misinformed. Experts sensed so upon reading the rejoinder of its chief aide Antonio Gallardo (Feedback, 25 July 2005) to my piece on politics getting in the way of progress, such as the North Luzon Railway.

Stripped of its non-essentials, Gallardo’s reply challenges the 32.2-km project from Caloocan to Malolos on the grounds that:

(1) foreign loans are subject to bidding, or at least a Swiss challenge, under the new procurement law;

(2) any dispute over Northrail shall be decided by Chinese courts;

(3) loan funds should have been "placed under the control of our government";

(4) there is no need for trains since the "route is already adequately served by a network of modern highways" used by a large number of buses and other public utility transport; and

(5) Northrail will use "outmoded locomotives like our PNR trains".

Gallardo’s first complaint holds no water. The Procurement Reform Act (R.A. 9184) covers all national agencies. It has implementing rules for local procurement, but none for foreign loans. A quick check with NEDA would show that no such rules are forthcoming. Thus, the rules of foreign lenders apply. In Northrail’s case, the Chinese government picked its top engineering firm to build the railway.

Nowhere in the contract are Chinese courts given exclusive control over disputes, to the exclusion of Philippine courts. Northrail president Jose Cortes Jr. points to the pertinent provision: "Sec. 15.3 – The Borrower hereby irrevocably agrees that any suit, legal action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement may be brought in the courts of the People’s Republic of China, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the aforesaid courts."

At the alleged need to deposit the loan outright in Philippine banks, a finance official laughs, "Do we get the cash when given a credit line by a card company?" To which Cortes adds, "This is not the first time the Philippines entered into such credit facility; it is accepted practice."

Gallardo’s line that trains are unnecessary deserves no rebuttal. Same with his beef that China would provide only outmoded units. That Asian governments are investing in railways debunks him. Too, China happens to be tops in rail construction. It may not supply RP with the expensive ultra-modern magnetic-track railcars it is using in bullet routes, but Northrail promises cheap, comfortable, reliable, safe and fast transport of commuters and cargo. How can a mile-a-minute train be like PNR’s dilapidated units?

Cortes fires a last shot – at Gallardo’s claim that the Spanish Railway Group offered to shoulder the relocation of squatters from PNR’s right-of-way. "That’s fiction," he sighs. "Records show they were not even aware of the number of informal settlers, or ever considered them in their studies."

All this talk about Northrail may now be pointless, however. The Opposition, which now counts though still balks at welcoming the Senate President, has included it in the impeachment complaint against President Gloria Arroyo. The plan to build a railway, first from Caloocan to Malolos, then on to Clark Field and La Union in North Luzon and Fort Bonifacio in Metro Manila, will now be mired in a partly legal, mostly political exercise.

The Opposition could have done well to focus its oust-Arroyo moves on her election rigging or hidden wealth. Too eager to throw in everything to show massive crime, it inserted among Arroyo’s alleged corrupt acts the signing of the Northrail and Piatco projects. The latter is preposterous. Rep. Ronaldo Zamora, who will head the prosecution panel, will find Piatco exploding in his face. It is clear that the Ramos administration had signed the mother contract for Piatco to build and operate a NAIA Terminal-3. As soon as Joseph Estrada became President in 1998, with Zamora as executive secretary, the Piatco deal was revised four times to insert provisos onerous to the government. It was the Arroyo administration that questioned the insertions and had the Supreme Court void the contract.

The Northrail project is a government-to-government deal – China’s biggest foreign project and the Philippines’ first with the emergent dragon. A product of diplomatic initiatives, its roots can be traced back to RP’s prop for China’s entry to the UN Security Council, its adherence to a one-China policy, and the warming of strains over the Spratlys. China’s soft loan irked other governments that wished to lend only double (thus truly overpriced) the $400 million needed for Northrail, the same way China’s $3.2-million military aid to RP rankled the US. Still, it was the best RP had ever come by. A Senate inquiry spurred by the Opposition a year ago turned up nothing wrong with the deal, although it had the Chinese wondering about RP’s politics. Prolonged negative publicity arising from an impeachment trial could make China think twice and rescind the loan. That means kissing goodbye to better housing for relocated squatters, construction jobs for 3,000 Filipinos at a time, and new enterprises springing around Northrail stations.

The effects would be far-reaching. Northrail was but the first of five main railways to be financed through foreign loans. It would have been the model for future deals for a Manila-Calamba rail line with Korea, a Calamba-Albay-Sorsogon line with Poland and again China, and the Iloilo-Roxas Panay line and Cagayan de Oro-Iligan Mindanao line with Austria, Germany and the Arab-owned OPEC Special Fund. Kiss all those goodbye, as well. For, in the Philippines, politics always gets in the way of progress.

i really really hope that the article that you posted isnt true.. ano ba sila mga gago? they must want us to wallow in the same infrastructure and never develop our country.. wala ng ginawang tama ang gobyerno sa kanila.. pweh..

North Rail to spur tourism growth

The US$-420 million Northern Luzon Railways Corp. (North Rail) which will start construction by September will spur economic and tourism growth by providing an affordable mass transport system in the country.

Jose Cortes, president of North Rail disclosed, "the railway will provide an efficient transit transport system between Metro Manila and Central Luzon."

Cortes said the rail project is the second largest Philippines-Republic of China venture described as a "proof of the strengthened bilateral relations between the Philippines and China."

"The 32.2 kilometers mass transport system is a government-to-government project and the dealings are all above board. This is not a rehabilitation but a totally new railway system," Cortes pointed out.

He said that the Chinese government has provided a concessional interest rate of only three percent instead of the four-and-a-half percent interest earlier offered, including five-year grace period.

"Likewise, the repayment period was stretched to 20 years from the 10-year period earlier offered," he pointed out.

Phase I, section I of the project was approved by the National Economic and Development Authority-Investment Coordination Committee (NEDA-ICC) in December 2003.

The ICC based its decision on the economic viability of rail transport to impart social benefits by providing reliable, efficient, environmental- friendly and time-saving mode of transportation.

At the same time, Cortes said the agency is eyeing a US$50-million loan from the Export-Import Bank of China to pay for import taxes and railway consultancies of the system.

"The amount will be used to import construction materials for the railway’s two-kilometer viaduct, six train stations, eight connecting bridges, and maintenance depot," Cortes said.

It will also cover the importation costs of signaling, communications and e-ticketing equipment from China.

Cortes stressed that the US$50 million would be on top of the US$420 million already secured from the Chinese government for Phase 1.

The additional loan would also be tapped to reinforce the 15 Chinese engineers currently deployed in the country to supervise civil works for the railway.

In preparation for the project, the Philippine National Railways (PNR) stretch from Caloocan to Malolos, Bulacan has been cleared of illegal tenants.

Some R6 billion was earmarked for the relocation of estimated 70,000 squatters along the railroad tracks which will be relocated in several resettlement areas.

The railway project is expected to provide an effective transport service for passengers and goods between Metro Manila and Central Luzon, connecting former military bases such as Fort Bonifacio, Clark Air Base, Subic and Poro Point. These areas are currently undergoing conversion.

Phase I would run on a double-track railway and would initially service six stations along Caloocan, Valenzuela, Marilao, Bocaue, Guiguinto and Malolos and a depot in Valenzuela City.

Travel time between terminals will take 32 minutes with an expected load of at last 41,186 passengers a day.

I dont want to rain in anyones parade, but here we again.... :bash:

Chinese envoy says Northrail is above board

First posted 05:16am (Mla time) Aug 03, 2005
Inquirer News Service



Get INQ7 breaking news on your Smart mobile phone in the Philippines. Send INQ7 BREAKING to 386.


Editor's Note: Published on page A4 of the August 3, 2005 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer

THE CHINESE Embassy has defended the $530-million Northrail project as above board and “just and legal,” according to the North Luzon Railways Corporation

A press statement released by Northrail quoted Chinese Ambassador Wu Hongbo as warning critics against dragging the project into their political campaign against the Arroyo government.

“What I am wary of is that the endless debates on this above-board contract may send a negative message to other Chinese investors and other foreign investors as a whole,” Wu told a recent diplomatic reception in Manila.

“We are being dragged unnecessarily. I don’t want to get into your endless political debates…This commercial contract is above board. We have nothing to hide,” the Chinese envoy said. He expressed surprise why the political opposition is “making a fuss” out of the $530-million loan from China for the building of the first modern railway system in the country.

“That would certainly not serve the best interest of
the Filipino people and that would do harm than do anything good,” Wu said.

He said the loan agreement had been scrutinized in detail by the Philippine departments of Foreign affairs and Finance before it was signed by the Philippine and Chinese governments last year.

Loan agreement

The loan agreement between China and the Philippines will build Phase I of the Northrail Project covering the 32.138-km Caloocan-Valenzuela segment with the construction of six stations in Caloocan, Valenzuela, Marilao, Bocaue, Guiguinto and Malolos in Bulacan.

According to estimates, the project would cost at least P882-million per kilometer of a double-track system – not a single track as the opposition earlier alleged.

In breaking with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and calling for her resignation, Senate President Franklin Drilon had claimed that the project was overpriced. Northrail, in response, said Drilon was misinformed since the project was double-tracked.

The Chinese Embassy attaché Peng Xiubin said the loan provided by China to the Philippines has the lowest interest rate payable over 20 years and not the normal 10 years. China’s standard rate for loans is 7 percent for a period of 10 years. “The preferential loan for the Philippines has been set for 3 percent for a maximum period of 20 years,” Xiubin said.

“What we provided to the Philippines is a preferential loan for an important ally,” he added. Ambassador Wu and Xiubin made the clarifications in the wake of wild accusations that the Northrail contract is anomalous and its provisions onerous.

Stressing that the Chinese government will honor its obligations under the contract, having “invested nearly $1 billion for that project.”

However, he said, such help can only be effective if matched with local enthusiasm and support.

I actually saw on TV that this project was smooth sailing with ka Noli saying they were on track with squatter demolition.

Don't get too excited over the press releases , big chunk of it is really psywar.

about the northrail project :
quote the chinease embassy : “That would certainly not serve the best interest of
the Filipino people and that would do harm than do anything good,” Wu replied to political problems the opposition is stirring up and their yak-yak about another big infrastructure plan for the philippines. ONE TERMINAL 3 IS ENOUGH ! when will politicians learn to keep their personal interests behind the well-being of their people ?
for christs sake boycott such disturbing interference.
go go go philippines!
philpal

After NAIA 3 has been resolved and all the parties are satisfied, then Richard and I can finally sing Rosamunde and Ein Prosit to our hearts' delight.

HA HA HA HA HA !
i love your humor noli !

bayang magiliue,
peres ng si ng alan...
alag ng puso,
sa dib dib moy buhay !

since i haven´t sung this in 25 years please don´t kill me for wrong spellinng amigos.
philpal

Arroyo grants more subsidy to NorthRail squatters

First posted 06:12am (Mla time) Aug 05, 2005
By Cynthia D. Balana
Inquirer News Service





EMBATTLED President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s public relations offensive has reached squatters affected by the 26.1-billion pesos NorthRail project as she recently approved a 25,000-pesos additional subsidy to each relocated family as part of their housing materials loan as recommended by Vice President Noli de Castro.
Before leaving for Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to attend the burial of King Fahd, De Castro said he was able to secure the President’s approval during the Cabinet meeting early this week.

The 32.2-kilometer railway transit project, which will link Metro Manila, Central Luzon and Northern Luzon, is the biggest project between the Philippines and China.

De Castro, chair of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC), said the additional amount would be deducted from the total amount to be paid by each family, specifically from the housing materials loan.

This means that a family will still receive 50,000 pesos for the purchase of housing materials,

I hope this project will start soon. No more delays please.





bayang magiliue,
peres ng si ng alan...
alag ng puso,
sa dib dib moy buhay !


philpal


bayang magiliw,
perlas ng silangan
alab ng puso
sa dibdib mo'y buhay!



Now, do it once again, before I'll !@#$%^^^&* you

hehehehe.



Any plans of going back to the Philippines?

I hope this project will start soon. No more delays please.






bayang magiliw,
perlas ng silangan
alab ng puso
sa dibdib mo'y buhay!



Now, do it once again, before I'll !@#$%^^^&* you

hehehehe.



Any plans of going back to the Philippines?

so that's what that verse was... :D

:) :) :)



:yes: :yes: :yes: :lol: :lol: :lol:

thanks for the correction amigo32, i just could not find that 45 year-old tagalog lessons-book from La Salle any more......
well, definately i will come back. but right now i´m tied up with a coffee-table picture-book project about the mayan culture in guatemala, and then i have lots of work in the studio in germany. but definately i will be comming back ! will let everyone know ahead of time. (probably by then T 3 will be renovated and finally open to the public, as a museum......;-) sorry for the sarcastic remark fellow forumers.
philpal

thanks for the correction amigo32, i just could not find that 45 year-old tagalog lessons-book from La Salle any more......
well, definately i will come back. but right now i´m tied up with a coffee-table picture-book project about the mayan culture in guatemala, and then i have lots of work in the studio in germany. but definately i will be comming back ! will let everyone know ahead of time. (probably by then T 3 will be renovated and finally open to the public, as a museum......;-) sorry for the sarcastic remark fellow forumers.
philpal

Ha ha ha! Be careful of what you wish; it might come true. :colgate:

If it could be at the very least used for something........

taken from www.abs-cbn.com

VP Noli bats for Northrail project

Vice-President Noli de Castro on Wednesday urged business leaders to support Malacañan's housing projects including the North Luzon Railways Corporation (Northrail) relocation project.

Speaking before business leaders at the Manila Polo Club, De Castro said the project has already relocated squatters near railways in Caloocan, Malabon and Valenzuela. He added that the project will next target squatters in Pampanga.

He said the Northrail project will help decongest Metro Manila and will open further development for the Manila, Clark and Subic triangle.

"In effect, the Northrail system will be an integral component in developing the Manila, Clark and Subic triangle. It will provide an efficient transport system from Manila to Bulacan initially and eventually to provinces in the north and it will also pave the way in decongesting Metro Manila as new communities wil emerge in the peripheral influence of the railway," de Castro said.

The Vice-President said the government has already invested P1.4 billion to the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council for its relocation project. He added, however, that the private sector could help the new communities by providing livelihood centers and skills training facilities.

He thanked the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry for providing classrooms, call training centers and social services like medical and dental missions.

Other organizations who have supported the project include the Homeless People Federation, Gawad Kalinga and the United Nations Habitat Program.

NorthRail president Jose Cortes Jr. earlier said construction of the 84.4-kilometer rail line between Caloocan City and Malolos City, Bulacan, will begin in October.

The Caloocan to Malolos rail line is the first of two sections under Phase 1, which, if completed, will be from Caloocan to the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) at the Clark Special Economic Zone (CSEZ).

Phase 1, Section 1 of the project is expected to cost US$503.04 million, US$400 million of which will be lent by the Chinese Government through its Export-Import Bank.

Senate President Franklin Drilon earlier scored the Northrail project, saying that it was grossly overpriced.

Chinese Ambassador Wu Hongbo defended the project as above board and legal.

"We are being dragged unnecessarily. I don’t want to get into your endless political debates…This commercial contract is above board. We have nothing to hide," the Chinese envoy said in a statement released by Cortes.

He added that the loan agreement had been scrutinized in detail by the Philippine foreign affairs and finance departments before it was signed by Philippine and Chinese government officials last year.

Cross your fingers everyone, cross your fingers.

All systems go for Northrail
IT'S all systems go for the $420-million North Luzon Railways project of the government which will give commuters from Central Luzon easy and fast access to Metro Manila.

Northrail project head Jose Cortes Jr. said the Philippine National Railways will start its construction in October, with at least 35 Chinese engineers joining hands with their Filipino counterparts.

Cortes expressed optimism that the project will help boost the country's tourism.

Under the plan, phase 1 of the project will be a double-track railway with six stations from the cities of Caloocan and Valenzuela to Marilao, Bocaue, Guiguinto and Malolos in Bulacan.

The PNR had already coordinated with the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council for the relocation of the residents living along the railways.

At least 70,000 residents in Caloocan, Malabon and Valenzuela will be affected by the $420 million project.

Joel dela Torre

Thursday, August 25, 2005
5:52:18 PM

:applause: Yay! Thats something we like hearing:okay:

wooot!!! woooot!!! go go go!!! :)

finally....hope october will really start the construction

:cheers: :cheers: :cheers:
:) :) :)

Everything is going fine with the Philippines naman e..the problem is in the stupid politicking of some or most people. (just like what happened to NAIA 3 which is under a BOT scheme and then what happened?! stupid )

anyway..GO PHILIPPINES indeed! ^_^

We had a class assignment which required us to ride on the PNR line-1 (is that correct?) and what we've noticed, even if it is very old and the train itself is not in a great condition, the main objective which is transportation is very much intact and reliable! (the convinience aspect can be improved)

So this North Rail project will prove to be very beneficial as more and more people from the northern philippines particualrly bulacan is being intertwined with NCR. With this transportation, north luzon will become much much more accessible which will ultimately result to the overall development!

NICE NICE NICE! ^_^

(stupid politics..a hindrance to progress--BAH! --what's worse..we PAY them for THAT! nice.)

am seeing problems at Caloocan station where I passby everyday. Samson road is a 4-lane road with 2 lanes occupied both by jeepneys waiting for passengers therby limiting access to the said station. Hope they widen C-4 road all the way to south to monumento.

taken from philstar.com...

Pangasinan urges government to push through Northrail project
By Eva Visperas
The Philippine Star 09/20/2005

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan — The provincial board of Pangasinan is strongly urging the national government to resolve the issues raised against the implementation of the proposed $503-million North Luzon Railways (Northrail) project.

The national government has previously unveiled plans to construct and operate an improved railway system that will service provinces north of Metro Manila and eventually the province of Pangasinan.

Board member John Agerico Rosario said that there are several foreign and local funding institutions with sufficient resources and technical competence that have expressed willingness to enter into a joint venture with the national government to undertake the project.

The project, he added, has long been awaited by commuters and travelers to and from northern Luzon who are looking for an alternative transportation system that is faster, safer, more efficient, and more environment friendly.

The Northrail project, to be jointly financed by a $395.22 million loan from the China Import-Export Bank and $107.8 million from the Bases Conversion Development Authority, however, hit a snag due to questions about the cost and problems on the relocation of affected residents.

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan feels that it is most unfortunate that despite the completion of workable plans and designs, the availability of financing for its implementation, and its patent acceptability to all concerned sectors, the project is being derailed by allegations of improprieties in how costs for its various components are valued and how the national government’s venture partner will be chosen.

I don't think there is any hold on the northrail project right now. I don't think the allegations had any substance to it at all and that the North rail is proceeding, but at a slower pace due to the difficulties in resettling informal settlers around the proposed line.

this northrail is just like the NAIA 3.....going nowhere, how pathethic =(

Why? what happened? i thought they said they will start it on October? is it delayed again?

As usual it's bogged down by politics again. Drillon accusing of anomalies. What's new ho hum.

i really hate the politics in this country...if only the politicians are just half as corrupt as they are now...everyone will be damn happy!

If they did half the job they're supposed too plus the OFW contribution, this country would have taken off a long time ago. At the end of RAmos term we had 0 deficit, were the least affected by the asian crisis and were supposed to be the forefront in bouncing back. Then ERap happened ,derailed all that, nonstop politiks eversince.

I think the project is ongoing. The accusation by Drilon is old news and has been addressed properly. If he is still shouting about it, then he should be shot and thrown into pasig river. The senate review or whatever on this project is typical of any project. It's a part of the process. But, the process has offended China. Drilon has probably backed down on his childish, irresponsible allegation because China barked back at him, saying that moves such as that would harm China-Philippine relationsh. China being a communist country isn't used to our self-destructive form of politiking. They were quick to express anger when North Rail was about to be dragged into politics.

Right now the only delay is transferring informal settlers from the line of the proposed tracks. Even further delay was incurred when Noli De Castro was informed that more informal settlers needed to be resettled because they were obstructing the passage of large construction machines. Noli De Castro however, has been in contact with Philippine Star chairman Max Soliven and has assured him that he is hard at work at resettling the informal settlers.

The october launch of the project may be delayed, but not for long. Also, the delay is due to resettlement issues, not too much regarding politics.

yes let the ball roll

taken from inq7.net.. drilon should just shut up.. hinde nya kc nkikita ang use ng northrail sa kanya kc me kotse cya..

China unhappy over NorthRail delay, says Arroyo

First posted 06:49am (Mla time) Sept 21, 2005
Inquirer News Service

THE CHINESE government is unhappy over the delay of the $503-million North Railway (NorthRail) rehabilitation project, according to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

The President said that Chinese President Hu Jintao had complained to her about the project during their meeting at the sidelines of the World Summit in New York last week.

“Basically he (Hu) was complaining about the delay... He was very really concerned about the delays,” the President said in a television interview Monday night.

The Philippines and China entered into a $421-million loan agreement for the rehabilitation of the railway system during the President’s state visit to China in 2004.

A contract was signed between the North Luzon Railways Corp. and the China National Machinery and Equipment Group for the rehabilitation of the 32-km railway line from Caloocan City to Malolos, Bulacan.

The railway, which will link Metro Manila, Central Luzon and Northern Luzon, was to have been the biggest joint undertaking of the Philippines and China.

The $503-million project has become a subject of a Senate inquiry after Senate President Franklin Drilon claimed that it was among the “colossal corrupt deals” entered into by the Arroyo government. He said it was a major reason for his withdrawal of support for the President in July.

In the TV interview, Ms Arroyo said she had informed Hu of the relocation of thousands of families living along the railroad tracks, which is being undertaken by local authorities.

“With or without the NorthRail, the relocation of the squatter families is really a major achievement in urban renewal and so we’ve been paying a lot of attention to that,” she said.

Ms Arroyo quoted Vice President Noli de Castro, who is on top of government’s housing program and is handling the relocation, as saying that the construction of the railway may begin by October.

“Actually their (Chinese) engineers are already there, doing the preliminary work,” the President said.

Ms Arroyo said she and Hu discussed Chinese investments in the country, including possible Chinese participation in the mining industry.

“They have lots of mining investments coming up,” she said, apart from a $1-billion nickel mining project in Surigao.

Christine Avendaño

Drilon is two faced desperate attention seeking idiot. We should burn him at the stake.

^^ good thing Surigao has a good mayor and that $1-billion investment is not going down the drains...

Drilon is only complaining coz he didn't get a lot out of that project...anyone in philippine politics who hasn't got a good share would surely complain...

who wouldn't be unhappy with this delay.. luddy bell. we should stage a coup and install SSC members. loool

Nene: China ‘hoodwinked’ govt in North Rail project

The Chinese government has shortchanged the Philippine government by providing "outmoded and slower trains" for the $503-million North Rail project, Senate minority leader Aquilino Pimentel revealed Sunday.

The opposition lawmaker said the Arroyo administration committed a "monumental blunder" when it awarded without public bidding the rehabilitation of the 32-kilometer rail line from Caloocan City to Malolos, Bulacan, to the China National Machinery and Equipment Corp.

The administration, Pimentel said, has been hoodwinked by Beijing into awarding the contract to the Chinese firm in which the Philippines will pay a stiff price for diesel-powered trains that can run no faster than 120km an hour on narrow tracks.

He said the North Rail project of the Arroyo administration was obviously badly planned considering that as early as the 1990s, the government’s plan was to use electricity-powered trains that can run 200km an hour or more on standard gauge tracks.

Pimentel said that because of this serious flaw, transportation experts have cast doubt on the commercial viability of the railway project, as the targeted level of daily ridership may not be attained.

He said the North Rail may be unattractive to commuters who are looking for faster, alternative means of land transportation.

Pimentel said the minority bloc supports the Senate inquiry into the North Rail project in face of allegations that it is overpriced and the terms and conditions of the project contract are grossly disadvantageous to the Philippine government.

The Senate has decided to convene itself into a committee of the whole to look into the North Rail contract that the government signed with China. The inquiry will begin Thursday.

Pimentel said a preliminary study by the University of the Philippines College of Law, with the participation of 11 eminent personalities in the field of economics, finance and law, concluded that the North Rail contract suffers from serious infirmities and that the government officials who had a hand in the deal could be held liable.

The government will be required to spend about P900 million for every kilometer of the rail project. The project will be financed by loans from the China Export-Import Bank.

The alleged anomalies in the project were among the grounds cited by opposition lawmakers in the impeachment case against President Arroyo which was dismissed by the administration-dominated House of Representatives.

Well that might slow things down.

aaww all this pimentel knows how to do is sourgrape.

Sooner or later, the North Rail Project will come into fruition. Clark Air Base is almost ready for take off now. It's just a matter of connecting Clark, Subic and Metromanila. In the meantime, let's not rush a project that may really have some defect. Pimentel may have a point since "a preliminary study by the University of the Philippines College of Law, with the participation of 11 eminent personalities in the field of economics, finance and law, concluded that the North Rail contract suffers from serious infirmities." It is a very huge project and if the project would turn out to be defective then it's very hard to backtrack. Realignment of the track is a mundane task. We better do it the right way.

And I thought all government contracts should be awarded through public bidding.

[b]

The administration, Pimentel said, has been hoodwinked by Beijing into awarding the contract to the Chinese firm in which the Philippines will pay a stiff price for diesel-powered trains that can run no faster than 120km an hour on narrow tracks.

He said the North Rail project of the Arroyo administration was obviously badly planned considering that as early as the 1990s, the government’s plan was to use electricity-powered trains that can run 200km an hour or more on standard gauge tracks.



My only question is why the hell are they still going to use narrow tracks? I don't get it.

I don't think that it was a badly planned. Before the govt. awarded this project to chinese they already made a feasibility studies on this project. This project is a heavy rail and not just a typical high speed train like the TGV which transport only passengers and not cargo. There are still many countries (USA, EU, and countries in Asia) who are using a diesel locomotives. Pimental forget the fact that this tracks are also being use for FREIGHT OPERATIONS (a train with large cargo).

How can this cargo be transported by an electric train
http://www.jim-frizzell.com/prr/tunnel_hill/05-31-01ritz6639west_bound/05-31-01view_east_from_tunnelhill.jpg

Chicago Freight Train
http://www.arches.uga.edu/~meghann/images/chicago-freight-train.jpg

^^ CORRECT, LIKE THE AMTRAK ARE DIESL, THE GUY JUST WANNA GET PUBLICITY

^^ CORRECT, LIKE THE AMTRAK ARE DIESL, THE GUY JUST WANNA GET PUBLICITY
He's just a no. 1 sourgraper with anythng positive the adiministration might accomplish . I f that's the case why didn't he do his investigation a long time ago and not when project is about to commence then he opens his fat lip.

What's the reason for having narrow and/or wider tracks?

I agree with ncbmandy. The train is not only for passengers but more for cargo delivery as well. We desperately need a cargo train for faster delivery of goods coming from the North particulary the highly perishable vegetables... A train carryng heavy cargo that will travel long distances would run slower and safer but would still beat the delivery truck at anytime. Also it's only what the government can afford and at least we have the project initiated.

Yeah Pimentel is just sourgraping to all the positive development the government is doing. He couldn't even sponsor a good bill and tend to ride on others. Or maybe he just want this project to come to a halt because he has ties up with the existing trucking or buses groups that operate to deliver goods. Marcos killed the National Railway Industry in LUzon, and IloIlo to give favors to all his cronies who started the trucking and buses businesses which is a stupid move.

Only trams like the one is San Francisco with all the wires hanging on air are run buy electricity. The trams are so small that it only transport people. Maybe Pimentel is thinking of electric trams North rail :lol:

I don't think that it was a badly planned. Before the govt. awarded this project to chinese they already made a feasibility studies on this project. This project is a heavy rail and not just a typical high speed train like the TGV which transport only passengers and not cargo. There are still many countries (USA, EU, and countries in Asia) who are using a diesel locomotives. Pimental forget the fact that this tracks are also being use for FREIGHT OPERATIONS (a train with large cargo).

How can this cargo be transported by an electric train
http://www.jim-frizzell.com/prr/tunnel_hill/05-31-01ritz6639west_bound/05-31-01view_east_from_tunnelhill.jpg

Chicago Freight Train
http://www.arches.uga.edu/~meghann/images/chicago-freight-train.jpg

I don't know if the chinese are going to offer freight. I don't think they changed the gauge but the system they're putting up is for people, they don't have freight depots on both ends plus it's to short to make sense from a logistics point of view, remains to be seen if they'll try upgrade the system to accomodate this. The chinese trains aren't really that advanced, and diesel electric trains in general are used for cross country not metro services which are mostly nowadays served by electric.

With all that being said, I'm sure most people here are correct that drilon and company are just primarily making noise for politics sake and not because they truly do not like the project.

I am Ilocano so i'm royally pissed. We have such lousy politicians OMG. When will it end? WHEN!?!

Just build that damn railroad, then argue later: The people really need it!
BY THE WAY By Max V. Soliven
The Philippine Star 09/27/2005

There they go again. The politicians are up to their usual, Godawful shenanigans – while the people are forced to wait and suffer. The senators tomorrow will pounce – the entire bunch of them – on the North Rail project funded by the People’s Republic of China.

As usual, the opposition senators are fuming about alleged corruption in the deal, alleged "overpricing" and the award of the contract to a Chinese group without public bidding, et cetera. It was Senate President Frank Drilon, indeed, when he, with high and very public dudgeon, accused President GMA of having cheated in the election and demanded her resignation, who "blew the whistle" on the transaction.

He had been "told" about its defects, he bellowed, by certain Chinese officials at a party in China when he and other solons, like Senator Manny Villar were being feted there. In sum, doesn’t it look like Franklin got the "tip" in the form of gossip at a party in his honor? This is the land, don’t forget, where tsismis and balitang barbero is too often regarded as bible truth.

In any event, the Senate, on television which is their natural constituency (they have no home bailiwicks like the Members of the House of Representatives) will harry that suspicion of Philippine-Chinese "collaboration" in deviltry to the bone, while work on the North Rail gets suspended – and, it’s possible, the Chinese go home in disgust, taking their "loan" away with them.

Some senators are grumbling loudly that the terms and conditions of the Chinese contract were disadvantageous to the Philippines. They complain we could have gotten better offers. Sanamagan. Who’ll lend money to a disputatious nation like us, when the creditor gets discredited by bad publicity and gets dragged into a scandal-mongering Inquisition to boot? Money is the most cowardly commodity in the world: it normally doesn’t say "hello." At the first whiff of trouble, it usually says "goodbye!"

I guess Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Nene" Pimentel Jr. is happy to get the chance to shovel cow dung on La Gloria’s government once more, accompanied by free TV coverage for his next filibuster. I guess this time he’ll go to the Senate chamber well supplied with throat spray and cough drops.

My concern is how the Chinese government is feeling now. This savaging by our politicians of their contract will have repercussions in the months and years to come – in all our dealings with Beijing, including military and political.

I remember when the Senate, for more than a year, roasted the light rail transit (MRT) project, now called the "Metrostar" and serving Metro Manilans so urgently that at peak hours, every coach is so jampacked that hundreds are stranded at the stations, particularly between Makati and the rest of EDSA.

The senators, led by one particular objector in full cry, thundered the project was "overpriced" grossly. The original investor went bankrupt, and all the European creditors fled. Two years later, when the courts (they even blocked it in court) ruled the project could be constructed, building that Metro Rail Transit (Metrostar) cost four times more!

I’m afraid that the meddling solons may, in their hubris and in pursuit of their political agenda, will accomplish the same thing in the North Rail project.

Being a Saluyot from Ilocos Sur, I admit, this writer desperately wants the North Rail to push north – eventually, at least to San Fernando, La Union. Our senators must think about the wrath of the Ilocanos: otherwise, they might scuttle it. * * *
Here’s what a railroad pushing north will do for us.

The NorthRail Project will provide a fast and reliable mass transport services for passengers and goods between Metro Manila and Central and Northern Luzon, particularly between former military bases which have been converted and developed into industrial, economic and tourism estates (Fort Bonifacio, Clark Special Economic Zone, Subic SEZ and Poro Point in La Union).

NorthRail is expected to enhance and accelerate the development and growth potential of these areas in Central and Northern Luzon. It will play a major role in realizing the prospect of the Clark SEZ becoming the premier logistics hub in the southeast Asian region.

This system will be double-tracked as opposed to the existing single-track system of the South Rail. Adopting the double track system will allow for lower headways and more efficient operation. During peak periods, the system can operate at five-minute intervals. It is therefore necessary to grade-separate the railway from land-based vehicles at road crossings. The solution adopted is to elevate the rail at road crossings, which will also raise the rail track above projected flood levels, thus prevent the rail bed and ballasting from getting under flood waters. Elevating the system would also minimize accidents resulting from the combined traffic of the road and rail-based transport systems. * * *
The next question is WHY the CNMEG firm was designated by the Chinese Government as the prime contractor.

In the bilateral trade agreement between the Philippines and the People’s Republic of China (PROC), the latter committed the sum of US$400 million for the Northrail Project. This was embodied in a Memorandum of Understanding between the Department of Finance and the China Export Import Bank, a state-owned financing institution of the PROC. This is a tied loan where the People’s Republic of China required the right to designate the prime contractor for the project.

The Northrail Project was originally expected to run from Fort Bonifacio, Taguig, all way up to La Union Province. The Feasibility Study submitted to NEDA, however, limited the initial scope from Caloocan up to Malolos, Bulacan, due to budgetary constraints. This came to be known as the Northrail Project Section 1, Phase I.

After the Philippine government approvals had been obtained and the project cost for Section 1 had been fixed, the PROC, through its former Ambassador to the Philippines, Mr. Wang Chungui, designated the China National Machinery and Equipment Corporation (Group) or CNMEG, as the "prime contractor for the Project".

CNMEG’s designation was endorsed to the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel (OGCC) which opined that:

"A loan agreement executed pursuant to the above provision is considered an executive agreement. Hence, it may fall within the purview of an executive agreement under Section 4 of R. A. No. 9184. Considering further, that in the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the People’s Republic of China and the Government of the Philippines, the parties mutually agreed to ‘further negotiate the specific terms and conditions of the LOAN,’ and the PROC later designated the CNMEG as the Prime Contractor for the Northrail projects, such designation appears to have been made as a condition for the grant of the loan.

"Under the premises, should it be later agreed or concurred in by Northrail that CNMEG be the Prime Contractor, we are of the opinion that the same will not be violative of R. A. 9184 and its IRR, provided the same is embodied in the loan agreement or any relative contract executed by the PROC and the Philippine government."

The Loan Agreement was signed between the Philippines’ Department of Finance (DOF) and the Chinese Government-owned Export Import Bank of China (China EXIM).

This is the first time that the Chinese Government has given the Philippines a concessional loan for rail projects. The loan covers 95 percent of the Contract Amount between the NLRC and CNMEG, instead of the normal 85 percent. The terms of the US$400 Million loan include a 20-year repayment period, inclusive of a five-year grace period at three-percent interest.

The Chinese Government normally gives only a 14-year repayment period, inclusive of a three-year grace period at an interest rate of more than one percent.

One of the arguments of some senators and other critics who assail the Chinese deal is that we could kuno have gotten a better break from the Japanese.

While the Special Yen Package Loan from the Japanese Government has a lower interest rate of about one percent, the availment of this package is contingent on several sticky conditions:

(1) The requirement that substantial clearing of the PNR right of way from its present occupants (i.e. squatters) must be completed prior to start of negotiations with the Japanese Government;

(2) budget allocation of those funds depend on the region in which recipient country is included, since each region has different amounts allocated;

(3) negotiations normally takes at least 10 months to conclude; and, finally,

(4) any Japanese "deal" would cover only 85 percent of allowable project costs. This would translate to a higher Government counterpart fund that simply cannot be raised by our cash-strapped government.

Just as "justice delayed is justice denied," a railroad delayed means making our people suffer economically and painfully in a period of oil crisis, when diesel and gasoline-fueled vehicles clog our roads and highways. Railroads efficiently transport commuters to and from work and school, and bring food from farm to market without having to run the obstacle course of kotong-kotong checkpoints along the way – bring the cost of food down tremendously, plus more profit to the farmer. Who’s against a railroad?

Build it now. Debate later – if debate our solons and political grandstanders must. That’s the long and short of it. That’s the nitty gritty.

"Cha-Cha"? A nation moves to progress on wheels. The "choo-choo" factor may be more urgent. Get those tracks laid and those locomotives and trains moving – fastest!

hayyy... di pa naman sanay ang mga communists sa mga matitigas ang ulo!!! :D

I don't know if the chinese are going to offer freight. I don't think they changed the gauge but the system they're putting up is for people, they don't have freight depots on both ends plus it's to short to make sense from a logistics point of view, remains to be seen if they'll try upgrade the system to accomodate this. The chinese trains aren't really that advanced, and diesel electric trains in general are used for cross country not metro services which are mostly nowadays served by electric.

With all that being said, I'm sure most people here are correct that drilon and company are just primarily making noise for politics sake and not because they truly do not like the project.

its true that chinese will not provide trains for freight because we already have existing freight trains. I saw it before when it passed along the magallanes interchange thats is why the chinese palns to build a narrow gauge so that it will be compatible to the south luzon railway and to the existing freight trains that we have. The chinese will only provide us the train for passenger use.

The Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has proposed to conduct a government-funded feasibility study on the rehabilitation of the South Rail, an official of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said.

In an interview, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Augusto B. Santos said the feasibility study, worth P100 million, will be funded by the national government.

"The P100 million will be used for the preparation, study and design of the South Rail," Santos said, adding that the study will be presented to the Department of Transportation and Communications.

In a separate interview, Transportation Undersecretary Guilling Mamondiong said the South Rail project involves the rehabilitation of the Philippine National Railway south line that extends from Manila to Legazpi City.

While the project cost is estimated at $800 million, the government can only access $50 million, sourced from South Korea’s EximBank, which is just enough to cover the rehabilitation of the Caloocan to Alabang stretch, Mamondiong said.

The Mainline South railways consist of Calamba, Laguna to Albay, and the extension of Mainline South to Matnog, Sorsogon.

Mamondiong said the government is eyeing Chinese government and other foreign funding sources to fund the South Rail rehabilitation, which is expected to boost the entire Southern Luzon region’s economic development.

Earlier, the Chinese and Philippine governments signed a $400-million loan agreement through the Chinese Export-Import Bank for the development and rehabilitation of the North Rail Project’s Phase I, Section I projects, covering the Caloocan City to Malolos, Bulacan line. Darwin G. Amojelar

From http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=17407

i dont know what to say....i am so frustated with our gov't

^^ o yea, sobra na talaga ang kabuktutan!!! :)

JDV exasperated over North Railway probe
By Paolo Romero
The Philippine Star 09/28/2005

Speaker Jose de Venecia has expressed exasperation over the move by senators to investigate the P26-billion North Rail project, saying the over-scrutiny and nitpicking was making the country look bad in the eyes of the international community.

Speaking before the Manila Overseas Press Club forum at the Manila Intercontinental Hotel in Makati City Monday night, De Venecia said he and President Arroyo worked hard on the project for three years, not counting past administrations’ previous negotiations for a railway system.

He also pointed out that no less than Chinese President Hu Jintao, whose government is funding the bulk of the project, had personally expressed his dismay to Mrs. Arroyo over delays in the construction of the railway system during their one-on-one meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations World Summit in New York earlier this month.

"I don’t know what’s eating the senators. Imagine creating a committee of the whole instead of an ordinary committee of the Senate," De Venecia said, adding there is nothing to investigate because the long-delayed project is aboveboard.

He said he was present during the meeting between the two leaders and the first question Hu raised is why there were delays in the project, including the relocation of squatters from the areas where the railways would run.

"Why, in spite of all the efforts we’re doing for the Philippines, how come there are criticisms? We went out of our way to build this railway in the Philippines," De Venecia said, quoting Hu’s comments to Mrs. Arroyo.

He also scored Senate President Franklin Drilon for not disclosing other details of the project that would indicate the contract was aboveboard.

"Drilon does not mention that the railway system (has) two tracks, going north and south. It’s double-track," De Venecia said.

He said the project has been approved by two Chinese presidents, Hu and his predecessor, Ziang Zemin. It was also approved by two Chinese prime ministers, two heads of parliament, two foreign ministers and two Chinese ambassadors to the Philippines.

The North Rail project is also the first of its kind entered into by the two countries. China had, for the first time, granted concessional loans to fund the construction of the railways at a three-percent interest rate payable over 20 years, De Venecia noted.

The Chinese government "made an exception to the Philippines," he said. "Finally, it’s the cheapest railway system in the Philippines."

De Venecia also noted the average cost of the monorail system in Manila is $20 million to $30 million per kilometer, while the North Rail project costs only $6 million per kilometer.

Last Monday, Malacañang defended the project, saying it is aboveboard and vital to the country’s interests.

Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said the North Rail project was negotiated in good faith and with national interest in mind.

i too am exasperated.. its like nobody wants the infrastructure to progress.. they would be happy to maintain the status quo.. they dont see the immediate benefits cuz they themselves arent going to use the railways.. stupid pricks..

Why were we blessed with these kind of politicians. They'll sacrifice progress for their egos.

"I wish some vigelante would start assassinating this politicians one by one so they would shut up" :wave: :guns1:

Kasi naman, if there was transparency in the transaction in the first place, hindi magkakaganito. Walang butas na mahahanap. Bakit kasi walang public bidding yan? Bakit naka karga sa loan na ang prime contractor ay ang China National Machinery and Equipment Group (CNMEG). Kung sasabihin nila na ito ang best deal na makukuha ng Pinas dahil mababa ang interest rate, madali nila yang masusuporta kung may dumaan sa public at may ibang bidders. Yan kasi ang problema, kahit sabihin nila na maganda ang hinahangad nila, ang proceso na pinapasok nila ay maraming butas at hindi ayon sa batas. Tuloy, maraming nag-ku-kuwestyon at ang napapahiya ay ang buong bansa. Wheeling and dealing kasi ng wheeling and dealing. Instead na maging friendly ang economic policies and practices natin ay hindi dahil may mga proceso tayong dapat sundin.

Pero sabi nga ni Max Soliven sa article niya, dahil nandiyan na 'yan lalo lang lalaki ang gastos ng bansa kung hindi pa matutuloy (hindi ako sigurado kung totoo ito). Habulin na lang nila ang mga opisyales na pumasok sa ganitong arreglo kung may pruweba sila pero tingnan nila ang ikabubuti ng bansa sa panghinaharap.

Yes ate Lili, but when one sees a good deal then one should go for it knowing that it would be impossible to find a better one.

Also, this deal is not just money, it's a symbolic gesture of our strong ties with China. It shows to the world a golden age in China-Philippine relations.

once again, cry me beloved country.

But how do you know? For all you know, there will be others willing to offer better deals. Lending money is a business. Because we are not following our own rules, we become more of a credit risk now. The non-communist Chinese (like Taiwan) will have an issue with that. Although, it is true, our international policy recognizes a "One China" policy, but the reality is our economic ties with the other China is stronger.

^^ maybe the chinese will build a railroad similar to the union-pacific, you know what is that means it will be interconnected from appari hangang jolo. and everyone will chant eat bulaga

^^ nakakatawa

may katapat ka na sa ka-cornihan. :okay:

Officials assure $503-M North Rail project is in order

By JC BELLO RUIZ


Concerned government agencies yesterday maintained that North Rail’s 32.2-kilometer project from Caloocan City to Malolos City is “above board, transparent, and valid” even as they expressed concern that allegations of irregularities such as the ones being thrown at the project may turn away potential investors.




This was stressed in a press conference at Global City, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig, attended by Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC) Secretary Leandro Mendoza, Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Romulo Neri, former Department of Finance Secretary Juanita Amatong, and North Luzon Railways Corp. (NLRC) President Jose Cortes Jr.

Mendoza maintained that the $503-million North Rail project contract between the Philippine government and People’s Republic of China is above board amid claims by lawmakers and legal experts of the University of the Philippines Law Center that it has questionable provisions that are grossly disadvantageous to the country.

Mendoza said that contrary to claims by senators, they already did their own review of the contract and found nothing wrong with it as it is "advantageous and beneficial."

"We had conducted our own review of the project. It is not only beneficial but above board, transparent and valid," Mendoza said.

Amatong said "the project is aboveboard, there is nothing wrong about it, and I stand by it."

Cortes, for his part, said the allegations against the project are "unfair criticisms."

He answered point by point the issues raised by the senators including that of being a double track and not a single line system as it costs P360 million per kilometer.

Cortes said the railway system is new and not second-hand, adding that the project is the cheapest per kilometer of rail.

Compared with MRT 3’s 33.8 kilometers cost of $20.9 million per track kilometer; LRT-4’s 30.2 track kilometers of $31.79 million; and LRT 1’s 24 track kilometers extension which would cost more at $35.08 million per track kilometer, Cortes said "North Rail’s 64.4 track kilometers would only run $6.54 million per kilometer."

"The loan under this agreement is a tied loan, meaning that the Philippines has accepted certain conditions like China’s choice of the prime contractor — China National Machinery and Equipment Corp. (CNMEC)," Cortes said.

The railway project has been delayed for over a year but when completed, Cortes said the Northrail would be the cheapest mass transport system in the country.

The basic fare would be P10 plus P1 for every kilometer — a total of P43 from end to end for a 37-minute ride, according to him.

The amount is much cheaper compared to bus’ fares (P75) and even by using private cars, as they will have to pay the toll fees, he said.

"The project is being financed and built by the Chinese government with no Filipino contractor. Through China Export-Import Bank, the Chinese government extended a concessional credit facility of US$400 million at only 3 percent interest over 20 years," he said.

Cortez said he has recently met with representatives from the project heads who have relayed their continued commitment despite the delay.

Neri, meanwhile, said the Chinese investors were hurt because of the allegations being thrown at the project.

"There was a feeling of hurt when I talked to them. They were hurt because of these events," Neri said.

He added that the project is a show of goodwill of the Chinese investors and this show of goodwill should not be diminished.

Neri said this should not be the case as the Chinese investors have lots of projects in mind for the country.

He said the Philippines is one of the prime targets of the Chinese investors for investments.

"I’m sorry but we should show more goodwill in this issue. If this is the way we treat them, they might think twice. And how will we grow without investments," the visibly irked DBM secretary said.

"There is a huge opportunity there that we should tap," he added as he revealed that the Chinese investors are even willing to give as much as $2 billion for mass housing.

"Objectively speaking, in the finance sector, this is one of the best financing we ever had," he added.

He also encouraged parties who may want to look on the project to go to NEDA to check the papers.

Asked if they are willing to face the Senate inquiry, Mendoza said they were ready to face the Senate and answer the questions to be hurled at them but due to Executive Order No. 464, they had to wait for the response of the President if they are allowed to appear before the hearing.

He said that they had previously written a letter to Senate President Franklin Drilon asking them to postpone the hearing until they get a clear answer from the President if they would be allowed or not but was rejected.

Mendoza even showed a copy of the letter written by Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, dated September 27, saying "requested for the postponement of the hearings scheduled this week to which various officials of the Executive Department have been invited. This request will afford said officials ample time and opportunity to study and prepare for the various issues so that they may better enlighten the Senate Committee in its investigation."

A day later, Drilon rejected the request arguing that "all preparations and arrangements, as well as notices to all resource persons, were completed as of last week."

Mendoza said they also wanted a copy of the University of the Philippines (UP) Law Center report, which was commissioned by the Office of the Senate President as they need to know the basis as to why the contract should be "unlawful and void" for not undergoing public bidding.

"We have to do some little research to be prepared to answer their questions," Mendoza said.

"We have nothing to hide. We are ready to go to the Senate but we have to secure first an explicit presidential permission," Neri added.

The Senate hearing on the Northrail project is being conducted as a result of a privilege speech delivered by Enrile in February, where he claimed that the project was overpriced. He also said that there were unlawful provisions in the contract entered into by the government with Chinese contractors.

Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile has demanded that the Senate subpoena the two contracts signed by the government for the project, as well as the details and identities of the people who negotiated the contract for the Philippine government.

Thank you China, it takes a third world country to understand a another third world country.



Chinese gov’t remains committed to $503-million NorthRail project

By BERNIE CAHILES–MAGKILAT


Although disheartened by the ongoing probe on alleged irregularities on the $503.4-million North Luzon Railways Corp. (NorthRail) project, the Chinese government has remained committed to fund the already delayed 40.2-kilometer mass railway project that will connect Monumento to Calumpit but the treatment accorded to the Chinese has raised concerns on their future investments in the country.




Budget Secretary Romulo Neri, who was the chief of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) when the government to government NorthRail contract was signed, said nothing has changed with the commitment of the China National Machinery & Equipment Corp. and the China Eximbank but Chinese officials have aired concerns that the Senate probe might affect other prospective projects by the Chinese for the Philippines.

Top government officials involved in the NorthRail project yesterday called a joint press conference to answer questions. Aside from Neri, other top government officials present include Transportation and Communication Secretary Leandro Mendoza, Monetary Board member and former Finance Secretary Juanita Amatong, NorthRail president Jose Cortez Jr. and Bases Conversion Development Authority president Narciso Abaya.

The officials said they chose to answer questions before the press after their request to Senate President Franklin Drilon to postpone the hearing pending their review UP Law Center that said the NorthRail project anomalous, a copy of which they have not yet been provided.

Their non-attendance at yesterday’s hearing was also a matter of principle and policy following the issuance of Executive 464 which prohibits government officials from attending Congressional hearing without the President’s permission.

Neri said he had a talk with Chinese Ambassador Wu Hongbo, who said they are bullish with the Philippines. The Chinese are looking at a container seaport project in Infanta and a shipyard in Dingalan. The Philippines has also proposed to the Chinese tollways, reclamation and airport projects.

But the recent developments have made the Chinese to raise concern over its future projects because they have already provided a concessional loan and are getting questions for reasons they don’t understand.

"The ambassador also felt that bad," Neri said.

Part of its initial investments in the country is the $1 billion capital infusion for the Nonoc nickel plant in Surigao.

"This is a short window for the Philippines. The western and U.S. kept on condemning us, the Japanese are finicky but the Chinese are tolerant. They don’t lecture to us like the U.S. does and still keep their faith in us by continued investing here," Neri said.

"We don’t smell nice to foreign investors. So let’s count on this goodwill from the Chinese," he said.

NorthRail president Jose Cortez Jr. said that Chinese Eximbank has waived a penalty on the loans despite the already one year delay in the implementation. Cortez, however, said they are jumpstarting the project in November this year.

Denying there is any irregularity in the project, Neri said the Chinese loan is the best concession the government ever had.

"I feel the contract is above board, there is nothing wrong with it and I stand by it," former Finance chief Juanita Amatong, now MB member. Amatong as then Finance Secretary signed the loan agreement.

Of the $503.04million total project cost, $400 million is to be sourced from ODA financing in the form of Suppliers Credit and $100 million is the Philippine government’s counterpart,

The bulk of the project will be financial through a highly concessional loan from the Chinese government with a 20-year repayment period, inclusive of a five-year grace period at 3 percent interest rate.

"But this is a tied loan like China has the choice of contractor and this is no different from Japan’s Obuchi," he said.

Even if Japan’s Obuchi only asks for a 1 percent interest rate, the repayment period is shorter at 10 years so the interest is at higher at 7 percent.

Interest from the World Bank loan is also higher at 5 percent while commercial loans are at 9 to 10 percent.

The Japanese have also declined to fund the project because of the problems on the relocation of the informal settlers. The government though is spending P1 billion to relocate the squatters along the NorthRail line. (BCM)

"I wish some vigelante would start assassinating this politicians one by one so they would shut up" :wave: :guns1:

magdilang anghel ka sana.

^ mali yan. yung anghel na nahulog sa grasya -- si lucifer 'yon.

cut all the crap!!! build the freaking railways!!!!!!!!!

sometimes i feel the political situation here is hopeless.. tsk tsk tsk..

we missed the boat of the asian miracle in the 80s and early 90s because of incessant politicking. Now that things are starting to look up through the hard work of overseas pinoys, no thanks to the govt, they want to miss another opportunity. Considering we are even in a very dynamic region of the world. It's the century of the Asian

Now I understand the frustration and anger of the Filipinos towards politicians. They should not have been elected in the first place. (It's just that I have low tolerance for violent language and malevolent intentions toward fellow human beings no matter how flawed they are.)

With this country a little patience goes a long way. It'll get built.

I second with you bustero. Ayala Business District, Ortigas Business District and Global City Business Districts were built despite having this kind of government. We really need to have lots and lots of patience. And I tell you the Ayalas and the Zobels do have lots of it. They don't have any alternative. Otherwise they can always bring their Business District to Lerida, Spain if possible.

They cannot bring their business to Spain , they'd have too much competition. Patience is a virtue too much is a vice.

What do you know? Drilon has only 3 months as senate president. Next year, Villar will assume the position to fulfill the agreed leadership sharing. Drilon - the boa constrictor is eyeing a higher position. Therefore, within that 3 month-period, expect him to nitpick on any government projects to bring down the government and exalt himself up to a higher position. The Snake !!!!!!!

THE TRUTH

Northrail chief notes lapses in UP report


The president of the North Luzon Railways Corp. (Northrail) on Friday denied the $503 million contract between the Philippine government and the People's Republic of China (PROC) was illegal and overpriced.

Northrail president Jose Cortez told ANC that they would show the Senate in due time that the project is in order.

He said although they have yet to receive a copy of the report prepared by the UP Law Center, they have already noted "lapses" in the presentation of the findings of the lawyers during the Senate hearing Thursday.

Senators on Thursday said the contract for the Northrail project bore questionable provisions that are grossly disadvantageous to the country.

Cortez said that the project had secured the nod of the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel (OGCC) to proceed.

First, Cortez said the contract was an "executive agreement" signed by two states, contrary to the lawyers' claim that it was an agreement of two private corporations.

The $503-million project involves the rehabilitation of a 32-kilometer railway from Caloocan City to Malolos, Bulacan, using a loan secured from China's Export-Import Bank (Eximbank).

He said all companies in China are owned by the state and that by virtue of the Philippines' Department of Finance loan agreement with China's Export-Import Bank (Eximbank), the contract therefore was government to government.

Cortez said that it was "legal and binding" executive agreement, as seconded by the OGCC in an opinion it issued last year.

He also denied that the project failed to secure the approval of the Monetary Board, which is required according to the UP Law Center.

The Northrail president said they secured the approval of the board.

Another concern that was raised during Thursday's hearing came from Rene Santiago, an engineer from UP and part of the UP Law Center team that studied the contract.

Santiago said that the contractor for the project - China National Machinery and Equipment Corp. (CNMEC) - is not technically qualified to be a prime contractor, because it has done no railway project of similar magnitude in China or elsewhere in the world.

Cortez rebuked this claim, saying those who studied the contract chose to look at only one side of CNMEC and not the whole organization.

He said it was very easy to look up CNMEC on the Internet and find out if the claim was true. Cortez said CNMEC is a big corporation, and those who studied the contract chose to look only at its import/export group, which only part of the company.

Cortez said if the UP Law Center bothered to look at the CNMEC machinery sector, they would have found out that it has build railways not only in China but in other parts of the world.

On questions that the project was overpriced, Cortez said it is even one of the cheapest projects compared to the country's LRT and MRT projects.

He said that the proposed LRT-4 costs $31.79 million per kilometer to build, while the Northrail is only $6.5 million per kilometer.

When asked about a part of the CNMEC contract that states that lawsuits arising from provisions of the agreement shall be governed by laws of PROC, Cortez said the wording used was "may" and not "must."

He said this means both states can file suits in Philippine and Chinese jurisdictions.

With this country a little patience goes a long way. It'll get built.


Thank you Bustero for your statement. This is true, and this is something that we need to remember.

With this country a little patience goes a long way. It'll get built.


thats what i always say....it seems alot of people are impatient these days...on my observation...particularly when i overhear my uncle listening to AM stations that a lot of callers are loosing patience on some issues in nPhils...gusto nila kuha nila dapat sa kanila instantly) well that wont happen....

not that im being insensitive...but example of issue of poverty/traffic/pollution...its not like you can get rid of it instantly...(but that should stop from being blind and sit still...we should still act)

you can do alot about it but the reality is...it will take time......wala na kasi unity...that why people become impatient....kaya naiiwan Phils coz wala unity nagsisiraan for personal interest or ego...


if there's unity then it will bring people together to work on something and therefore achieve something instead of nothing and time wasting...and by not working together nothing will get done.

remember our neighboors Asian counties...have Pollitical or corruption issues but somehow they move forward...what about us?....i really hate the politics in Phils i cant stand seing them on TV yung iba parang feeling nagpapa-sikat or Ego...then pag may maganda project yung opposite sa kanya the other one will get intimidated and come up with all these issues just to prevent the other person or sisiraan na lang nya.... :mad2:

^ You were starting to convince me @Someguy/Rodney, until you started to lose your patience. :jk:

^ You were starting to convince me @Someguy/Rodney, until you started to lose your patience. :jk:


hahahah my bad :jk:

Will there ever be a monorail in the Philippines?

Will there ever be a monorail in the Philippines?

not in manila but maybe in cebu. monorail can transfer few people compare to mrt so this is feasible in cebu and not in mm since mm needs mrt that can transfer many passengers at any given time.

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/GA04Ae06.html

CEBU CITY - Cebu's business community is envisioning the transformation of Metro Cebu into the next Hong Kong, with the construction of an underwater tunnel, a new port and a monorail to attract more tourists.

Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) president Robert Go said the the group is finalizing the details and design of the master plan, which it hopes to present to the public next month.

"We want Cebu to have a facelift to attract more tourists. We want it to be an investment haven of the country. It is a very ambitious plan," Go said.

Among the group's plan is the construction of an underwater tunnel that will connect Cebu to the municipality of Cordova in Mactan Island, which CCCI hopes will be the new site of an international port.

The group also envisions a monorail "smaller" than the trains used in the Light Rail Transit system, which will bring people straight to downtown Cebu City from the Mactan-Cebu International Airport in Lapu-Lapu City.

With this, the CCCI board and the tourism core group, after consultations, proposed the transfer of the Carbon Public Market to the South Reclamation Project (SRP).

"We want the SRP to be alive," Go said.

Aside from setting up a boardwalk from the North Reclamation Area to the SRP, the business group will also push for the construction of an international port in the municipality of Cordova so ocean liners and cruise ships doing tours in Southeast Asia could dock there.

"We are envisioning that we will look like Hong Kong in 20 years," Go said.

He said they have "picked" many brains and hired architects to make the designs for the plan, which they hope will get government approval and an endorsement for funding by the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

Go said the CCCI has not yet consulted the mayors but he is optimistic that he will get their support since the project will highly benefit the cities of Cebu, Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu and Talisay, as well as the town of Cordova.

The support of government leaders is needed since the project will be implemented using a loan.

Go, who sits as vice chairman of the Regional Development Council, or RDC 7, said he will endorse the project to the infrastructure development committee of the RDC 7 to get their opinions and suggestions.

not in manila but maybe in cebu. monorail can transfer few people compare to mrt so this is feasible in cebu and not in mm since mm needs mrt that can transfer many passengers at any given time.

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/GA04Ae06.html

CEBU CITY - Cebu's business community is envisioning the transformation of Metro Cebu into the next Hong Kong, with the construction of an underwater tunnel, a new port and a monorail to attract more tourists.

Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) president Robert Go said the the group is finalizing the details and design of the master plan, which it hopes to present to the public next month.

"We want Cebu to have a facelift to attract more tourists. We want it to be an investment haven of the country. It is a very ambitious plan," Go said.

Among the group's plan is the construction of an underwater tunnel that will connect Cebu to the municipality of Cordova in Mactan Island, which CCCI hopes will be the new site of an international port.

The group also envisions a monorail "smaller" than the trains used in the Light Rail Transit system, which will bring people straight to downtown Cebu City from the Mactan-Cebu International Airport in Lapu-Lapu City.

With this, the CCCI board and the tourism core group, after consultations, proposed the transfer of the Carbon Public Market to the South Reclamation Project (SRP).

"We want the SRP to be alive," Go said.

Aside from setting up a boardwalk from the North Reclamation Area to the SRP, the business group will also push for the construction of an international port in the municipality of Cordova so ocean liners and cruise ships doing tours in Southeast Asia could dock there.

"We are envisioning that we will look like Hong Kong in 20 years," Go said.

He said they have "picked" many brains and hired architects to make the designs for the plan, which they hope will get government approval and an endorsement for funding by the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

Go said the CCCI has not yet consulted the mayors but he is optimistic that he will get their support since the project will highly benefit the cities of Cebu, Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu and Talisay, as well as the town of Cordova.

The support of government leaders is needed since the project will be implemented using a loan.

Go, who sits as vice chairman of the Regional Development Council, or RDC 7, said he will endorse the project to the infrastructure development committee of the RDC 7 to get their opinions and suggestions.
that's great nbcmandy hope it's realized earlier than that.

The more the opposition delays the North Rail project, the costlier it will be. Drilon and cohorts should be blamed for that. The North Rail deal with China is the cheapest amongst all the existing LRTS and MRTS in Manila.


North Rail willing to sit down with UP Law Center

By Jefferson Antiporda, Reporter

The North Luzon Railways Corp. is willing to sit down with the members of the University of the Philippines Law Center to clarify issues surrounding the controversial multimillion-dollar railway contract between the Philippines and China that the center claims to be flawed.

Transportation Undersecretary Jose Cortez Jr. maintains that there is nothing wrong with the $503-million project, which involves rehabilitation of a 32-kilometer railway from Caloocan to Malolos, Bulacan, awarded to the China National Machinery and Equipment Corp. using a loan secured from China’s Export-Import Bank.

“We want to get a copy of the study of the law center and have it reviewed in order explain to them that the contract is aboveboard,” Cortez, also the president of North Rail, said in a television interview over NBN-4.

Senate President Franklin Drilon commissioned the UP group to study the North Rail contract. The center described the contract as illegal and flawed for violating accounting and auditing laws of the country.

The study cites the failure to conduct public bidding, the absence of certification of availability of funds for the government’s counterpart fund of $82 million and CNMEC’s lack of expertise as reasons why the contract is “unlawful” and “disadvantageous” to the government.

For his part, Cortez argued that the deal is an executive agreement that could pass nonbidding procedures—a view shared by the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel he said.

“North Rail is under OGCC, and so we asked for a comment on whether we can proceed with the negotiation under a nonbidding procedure and they said that we can do it,” Cortez added.

But despite the absence of bidding, he said that the project does not put government in a disadvantageous position, citing how it brought down the loan from an original total of $600 million.

He said that the Monetary Board approves of the North Rail project, contrary to the study’s finding.

“They [UP Law Center] should have asked us first before they released the results of the study to avoid confusion . . . we are willing to personally go to UP and answer all their questions,” Cortez said.

As for the claims that CNMEC is not technically qualified to be a prime contractor, because it has built a railway of similar magnitude in China or elsewhere in the world, Cortez defends the contractor saying, “CNMEC is a big company and it ranked 33rd among the world’s best construction companies . . . China would not have chosen it if the company didn’t have the experience, technical background and financial capabilities,” he added.

To prove that North Rail has nothing to hide, Cortez said they are more than willing to meet with the members of the UP Law Center to shed light on the issue and erase misconceptions.

The Northrail’s 32.2-km. project from Caloocan to Malolos costs P360 million a kilometer of double track railway.

Cortez said it is cheaper than MRT 3’s 33.8-kilometer-long track costing $20.9 million a kilometer; LRT 4’s 30.2-kilometer-long track costing $31.79 million a kilometer; and LRT 1’s 24-kilometer-long extension costing more than $35.08 million a kilometer.

thats what i always say....it seems alot of people are impatient these days...on my observation...particularly when i overhear my uncle listening to AM stations that a lot of callers are loosing patience on some issues in nPhils...gusto nila kuha nila dapat sa kanila instantly) well that wont happen....

not that im being insensitive...but example of issue of poverty/traffic/pollution...its not like you can get rid of it instantly...(but that should stop from being blind and sit still...we should still act)

you can do alot about it but the reality is...it will take time......wala na kasi unity...that why people become impatient....kaya naiiwan Phils coz wala unity nagsisiraan for personal interest or ego...


if there's unity then it will bring people together to work on something and therefore achieve something instead of nothing and time wasting...and by not working together nothing will get done.

remember our neighboors Asian counties...have Pollitical or corruption issues but somehow they move forward...what about us?....i really hate the politics in Phils i cant stand seing them on TV yung iba parang feeling nagpapa-sikat or Ego...then pag may maganda project yung opposite sa kanya the other one will get intimidated and come up with all these issues just to prevent the other person or sisiraan na lang nya.... :mad2:


Unfortunately our tradition of democracy is one of antagonistic "fiscalizing" (what a pinoy bullshit political word) and oneupmanship. One good thing is that however flawed democracy as a system is in the long run (our lifetime does not constitute a long run in this case) it will work itself out. It took America 80 years to get rid of slavery. Look at India a great civilization and amazing culture for years they looked at themselves and compared themselves not only with China but the rest of the world. Their chaotic democratic system so similar in effect to ours but it's working out for them now.

Look to substance not the headlines. Most of the news is behind the scenes here anyway. For all the brouhaha of Drilon , Senate CAN NOT stop a project like this! That's not how our system works. They can only question it. Someone else has to sue the government and project. Don't get sidelined by the political intramurals.

"Cortez said it is cheaper than MRT 3’s 33.8-kilometer-long track costing $20.9 million a kilometer; LRT 4’s 30.2-kilometer-long track costing $31.79 million a kilometer; and LRT 1’s 24-kilometer-long extension costing more than $35.08 million a kilometer."

This is like comparing santol, lanzones, duhat, siniguelas, dalandan, dambo, atbpa. Hindi sila pareho. All these MRTs and LRTs are mostly elevated while the North Rail is on the ground. Siempre mas magastos na di hamak kung gagawa pa ng fundacion. Gumising ka Cortes!

hmmm sa lahat ng sinabi mo sa dalandan lang ako.

You're right about the analogy it is flawed. But sa akin lang they shoud have the darn trains and systems not stop at monument but at least go all the way to Alabang , that way there's a complete North South system already.

it cost the gov't to borrow 500 million dollars... with a 3 percent interest rate each year... i just wonder if our country even generates enough to pay this 3 percent each year... or do we have to borrow again from the world bank to pay for china... like the usual... lolz

is it worth it??? i hope so.... baon na tayo sa utang pare... maybe there are more alternatives to this.. pero bahala na andyan nayan eh.. lets hope for the best na wlang corruption na nangyayari sa pagawa nito... although it's inevitable... lolz haaay mga politikong ito...!!!!! hehehe malaki na ang tiyan gutom parin... lolz

Unfortunately our tradition of democracy is one of antagonistic "fiscalizing" (what a pinoy bullshit political word) and oneupmanship. One good thing is that however flawed democracy as a system is in the long run (our lifetime does not constitute a long run in this case) it will work itself out. It took America 80 years to get rid of slavery. Look at India a great civilization and amazing culture for years they looked at themselves and compared themselves not only with China but the rest of the world. Their chaotic democratic system so similar in effect to ours but it's working out for them now.

Look to substance not the headlines. Most of the news is behind the scenes here anyway. For all the brouhaha of Drilon , Senate CAN NOT stop a project like this! That's not how our system works. They can only question it. Someone else has to sue the government and project. Don't get sidelined by the political intramurals.

As always, exhibiting such sophisticated thinking. I agree with you @Bustero. There is more to it than meets the eye. Drilon and company are drumming up interest in this issue so that the public will get all riled up. I think he knew about this wheeling-dealing from the get-go and that the alleged defects were revealed to him casually during a party for him were red flags. But why did he raised it belatedly after the project was already awarded and the construction started? A sudden case of guilt or patriotism? If he was doing his job "in aid of legislation", this should not have happened in the first place. Now that he is out of grace, he is divulging the questionable contract. But as you said, while the Senate can investigate it, they cannot outrightly and instantaneously stop it. But what does it take to file a taxpayer's lawsuit and ask for a restraining order to enjoin continued construction of this Northrail? What actual damage can anyone raise to have a legal standing to file such a suit? That is when GMA's allies in the Supreme Court will fashion their own judicial creativity.

How sophisticated have our political games and systems become, and yet how shortsighted and destructive. I am still trying to be optimistic in trying to believe that in the long run, things will work out. The proof of the pudding is in the eating.

well.. our politics is run not by a politician but by parties... each politician has sacrificed their own will, integrity, and loyalty to their parties' desires.... and how would one want to rally against its own party when he knows that he'll have his own character destroyed in the public eye... kanya kanyang siraan... it's like if your not one of us, you're evil or your an enemy to destroy... well.. this is evident in all levels of our society....

taken from philstar.com.. the politicians are really testing china's patience.. why cant they see that this project would benefit thousands of people??

Politics testing China’s patience over Northrail
GOTCHA By Jarius Bondoc
The Philippine Star 10/05/2005

BEIJING – Maligned of inability to build a railroad and irregularity in lending money for it, it’s a wonder China hasn’t dumped the North Luzon Railway project. Quite the reverse, officials here patiently are bearing the insult and quietly starting the Caloocan-Malolos line, trifling compared to their 70,000 kilometers of tracks. Penniless, politicking Philippines is still in luck.

Ren Hongbin, chairman of China National Machinery and Equipment Corp. (Group), is aware of the huge troubles at Northrail. Of Cabinet rank as head of the former Ministry of Machineries that became CNMEG, his project chief in Manila has reported the year-long delay in resettling 20,000 squatter families from the 32-kilometer tracks. Ambassador Wu Hongbo also has told him about Northrail’s mire in Philippine politics - first as an impeachment rap against President Gloria Arroyo, and then as a revived Senate inquiry on long answered issues. But Ren is unperturbed. "There is only one truth," he assured visiting Northrail officials and Filipino journalists, "the project will benefit the Filipino people."

Only 44 years old but boss for over four years of a conglomerate of 70 subsidiaries, Ren explained that Northrail is a result of China’s initiatives at amity with Southeast Asian neighbors. Two Presidents, Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao, and two Prime Ministers, Zhu Rongji and Wen Jiabao personally had studied the project. Two Speakers, Li Peng and Wu Bangguo endorsed it to parliament. CNMEG is to lay new tracks over the old Philippine National Railways right-of-way from Caloocan to La Union. The first phase, to Bulacan, initially was estimated at $600 million, including 19 sets of coaches and locomotives, communication links for six stations, and a maintenance-repair depot. Haggling brought the price down, first to $503 million and finally, with the presidents’ and prime ministers’ assent, to $421 million. Even at that, Senate President Franklin Drilon, in leading moves to oust Arroyo, claims that the project is overpriced, forgetting that it is double track and thus consists of 64 kilometers of rail. Waving the old $503-million study, he is prodding an investigation by the Senate as a committee of the whole, only the tenth time it will be so constituted since 1987 but risking a diplomatic row with a neighbor that is eager to please. Ren confided to the Northrail delegates and journalists that "this is one of our smallest but the most difficult project." CNMEG is building 200 kilometers of rail in Jamaica and more in Bangladesh, plus a 1,000-kilometer line from Beijing to Tibet 4,000 meters above sea level. At the rate things are rolling, China will lose money from the Northrail construction. Still, Ren stressed that RP-China friendship is his aim in meeting CNMEG’s commitment. Close Friends is also the name of a campus paper he had founded and edited at engineering school several years ago.

Liang Xiang, assistant president of China Export-Import Bank, also stressed friendship in a separate audience for the Filipino visitors. Northrail CEO Jose Cortes Jr. had opened the meeting with apologies for a two-month holdup of interest payment for China Exim’s first release from a loan to pave the railroad. But Liang told him that delays are normal in first payments, because of the unaccustomed paperwork. "More important for us is that the project itself goes on without delay, so we can make subsequent releases," she smiled.

Northrail, after negotiating down CNMEG’s tag from $600 million to $421 million, also had asked in 2003 for financing help. Beijing officials pointed to China Exim. But the usual concessional terms for developing countries – 15 years to pay, 4-1/2 percent interest, three years’ grace period on the principal, and 15 percent equity - were still too stiff for RP. Cortes pleaded for even softer terms. China Exim granted Northrail an unprecedented 20 years repayment, 3 percent interest, five years’ grace, and 5 percent equity. China thus will lend $400 million; RP must put up $21 million as counterpart. But Cortes resolved not to burden the national government with the $21 million. So Northrail made arrangements to borrow part of it through Philippine banks – also from China Exim.

China’s preferential treatment of RP draws from historic ties. Scholars have found imperial records from 500 years back about a sultan from Sulu who had traveled to Beijing and died while vacationing for two years in China’s southern coast. Practically all Filipinos have Chinese blood, from ancestors who emigrated from Fujian and Hunan provinces. RP was one of the first countries during the Cold War to forge diplomatic ties with China, and recognizes its one-China claim over the wayward province of Taiwan. China has offered RP joint explorations for oil in the disputed Spratly isles in the South China Sea, and recently extended $3 million in military aid. Liang said President Hu Jintao often asks China Exim about the progress of Northrail. When they met at the United Nations Security Council meeting in New York last month, Hu also inquired Arroyo about the delays. Northrail is at the core of China’s diplomatic policy in Asia. China has committed to the UN $10 billion in aid and soft loans to developing countries.

Aside from friendship, Liang admitted that part of China Exim’s objective is to promote exports to the Philippines, in this case CNMEG’s know-how and trains. "Trade between our lands will benefit your people as well as ours," she told the journalists. President Hu’s latest query from her is the feasibility of lending another $500 million for Northrail’s second phase, from Bulacan to Clark Economic Zone in Pampanga. "We will do it," Liang assured.

But with politicians haranguing Northrail because it is a project of Arroyo with Speaker Jose de Venecia, only the aiding side looks eager for completion. To RP’s good fortune, China believes the politicking, which has emboldened the squatters to demand more "disturbance fees", will soon pass. But what if it doesn’t and RP’s luck runs out?

^ Great update Stephen. Very interesting. At least China is forthright in admitting that the Northrail is beneficial for both countries in that they are seeking to facilitate trade between the countries and to promote their exports to the Philippines. We will be an extension of their market. I don't see anything wrong with that if it means lowering prices of commodities due to more market competition for as long as it does not kill our own Philippine-based industries both wholesale and retail. But consumers will really buy the cheaper and more economical commodity if the quality is equal.

We actually export quite a bit to china , they're one of our biggest markets. The political brouhaha unfortunately closes the perspectives of the players turning the practical into the absurd.

taken from mb.com.ph.. it looks like the chinese government is serious about the northrail project.. unlike our local politicians who would rather grandstand.. or maybe its just that china is taking pity on us.. i wonder..

China offers $1B for Northrail extension

By BERNIE CAHILES–MAGKILAT

Despite the controversies hounding the North Luzon Railways Corp. $534-million project, the Chinese government is making available $1 billion for the second phase of the project that will connect the first phase ending in Malolos, Bulacan to Clark, Pampanga.

NorthRail president Jose Cortez Jr. said that the Chinese government is willing to extend $500 million for the construction of the second phase and another $500 million in financing could be tapped for the relocation of squatters along the second phase.

"The Chinese are willing to extend the $500 million financing for the construction of the second phase once the Philippine government would request for such financing," Cortez said.

Another $500 million facility is made available for the relocation of squatters who will be dislocated with the project construction.

Phase 2 of the project is about 45 kilometers covering from the end of Calumpit in Malolos, Apalit, Minalin, Sto. Tomas, San Fernando, Angeles and Clark. This is longer than the 40.2 kilometer railway under the Phase I project.

Already, the Chinese government has extended $421 million financing for the $503.4 million Phase 1 of NorthRail which will connect Monumento to Calumpit in Malolos.

The first phase of the project will start in November this year and is expected to be finished within three years.

Cortez said the second phase can be constructed simultaneously but since the government is still busy with the first phase, the next project may have to wait until next year and if plans push through the project may be completed a year after the commercial operation of the first phase.

"The financing for the NorthRail project is part of the $10 billion fund for investments abroad by the Chinese government," Cortez said.

Earlier, Cortez and other top government officials including Budget Secretary Romulo Neri, Transportation and Communication Secretary Leandro Mendoza, Monetary Board member and former Finance Secretary Juanita Amatong denied allegations of irregularities in the NorthRail project.

Budget Secretary Romulo Neri, who was the chief of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) when the government to government NorthRail contract was signed, said nothing has changed with the commitment of the Chinese government.

Neri said he had a talk with Chinese Ambassador Wu Hongbo, who said they are bullish with the Philippines. The Chinese are looking at a container seaport project in Infanta and a shipyard in Dingalan. The Philippines has also proposed to the Chinese tollways, reclamation and airport projects.

Part of its initial investments in the country is the $1 billion capital infusion for the Nonoc nickel plant in Surigao.

"This is a short window for the Philippines. The western and U.S. kept on condemning us, the Japanese are finicky but the Chinese are tolerant. They don’t lecture to us like the U.S. does and still keep their faith in us by continued investing here," Neri said.

"We don’t smell nice to foreign investors. So let’s count on this goodwill from the Chinese," he said.

Cortez said that Chinese Eximbank has waived a penalty on the loans despite the already one year delay in the implementation. Cortez, however, said they are jumpstarting the project in November this year.

Denying there is any irregularity in the project, Neri said the Chinese loan is the best concession the government ever had.

"I feel the contract is above board, there is nothing wrong with it and I stand by it," former Finance chief Juanita Amatong, now MB member. Amatong as then Finance Secretary signed the loan agreement.

Of the $503.04million total project cost for the first phase, $400 million is to be sourced from Chinese ODA financing in the form of Suppliers Credit and $100 million is the Philippine government’s counterpart,

The bulk of the project will be financing through a highly concessional loan from the Chinese government with a 20-year repayment period, inclusive of a five-year grace period at 3 percent interest rate.

"But this is a tied loan like China has the choice of contractor and this is no different from Japan’s Obuchi," he said.

Even if Japan’s Obuchi only asks for a 1 percent interest rate, the repayment period is shorter at 10 years and the yen is appreciating faster than the dollar so the interest would end up at 7 percent.

Interest from the World Bank loan is also higher at 5 percent while commercial loans are at 9 to 10 percent.

The Japanese have also declined to fund the project because of the problems on the relocation of the informal settlers. The government though is spending P1 billion to relocate the squatters along the NorthRail line.(BCM)

China is being very patient, like a true motherland that it is.

Beijing wants rail project completed
The Philippine Star 10/07/2005

Even as the North Rail project faces scrutiny by the Senate, outgoing Chinese Ambassador Wu Hongbo said his government is determined to push through with the $503-million railway system that will run from Caloocan City to Malolos City in Bulacan.

In his speech at a farewell dinner tendered in his honor by Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. in Makati City Tuesday night, Wu lamented that the current state of Philippine railroads are worse than those he rode in as a child in China 40 years ago.

The Chinese envoy personally rode in one of the coaches of the Philippine National Railways (PNR) southern line — the only working railroad in the PNR network — and "felt so sorry" upon seeing its dilapidated state.

For the country to achieve economic progress, Wu stressed it is a must to have a wide network of railways and roads.

"What we are saying is that the Chinese government and the company (China National Machinery and Equipment Group or CNMEC) are doing our part and we are determined to fulfill our obligations and as our President (Hu Jintao) told your President, we are determined to build your railways as a symbol of the friendship between China and the Philippines," Hu told the gathering of members of the diplomatic corps and lawmakers.

The 32.2-kilometer North Rail project is currently under investigation by the entire Senate sitting as the Committee of the Whole over alleged overpricing and disadvantageous provisions in the contract.

Malacañang has repeatedly insisted that the contract was aboveboard and vital to the country’s interest, despite a lack of public bidding. But the other day, the Palace said it would look into the study of the University of the Philippines Law Center (UPLC) that found the deal to be illegal and disadvantageous to the government.

However, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita explained the executive department must be given time to review the study in order to properly answer the issues raised about the contract.

Ermita said he just received a copy of UPLC’s supposedly confidential paper yesterday.

With this, he asked Senate President Franklin Drilon to excuse officials from the executive department from attending the Senate inquiry into the matter pending review of the UPLC study.

"(We should be able) to rebut the issues raised by the UP Law Center," he noted.

During the farewell dinner for Wu, De Venecia said what "shortsighted politicians don’t know" is that the government has a master plan for the railroad networks in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao with the help of the governments of Austria as well as Germany.

Wu pointed out that the Philippines has abundant natural resources, talented people and cheap labor, but these are not tapped to the country’s advantage because of the lack of roads and railways.

He said a good road and railway network would allow the dispersal of economic opportunities throughout the country and help decongest Metro Manila.

"I cannot imagine, one-fifth of the country’s population squeezed in tightly here (Metro Manila). You need good roads and railroads for investments. If I were an investor, I see good opportunities in other places but how do I get there? When I get there, how do I come out? No road access, nothing," Wu said.

Riding the PNR train, Wu said, brought back memories of his childhood days in China when he used to ride trains that were in better condition than those currently running in the Philippines.

On another issue, Wu also expressed hope that both countries would be closer in the years to come as he pointed out that the tripartite agreement, which included Vietnam, over the joint exploration of the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea was a big step towards ensuring peace in the region.

"We have been neighbors for so many years but we have to do more… you can choose your friends but you cannot choose your neighbors. We should have good relations always," Wu said.

He said he distinctly remembers the simple instruction given to him by the Chinese President before he was posted in Manila: to promote bilateral relations between the Philippines and China.

In a 28-page opinion on the legal, economic, financial and technical aspects of the contract, the UPLC recommended the annulment of the North Rail contract with CNMEC and the filing of criminal, civil and administrative charges against all persons who signed the contract.

The center cited an absence of public bidding on the contract as among the reasons for arriving at its conclusions, though there are exceptions to competitive bidding contained under Republic Act 9184.

It added the contract could not be viewed as a treaty or executive agreement whether seen from the perspective of international or Philippine law. — With Aurea Calica

I agree with Wu. President Mahathir of Malaysia once said that one of the secrets to Malaysia's economic boom was the building of a network of highways and railways that connected most of the country.

I don't know, but this Ambassador Wu seems to be genuinely concerned about the welfare of the Philippines. Why is it that our own politicians seem to be the opposite?

I don't know, but this Ambassador Wu seems to be genuinely concerned about the welfare of the Philippines. Why is it that our own politicians seem to be the opposite?

Ironic, isnt it? Its hard to understand, really.

I would have glossed over that North Rail article but something caught my eye imbedded in that article that is nothing to be poo-pooed about.

Beijing wants rail project completed
The Philippine Star 10/07/2005
On another issue, Wu also expressed hope that both countries would be closer in the years to come as he pointed out that the tripartite agreement, which included Vietnam, over the joint exploration of the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea was a big step towards ensuring peace in the region.

This has been a bone of contention for a number of years. Did you know that those Spratley Islands are oil-rich? Are we bargaining away territorial jurisdiction over our rich natural resources and patrimony? I'm hoping this tripartite agreement does not leave us on the shorter end of the bargain.

The Spratleys have been contested since before Marcos's time. There are two international laws that are being applied, both by China and the Philippines here.

Both countries are using historical claims to sovereignty to declare the contested real estate as part of their territory. According to international law, soveriegnty is determined by a) desire for self-rule, b) current population, and c) historical claims. In China's case, it's been saying that Chinese sailors have been inhabiting the Spratleys for centuries before the Philippines as a legal entity existed. While the Philippines claims that seagoing proto-Filipinos also laid claim to the land (as part of the Sultanate of Sulu I believe). To fulfill the 2nd part of the soverignty debate, the Chinese have been stationing military expeditions on coral reefs in the Spratleys, even building permanent structures-- just to say this land is being currently occupied by the Chinese. For its part, the Philippine Navy has been conducting naval exercises and also allows Filipino fishermen to take refuge in the islands.

The second international law being contested here is the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea which states that any territory within 200 nautical miles of a country's coastline falls within the Exclusive Economic Zone of that country. This means that outside of Philippine coast for 200 nautical miles, the Philippines has exclusive rights to use and development. This means everything in the water all the way down to the seabed is exclusively the domain of the Philippines.

This EEZ stipulation is the Philippines' main contention, whereas China is using historical sovereignty as its primary reason for occupying the islands.

In the end, it could all be moot since the Philippines has no forward defense force except for its Navy. How can you claim a territory as yours if you don't have a monopoly on force within this territory?

This is a very old dispute. If the Philippines gives in on any of its claims, it won't be able to establish them again.

^^There ya go!

Thanks boybaha. that was very informative

Ironic, isnt it? Its hard to understand, really.

I wouldn't say it as ironic because we all know that at some fraction, the Chinese government will be earning from this project..... but still I agree that even with this "overpriced" project, it would be very beneficial to our economy... we do need wider and better road, air, and rail systems....

about Spratlys, I saw a feature story in the news by Kara David (GMA News) that the islands in Spratlys where the Philippines is stationed is only inhabited by 4 Philippine Navy guys together with all the birds on a bird island.... and they got a map and if I'm not mistaken from about 10 isles, 4 of them has Philippine flags marked and the rest is China and Vietnam I think...

Yeah, that's the thing... I think the Spratleys are also in Malaysia's and Vietnam's EEZ, except they're closest to the Philippines.

Chinese North Rail Project and Spratleys. Here comes the Greek bearing gifts. Check the inside of that Trojan Horse. There could be something in it.

I remember my parents talked about a very nice Japanese guy who was selling lots of junks in our town before the Second World War. Turned out he was a Major. And he was into espionage.

Better check those Chinese engineers. I am deeply suspicious. The Israelis built the Uganda Airport. So they had the blueprint of the airport when their forces landed there and took the Jewish hostages.

Nothing is free specially coming from the Chinese. But nevertheless it is a good endeavor if it's mutually beneficial.

I can't believe that the UP College of Law relied on the PCIJ's method of research which is getting information from the internet. Such stupidity.

Noli cites error in NorthRail study
By Efren L. Danao, The Manila Times Senior Reporter

Did the prestigious UP Law Center commit a deliberate error in its study on the government contract with a Chinese company for the $503 million, 32-kilometer NorthRail project?

Vice-President Noli de Castro raised this possibility in his radio program Boses ng Bayan after officials of the North Luzon Railways Corp. and the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said the UP Law Center downloaded the wrong Chinese company and so made the wrong conclusions.

Transportation Undersecretary Jose Cortez Jr. of the NLRC and NEDA Undersecretary Benny Reynoso told de Castro that the UP Law Center used data from the China National Machinery and Equipment Import-Export to conclude that the company had never done any railway construction project of the magnitude of the NorthRail project.

The two officials said the data downloaded from the Internet by the center pertained to one of 70 companies of the China National Machinery and Equipment Group (CNMEG), which is the true contracting party.

"CNMEG is No. 37 among 225 top construction companies in the world. Had the UP Law Center contacted us instead of merely relying on the Internet, we could have immediately called its attention to this error," Cortez said.

De Castro wondered if the error was deliberate because the center had actively supported the impeachment of President Arroyo, and the NorthRail project was one of the issues raised in the complaint.

"But whether intentional or unintentional, the fact remains that the UP Law Center committed a mistake," de Castro said.

The Senate committee of the whole is investigating the controversial project. It devoted its first hearing to the presentation of the legal, financial and technical study by the law center. No member of the Cabinet attended the hearing. Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said the Cabinet members needed a copy of the UP study and transcripts of the hearing before they could reply to criticisms.

The investigation was prompted by a privileged speech delivered by Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile on February 14, 2005. The Office of the President later wrote to Enrile, clarifying the issues. The controversy waned until the Senate majority leader, Francis Pangilinan, revived it two weeks ago and scheduled the meeting of the Senate committee of the whole.

http://news.inq7.net/breaking/index.php?index=1&story_id=52970

First posted 10:26am (Mla time) Oct 11, 2005
By Tetch Torres
INQ7.net

Subscribe to Breaking News alerts, send ON EXTRA BREAKING to 2207 for Globe, or send EXTRA BREAKING to 386 for Smart.

(UPDATE) LAWYERS and urban poor leaders asked the Supreme Court on Tuesday to nullify the multimillion-dollar North Luzon Railways Corp. (Northrail) contract.

The group, together with the League of Urban Poor for Action (LUPA) whose members come from areas to be affected by the project, filed a petition for certiorari with a prayer for a temporary restraining order.

Lead counsel Harry Roque said they wanted the tribunal to stop the implementation of the contract pending the resolution of the case.

"This way, we [will] delay or better yet we will be able to stop the demolition of the affected areas," Roque told INQ7.net.

Implementation of the contract will mean dislocating 40,000 families, Roque and Ka Jess Del Prado of LUPA said.

Roque also said that the contract was flawed because it violated accounting and auditing laws of the country.

The petitioners claimed that the contract did not include a "certification of availability of funds," a vital component of any government contract that requires funding participation from the government.

In such contracts, the lawyers said a certification was required as proof that the funds were available or the government could not spend on anything.

Roque also noted that their study showed that the contract did not undergo public bidding.

"We are not anti-development as the government would always portray us. We also want swift and affordable transportation but we are just wondering if they included the welfare of urban poor communities along the 'riles' in this so-called flagship development project," Del Prado said.

He also doubts if the government will be able to fulfill its promise of relocating the 40,000 families, which will cost the government 6.6 billion pesos.

But Del Prado said the funds were a hidden expense because it was not added to the total project cost.

"It is not clear where the money to fund the resettlement will come from," Del Prado said.

The group paid a filing fee of 4,000 pesos in coins to symbolize its collective struggle against the project.

The Northrail contract involves rehabilitating a 32-kilometer railway from Caloocan City in Metro Manila to Malolos town, Bulacan province.

The contract was awarded to the China National Machinery and Equipment Corp. (CNMEC) using a loan secured from China's Export-Import Bank (Eximbank).

The Philippine government will shoulder some 100 million dollars of the 503 million-dollar cost of the project.

The contract was one of the cases that pro-impeachment legislators wanted to present at the impeachment trial of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had the House of Representatives upheld the complaints against her last month.

"I can't believe that the UP College of Law relied on the PCIJ's method of research which is getting information from the internet. Such stupidity."

It's either tinamad or UP really deserved the slot of no. 50's in Asia's best university poll.

hey! :D
Can you post the link to the Asia's best university poll? Thanks! Just wanna see the rankings.

It's been almost two years when I saw it and the magazine, Asiaweek, folded almost two years hence. There are only 3 Philippine universities listed there: UP, Ateneo and La Salle.

oh okay...so if UP is at 50 how about Ateneo and DLSU?

^off-topic, but here it is.
48 UP
71 DLSU
72 ADMU
74 UST

http://www.asiaweek.com/asiaweek/features/universities2000/schools/multi.overall.html

Our schools are really in bad shape.

Don't be disheartened bustero. The main reason really for this low rating according to Asiaweek is purely money. The main criteria are: number of professorial Ph.D.s, number of research published and size of library. All three involve money. Capable professors are being offered better salaries by private institutions or corporations to work with them. As a result, the intellectual side of the university are being emasculated.

Aside from seeking a charter that allows the university to set its professors' salaries, the current U.P. president is now trying to partner the university with corporations for the requisite financial muscle.

it looks like the northrail would turn into another NAIA 3.. how hopeless our infrastructure is turning out.. wonder if there would be other investors out there willing to wait 5-10 years to invest in our country.. how sad.......

Don't be disheartened bustero. The main reason really for this low rating according to Asiaweek is purely money. The main criteria are: number of professorial Ph.D.s, number of research published and size of library. All three involve money. Capable professors are being offered better salaries by private institutions or corporations to work with them. As a result, the intellectual side of the university are being emasculated.

Aside from seeking a charter that allows the university to set its professors' salaries, the current U.P. president is now trying to partner the university with corporations for the requisite financial muscle.

Problem with UP is the faculty is very rigid and impractical sometimes. I remember when Ayala was offering to build a mall about 10 years ago on the site where they have a lot of squatter problems. The faculty and of course the students (who don't really know any better) made a big brouhaha in terms of "commercialization of education etc" in the end it wasn't built. So they not only lost the cashflow plus a free building at the end of the lease but literally spent millions fighting off professional squatters. I don't know if the University has changed that much, if it hasn't it will continously go down in quality.

In general all our universities have gone down in relative quality , of course money is understandable , in fact I found the particular criteria questionable specially in fields where research is not determined by budgets, but in the end some key results areas are defintely behind. Not only do we not have the requisite number of PHd's per department but the publications in internationally recognized peer based reviews are very small. I don't know if the trend is reversing.

oops sorry off topic.

Anyway saw the North Rail thing in the paper today (Inq), they even have a side thing on the squatter relocation. I didn't read it but was expecting something like this (a supposed friend of the people) suing the project.

I really don't know if there are some anomalies but in general I'm very sure the overall good outweighs the hgiher costs or corruption or whatever they are complaining about.

Palace stands pat on Northrail project contract


By FERDIE J. MAGLALANG


Malacañang yesterday stood pat on the $503-million contract it has entered for the construction of the Caloocan-Malolos segment of the North Luzon Railways (Northrail) and assured those who will be displaced will be given appropriate government assistance.

Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye issued the statement as the Supreme Court (SC) was formally asked yesterday by the League of Urban Poor for Action (LUPA) and members of the University of the Philippines Law Center to nullify the Northrail contract.

"Northrail is an essential infrastructure project which will not only decongest Metro Manila but will also speed up the transport of passengers and cargo," he said of the Northrail contract that legal experts have alleged to be laden with irregularities.

The Arroyo administration was purportedly shortchanged when it entered into a lop-sided "executive agreement" with the Chinese government for the construction and rehabilitation of the 32-kilometer railway from Caloocan City to Malolos, Bulacan.

The Northrail contract, according to legal experts who testified during a recent Senate hearing, is suffering from "serious infirmities" which include, among others, an absence of Philippine government’s counterpart fund.

Under the contract, the national government is said to shoulder $100 million out of the $503 million agreed upon despite the apparent absence of a government certification on the availability of funds and the lack of public bidding.

As this developed, administration congressmen yesterday urged Senate President Franklin Drilon to offer his apology to the Chinese government for using a flawed research report as basis for calling a Senate inquiry into the North Luzon Railway contract that was bagged by a Chinese firm.

In a joint press statement prepared by the House of Representatives, Reps. Edwin Uy (Lakas, Isabela) and Monico Puentevella (Lakas, Bacolod City) said Drilon should "apologize to China to repair our ties with an ally and restart our much-needed fast train to North Luzon."

Uy is the chairman of the Special Committee on Bases Conversion while Puentevella heads the Committee on Transportation.

The two solons said that in pushing for a Senate inquiry into the Northrail contract, Drilon cited a report of the UP Law Center which "falsely claimed" that the China National Machinery and Equipment Corp. (CNMEG) neither has the capability or experience to build a railway in China or elsewhere because it supposedly is a mere import-export company.

"The UP law professors mistook CNMEG for one of its 70 subsidiaries, namely, the China National Machinery and Equipment Import-Export Corp. (CNMEC). This is apparent in its opinion submitted August 25 to Drilon," they said.

According to the two lawmakers, the UPLC opinion prompted Drilon to call for a Senate inquiry into the "imagined anomalies" in the Northrail contract.

taken from philstar.com.. it says that construction could start by november.. damn it, i hope it pushes thru..

North Rail chief urges gov’t to start project

The Philippine Star 10/13/2005

The president and general manager of the North Luzon Railway Corp. (North Rail) appealed yesterday to the government and the Senate to give a go-signal for the start of the project.

Transportation Undersecretary Jose Cortez Jr. said the project would greatly improve the transport sector.

"The project will benefit all, not just the President (Arroyo). Huwag na ho haluan ng politika (Let us not mix politics in this project)," Cortez said at yesterday’s Fernandina Media Forum.

The North Rail project may start construction in November. Cortez said they need at least 2,000 workers and qualified former rail dwellers who were affected by the project could be hired for the construction work.

After three years, operation and maintenance will be awarded to private companies in a competitive bidding.

"We really would like to say again that the North Rail project is aboveboard. When we started negotiating with China, they made a study for free. The first offer was $600 million, 12 years to pay with 4.5-percent interest. We negotiated and eventually it was lowered to $421 million, 20 years to pay at three-percent interest rate per annum. The interest here of the government is protected," said Cortez.

He explained that 95 percent of the total project cost, which amounts to $503 million including taxes, will be assumed by China while the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) will assume the remaining five percent (about $21 million) at six-percent interest per annum.

Cortez explained that in a tied loan, the lending country commands the terms. They may have a bidding among themselves in their country, as in the case of Japan, but since China is a socialist state, the companies are owned by the state.

"They don’t need to have a bidding. They wrote us that China National Machinery & Equipment Import-Export Corp. (CNMEG) will be their contractor, and they said take it or leave it," he said. There is also no penalty for delays, just the three-percent interest on the loan from China and six percent loan interest from DBP.

Cortez stressed that contrary to the study made by the UP Law Center, the North Rail project is a double-track railway with more than 32 kilometers each way, for a total of 64 kilometers from Caloocan to Malolos and back. All the tracks, trains and other equipment are brand new.

Cortez emphasized that there was no anomaly in the North Rail project. "I saw to it that this is not overpriced. We are prepared to answer all legal questions. There is no reason for the Supreme Court to stop the project at all," he said.

The main goal of the project is an efficient mass transport system for passengers.

"This is not a rehabilitation project. It was a very unfair opinion. We were never interviewed by the UP Law Center when they made the study," he said.

Among those who will benefit from the project are Manila-bound passengers from Malolos or Valenzuela. Expected travel time is 33 minutes. The train will run on diesel fuel (upgradeable to electricity) at a maximum speed of 120 kilometers per hour. In comparison, the speed of Philippine National Railway (PNR) trains now is only five kph.

Cortez also disclosed that they are currently looking at the possibility of using diesel mixed with coconut oil to lessen fuel costs further. — Sandy Araneta

Fake squatters oppose NorthRail relocation
By Efren L. Danao, Senior Reporter

MOST of the leaders of the campaign against the relocation of NorthRail squatters are fake with a hidden political agenda, a priest said Monday.

Fr. Nonong Fajardo told The Manila Times that hardcore leftists and some members of The Guardian are agitating those living near the NorthRail right of way in Bulacan and Metro Manila to resist their relocation.

“They said they would leave their houses near the railway tracks only over their dead bodies but they are nothing but fakes. We have a census of the affected households and most of those shouting ‘over our dead bodies!’ are not included,” he said.

Fajardo, who has been doing pastoral work among squatter communities in Metro Manila and in Bulacan, said these fake squatters have failed to persuade those in Bulacan to resist their resettlement.

A group of squatters is reportedly set to question before the Supreme Court the legality of the NorthRail project, which would link Metro Manila to the Ilocos region. The first phase, which has started, involves the 32-kilometer stretch from Caloocan City to Malolos, Bulacan, and costs about $503 million.

The construction will be done by the Chinese National Mechanical and Equipment Group, and financing will come from a $421-million loan extended by the Export-Import Bank of China. The Philippines will shoulder the counterpart fund of $80 million.

Vice President Noli de Castro referred Fajardo to The Manila Times when asked about the status of the resettlement efforts of those living near the NorthRail right of way.

The squatters have to be resettled before actual construction of the first phase could start.

“It is better that somebody else speak about the relocation effort,” de Castro said, although he stressed that he has been keeping a close eye on project developments.

Fajardo said that most of the affected households in the towns of Meycauayan, Marilao, Bocaue, Malolos, Guiguinto and Balagtas have volunteered to be relocated.

“There was very little resistance. The clearing of the tracks was peaceful and orderly,” he said.

Fajardo said the agitators failed to make any headway in Bulacan, because of the extensive information campaign waged by groups before the start of the relocation.

“They realized that the agitators, who do not even live in their communities, could not offer them what the government was offering,” he said.

De Castro said that of the P100,000 cost of individual lots, the government is subsidizing P25,000, so that the relocatees would be paying only P75,000 spread out over 30 years.

“The government is also giving P50,000 a household. Many preferred to tear down their own shanties so they could recycle some materials and save on costs,” he said.

De Castro pointed out that many of the houses have old roofing materials. At a press conference on Friday he said that the relocation of all households in Bulacan would be over by the end of the month.

Ano ba 'yan, grabe na piracy sa Pinas... pirated squatters anyone? :D

SC dismisses petition to nullify NorthRail project

First posted 03:28pm (Mla time) Oct 19, 2005
By Tetch Torres
INQ7.net

http://news.inq7.net/top/index.php?index=1&story_id=53844

THE SUPREME Court dismissed a petition that sought to have a multimillion-dollar contract for the construction of a 32.2-kilometer commuter train system linking Caloocan City and Malolos town, Bulacan province nullified.
In its two-page resolution, the high court said there were no legal issues discussed in the motion filed by residents affected by the project and members of the University of the Philippines Law Center against the 503 million-dollar NorthRail contract between the North Luzon Railways Corp. and China National Machinery and Equipment Corp. (Group) (CNMEG) in 2003.

NorthRail is a government owned- and -controlled corporation (GOCC).

The high court said the arguments required presentation of evidence that could be done in the lower courts.

"This Court is not a trier of facts...A careful perusal of the petition and the attachments thereto discloses that the resolution of the issues raised therein, assuming arguendo that they are valid, requires the establishment of facts through presentation of evidence before a trial court of general jurisdiction," the high court said.

The court noted that evidence should include:

• Whether competitive biddings were held before the contract was awarded to the CNMEC;
• A prior certification of appropriation and availability of funds;
• Documents that CNMEC was a qualified foreign contractor; and
• Whether proper procedures for relocation of informal settlers were followed.

NorthRail project is the Chinese government's biggest assistance project in Southeast Asia. It will be financed for 20 years with three percent interest.

The loan agreement between China and the Philippines includes building Phase I of the Northrail Project, which covers the 32.138-km Caloocan-Valenzuela segment. Six stations will be constructed in Caloocan and Valenzuela in Metro Manila, and the towns of Marilao, Bocaue, Guiguinto, and Malolos in Bulacan. With Inquirer News Service

Lawmakers push for North Rail project
The Philippine Star 10/21/2005

Central Luzon congressmen pushed yesterday for the implementation of the North Luzon railways project that is funded by the Chinese government.

The Central Luzon Congressional Caucus, through its president Rep. Wilhelmino Alvarado, said there should be no more delay in the implementation of the project now that the Supreme Court has dismissed a case questioning its constitutionality.

"Once the decision is final and executory, there should be no more legal impediments to the North Rail project, which would clear the way for its full implementation. The people can then reap the benefits of this mass transport system," Alvarado said.

He said the railway system is crucial to moving people and products between Metro Manila and Central and North Luzon.

He added that while they are pushing for the building of the railway system, the problem of resettling squatters along the route should be resolved to the satisfaction of those who are being relocated.

"There should be a proper and human relocation of the people affected," he stressed.

Malabon-Navotas Rep. Federico Sandoval II joined his colleagues from nearby Central Luzon in calling for the swift implementation of the North Rail project.

"This mass transport system could be the key to the development of Central Luzon and the decongestion of Metro Manila. It could open up a lot of economic opportunities for areas in Central and North Luzon. Only those who are against progress refuse to see its potential benefits," Sandoval said. — Jess Diaz

http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2005/oct/21/yehey/images/editcart.gif
Squatters + Drilon = Hindrance/Obstacle/Bottleneck

Bulacan squatters volunteer to leave

By DINO BALABO
The Manila Times Central Luzon Bureau

MALOLOS CITY - More than 8,000 squatter families living along the abandoned rail tracks in Bulacan have volunteered to move to resettlement sites to give way to the NorthRail project.

Federico Laxa, National Housing Authority general manager, told DWIZ radio in an interview that more than 70 percent of the 12,878 squatter families from Meycauayan had signed for relocation to Malolos.

"This is the first successful resettlement program in the Philippines," Laxa said, adding that 12,000 individuals had been relocated from Caloocan, Malabon and Valenzuela.

Laxa said the relocation sites have the basic facilities, like electricity and water supply.

This was affirmed by Mayor Ambrosio Cruz of Guiguinto who has been working with the NHA to move hundreds of squatter families along the old Philippine National Railways rail tracks to his town.

Cruz said he had long planned to relocate the squatters to his municipality since assuming office, but lack of funds prevented him from implementing it.

The 32.2-kilometer NorthRail project from Caloocan to Malolos is funded with a $403-million loan from the Chinese government.

Meanwhile, settlers at the NorthVille III resettlement site in Meycauayan complained of constant power outage in their area, especially at night.

Mayor Eddie Alarilla of Meycauayan explained that the power company is still trying to improve the power flow at the resettlement site in Barangay Bayugo.

Alarilla said he had requested the Manila Electric Co. to replace the old power transformer in the area with a bigger one to address the power needs of residents.

Not all houses built in the resettlement site have water connection, driving squatters to obtain their water needs from a few faucets in the area.

Good for them:okay: Now thats the constructive progress we need:)

^i hope they wont go to Manila, mas masikip na dun

^baka nga^ :lol:

all right!!! thats incredible news!!!!! :) :) :)
next month is the start of construction right? hope it finishes in record time!

yeah, construction must start immediately right after the squatters have been moved.
The more the opposition delays this project, the costlier it will get.

NorthRail project to start early November

MALOLOS: Initial work on the controversial multibillion-peso Chinese-funded NorthRail project will begin in the first week of November. The Chinese contractor will submit the preliminary design of the next phase of the project.

Dennis Juqueta, NorthRail vice president for engineering, said the Chinese contractor will start construction on the first week of November. Work will begin on the Caloocan-Valenzuela line. Right-of-way problems on that portion was cleared as early as seven months ago.

The preliminary design for the Caloocan to Malolos City stretch would be submitted.

On Wednesday the Department of Transportation and Communications assailed the University of the Philippine Law Center for claiming that has caused damage to the country’s economy.

Speaking at the monthly “Message Sent” forum, hosted by the Bulacan Capitol Press Corps, Transportation and Communication Undersecretary Gene Mamondiong said the Law Center’s statements could scare prospective investors, especially the Chinese.

“[It] [Law Center] gave us problems,” Mamondiong said. “Instead of helping us to entice more investors, the negative opinions might cause investors to shy away.”

He stressed that several Chinese companies have already expressed interest in investing millions of dollars on mining projects.

“We have to accept the fact that in most countries, their survival hinges on the investments of other countries… the Philippines is no different,” Mamondiong said.

He said there has so far been no official attempt to declare the NorthRail project illegal. And both the Chinese and the Philippine governments remain committed to its completion.

Jugueta was also dismayed at the center’s negative statement. He believed he had good ties with the Law Center’s members and he wondered why they did not bother to get in touch with him if they had questions.

Will there the railroad crossings in Malolos and other parts of Bulacan be closed during the construction period? Only subdivision entrances are likely to be closed, Jugueta said. Municipal and provincial roads will be left open.

“Our contractors will spend a lot of money for the construction of viaducts on municipal and provincial roads,” he explained.

A viaduct costs “between $600,000 and $2 million.”

:dance:

alright!!! lets get it on!!!

bump.. any news yet?

It only goes up to Bulacan right?

So will it take another 10-20 years before it reaches Clark let alone to Ilocos?

I've read on the online newspapers that the Bulacan-Clark phase is included in the loan with China and will be constructed in 2006 but I know from experince that Philippine Newspapers are misleading and have wrong information.

NorthRail Malolos-Clark line structure to start by 2006
By Albert B. Lacanlale

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- North Luzon Railways Corporation (NorthRail) president Jose L. Cortes, Jr. said Tuesday that construction of the North Rail Transit Malolos-Clark line will commence after a year.

Cortes said construction of the Malolos-Clark line, which is included in the Phase I Section II of the US$503 million NorthRail project, may kick off in November 2006 and be completed by 2008.

The North Rail Transit will initially cover Caloocan to Malolos, Bulacan but eventually reach up to Ilocos.

The Caloocan-Malolos segment is under the project's Phase I Section I, spanning 32.2 kilometers, with six stations -- Caloocan, Malabon, Valenzuela (main depot), Bocaue, Marilao and Malolos.

Cortes said for the first time in Philippine railway history, the country would have a double track system. "This will result in simultaneous rail operations in both the north and south bound tracks," he said.

With the North Rail Transit, he said, commodities of Central Luzon could be ferried faster to Metro Manila, decreasing the percentage of spoilage, thus, higher profits for the stakeholders.

The NorthRail will have a diesel-powered train capable of a top speed of 120 kph (kilometer per hour) but will cruise at speeds of 80 to 100 kph. Maximum travel time from Caloocan to Malolos will be 45 minutes, which compared to buses with 145 minutes of travel time for the same route.

Cortes said the initial fare rate would be P10 boarding fare plus P1 for every kilometer for a total fare of P42 from Caloocan to Malolos. "This is very much cheaper than other land-based transportation averaging P70," he said.

The NorthRail project is part of the Strong Republic Transit System composed of various railway projects around the country. He said at the start of NorthRail's initial operations, passengers will be able to interconnect with the Southrail and eventually with Land Rail Transit 1 (LRT-1) and Metro Rail Transit 3 (MRT-3) without having to get out of the common terminal in Caloocan.

NorthRail Corporation, a subsidiary of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) has signed a contract with China National Machinery and Equipment Group (CNMEG) to undertake the construction of the project.

As for the residents who would be evicted from homes along the Philippine National Railroad (PNR) tracks, National Housing Authority (NHA) General Manager Federico Laxa said they are in the process of preparing their relocation.

Laxa said the NHA is now gathering data, through a census, to determine the number of families that would be affected by the NorthRail project.

He said the affected families would be transferred to sites within Pampanga as embodied by the "in-city, in-town" policy of the National Government in terms of relocation.

He said the National Government would also prepare possible livelihood programs for relocatees.

The agency, he said, may use the 42-hectare NHA property in Barangay San Pedro Cutud in the city, in relocating residents along PNR

:applause: The sucess of this line depends on the second phase to Clark. I'm glad they will start construction next year, granted there will be no delays...

what about the first phase? any news if it has actually started? pix? anything?

great news!!! i hope they could keep the date as they said.

i thought the other, first section wasn't even done? :?

You're right renell. Let's hope that it's really designed to dovetail in construction. I hope they have a plan to implement the line to go all the way to the main CBD's and not just Kalookan. The reality is getting there from Makati or even worse the south is probably going to take longer than balintawak to clark!

Malolos to Clark will start next year?
The squatters in the Malolos are haven't even been relocated yet.

maybe that's what they plan to start next year, relocating them squatters

I better develop a way to fly before 2006, all these riff-raff that the clark-caloocan northrail is being built is like paper, it easily tears apart. Chances are it would never be built again.

maybe that's what they plan to start next year, relocating them squatters

Does the government really have to shoulder the relocation of these squatters too? I think there's a law that says that government has the right to demolish illegal settlers on a public domain.

And come to think of it, these squatters would make the budget for building the train more expensive. More expenses for a financially troubled government plus a longer time to build projects.

And to think, these squatters are still unhappy when they are relocated because there's inadequate resources in their new site. 'Biruin mo yon! Nakuha pang magreklamo eh sila itong nakakistorbo! Hindi naman sa galit ako sa squtters pero diba dapat fair naman? Ilegal n iyong ginagawa nila e may lakas ng loob pa silang magalit at magsampa ng kaso laban sa gobyerno... Urrrggghh!!!.'

^^^^^

I have the same sentiment as you do. And if I may add, the squatters had just stolen almost all that is metallic in the tracks. I'm currently working in Malolos and our office is just right in front of the capitol building, near the Malolos PNR station. Only little is left of what used to be a railway track. Sooooo disappointing!

grabe naman yan pate metal sa tracks ninanakaw.

Does the government really have to shoulder the relocation of these squatters too? I think there's a law that says that government has the right to demolish illegal settlers on a public domain.


Blame this to the ridiculous Lina Law....

taken from philstar.com..

China’s big on railroad systems
DEMAND AND SUPPLY By Boo Chanco
The Philippine Star 11/14/2005

BEIJING – The big news here these days has to do with the decision of China to open up its vast railroad network to foreign investors. An official of their Ministry of Railways has announced plans to invite foreign investors to help finance a massive expansion program for China’s railway system. They need close to $250 billion between now and 2020 to upgrade and expand China’s rail road.

China wants to expand its current 74,000 kilometers of railway lines to 100,000 by 2020. More than half of those tracks are planned to be double tracks and electrified. The mere fact that they are ready to involve foreigners in their railways is deemed significant, given past suspicions about foreign involvement in building railroads here in the past.

It is clear to see that train travel is a major way to move around this vast country, giving the locals here a vast storehouse of knowledge and experience in building and running railroads. In a briefing of visiting Manila-based journalists, officials of China National Machinery and Equipment Corp. (CNMEG) gave reassurance that they are just about the most experienced in building railroads in China.

The 32-kilometers Philippine North Railway project is in fact, one of the shortest in their portfolio of railway projects in China and abroad. They cited five railway projects in China of between 400 and 900 kilometers and another five commuter railway projects also in China of between 21 to 45 kilometers. Abroad, they have done railway projects in Karachi, Jamaica and Angola. They have also supplied 90 locomotives and cargo rolling stocks and 74 passenger trains to Turkmenistan.

CNMEG is actually involved in more than trains. It is a fairly large engineering company that turned over close to $5 billion last year. It has built power plants, high voltage transmission lines, port and harbor construction, bridges, shipyards, ships, digital telecommunications systems, natural gas production platform system, petroleum refinery equipment and water and sewage treatment plants all over the world.

The point they emphasized by laying out their credentials of past and present projects is that they are not our typical government owned and managed enterprise in the sense that they are world class big and very competitive. They have done a lot of work in third world countries like ours and are perhaps, better suited for this kind of work than companies from the industrialized western countries.

CNMEG officials also stress the high priority given to the North Luzon Railway project by the top leaders of China. This is probably because China’s on a diplomatic offensive to gain friends in the region and helping out with infrastructure development is thought to be one way of doing that. Filipino officials traveling with us here noted that the Chinese Trade Minister made a point of wanting to meet with our Trade Secretary Peter Favila in the sidelines of next week’s Annual Apec Summit meeting in Busan, South Korea, with the project high in the agenda.

A list of countries where CNMEG’s busy with one project or another suggests that China’s probably using it as a diplomatic tool as much as a means to showcase China’s in-country engineering expertise. Among the countries in the region it is and has done projects include: Pakistan, Bahrain, Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Singapore, Yemen, Iraq, Iran, India, Vietnam, Kuwait, Indonesia and Mongolia. In Africa, it is involved with Ethiopia, Nigeria, Angola, Gabon, Congo and Sudan.

This year, it has awarded $4.4 billion worth of contracts in 39 countries. It is now ranked number 94 in the International First 200 Engineering Constructing and Designing Companies. In another listing, it is number 37 in the ENR Top 225 Largest International Contractors. They are definitely not the fly by night company critics of the North Rail Project imply they are.

Without touching on the legal and technical procedures used by the Arroyo administration in giving CNMEG the North Rail project, there is no doubt they would be able to carry out the assignment to completion. Because of the government to government nature of the project, there is no doubt too that our handling of the controversies surrounding it would impact on our ties with China. There is a feeling here that they agreed to do the project as a goodwill gesture and are surprised at all the noise surrounding it.

We do need the modernization, in fact, the resurrection of our railway system starting with the North Rail project. That project had been messed up during FVR’s watch when it turned out the foreign party favored by FVR didn’t have the capability nor the financing to carry out the project. Worse, we paid in advance, millions of dollars for a project study that was never delivered. If our legislators want to investigate anything, this should be it.

How we finally handle North Rail will also determine to a large extent what will happen with the rehabilitation of the South Luzon line by the Koreans. Our officials with us here now joke that this was just the second time CNMEG experienced such difficulties in any of their international project, the first time being in a troubled African country.

Actually, I am just frustrated that no infrastructure project of consequence had ever been spared of controversy, which explains why we are so left behind by our neighbors. The rehabilitation of the South Luzon Tollways is much delayed and the patience of the foreign investors involved is being tried. Maybe it is because we have a surplus of barely employed lawyers and politicians with nothing much to do. It is our choice… but for me, let’s get the infrastructure project going as quickly as we can and settle scores later. And yes, we can do that for NAIA 3 too, if Ate Glue had the political will to do it. Or maybe she should get some one like Ping de Jesus who did a fast track program of needed and highly visible infrastructures for Tita Cory during the last few months of her term.

interesting read.
well lets start with the first step and our friend bulakenyo can tell us if they actually moved the squatters out of the way already. that's a pretty simple and easy enough to do first step.

taken from abs-cbnnews.com.. its a long read.. but very informative.. im bumping this thread again.. is there anybody out there who has any news on the progress of the northrail construction/squatter relocation?

Northrail project: More than a decade in the making

By CHONA BALANQUIT

ABS-CBN News Channel

(Five-part series on ANC’s Dateline Philippines from November 21-25, 2005)

Negotiations for the construction of a mass transport service between Metro Manila and central and northern Luzon did not happen overnight.

It began in 1994 during the administration of former President Fidel Ramos. Part of the plan to develop the former Clark Air Base into an international airport included installing a railway system connecting Manila and Clark.

It was the Spanish Railway Group (SRG) who then first took interest in constructing the railways. The negotiations hatched a series of agreements.

First was a Memorandum of Understanding between the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) and the SRG. It was signed during the state visit of Ramos to Spain.

This was followed by a Memorandum of Agreement signed by BCDA, SRG, the Philippine National Railways, TPT Development Financing Corporation and Euroma -- a group representing Filipino investors.

This agreement became the basis of a joint venture agreement where BCDA promised to create a North Luzon Railways Corporation that will develop, construct, operate and maintain the railway project. On August 2, 1995, Northrail was incorporated as a 100-percent BCDA-owned corporation.

But the Spanish deal did not push through. Transportation consultant Rene Santiago, who was chief operating officer of Northrail from 1997-1998, said financing was a problem.

He said the SRG were not really investors. They were only selling the train in exchange for the loan. The SRG was offering a buyer’s credit similar to the Chinese investors which he claimed is more expensive.

As a result, the government and Northrail looked for other sources of funding. They tried to get a special loan package from Japan, known as the "Obuchi fund." But the Japanese demanded the relocation of the squatters along the project site before approving the loan.

From Ramos to former President Joseph Estrada, the Northrail project failed to take off due to lack of funding.

But it was only during the present administration that the project has somehow taken shape after the Philippine government received a loan from the China Export-Import Bank.

The China Export-Import Bank offered a $400-million loan for the construction of Phase I-Section I of the project. It also designated the China National Machinery and Equipment Corporation as the contractor for the project.

Records would show the agreements were considered legal and above aboard according to a Department of Justice legal opinion on the China loan dated March 25, 2004, and a Monetary Board Resolution approving the loan agreement in principle and its final approval dated December 22, 2003, and March 11, 2004, respectively.

Dennis Jugueta, vice-president for engineering of the North Luzon Railways Corporation, said the construction of the Northrail project will start within this month since the China National Machinery and Equipment Corporation has already given the go-signal.

Northrail project: RP-China contract

Former socioeconomic planning secretary Romulo Neri said he believes the Northrail project is a government-to-government undertaking since it involves the Philippine government and the People’s Republic of China.

Neri was the chairman of the Investment Coordination Committee when Phase I-Section I of the Northrail project was approved in August 5, 2003. Neri said since the loan agreement between the Department of Finance and the China Export-Import Bank is an Overseas Development Assistance, it is considered a bilateral arrangement which does not require competitive public bidding.

Neri said: " That is the nature of an executive agreement and it is covered by the [Official Development Assistance] Act, which allows this type of agreement and in this case, I think main problem, there was no competitive bidding, but in the case of bilateral agreements, that is allowed, no need to pass competitive bidding process. Take it or leave it."

Meantime, records coming from the Department of Foreign Affairs' Asia-Pacific Division showed the Northrail project was discussed at various diplomatic meetings between the Philippines and China.

When President Arroyo met Chairman Li Peng of the National People’s Congress in September 14, 2002, the Northrail project was among the issues discussed.

Two years after, when the President met President Hu Jintao at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, the Chinese government reiterated its commitment to build the first section of the Northrail project.

The following year, on April 27, 2005, the Northrail project was again discussed by the President and Hu in Malacañan. The Chinese president said his country is ready to support the Northrail project with a $500-million loan.

The two leaders also issued a joint statement professing their commitment to further promote the healthy and steady development of RP-China relationship, as enshrined in the joint communiqué of the People’s Republic of China and the Philippine government signed in 1975 and the Statement on the Framework of Bilateral Cooperation in the 21st Century signed in 2000.

The two leaders also maintained that their effective cooperation on the NorthRail Project has become a new symbol of RP-China friendship and cooperation.

But Professor Harry Roque of the University of the Philippines Law Center said the result of these diplomatic talks should have appeared in an executive agreement or a treaty between China and the Philippines.

Roque said, "Well certainly [these were] not evidenced by the documents themselves. Had there been the intention, they should have made the agreement into treaty form signed by both governments and duly concurred in by the respective legislature because in the Philippines, treaties require concurrence of 2/3 members of the Senate."

Without an executive agreement between China and the Philippines, Roque insisted the Northrail agreements suffer legal infirmities. Roque said the UP Law Center could have helped the Philippine government remedy the legal problems, had they not been branded as destabilizers.

"The UP Law Center, prior to the fact that we were branded as destabilizers was in fact going to engage in the next undertaking to find out what we could do to remedy the legal infirmity. But since they have referred to us as destabilizers, I think that is there problem and let them deal with it." Roque said.

Roque, along with other urban poor organizations, have filed a petition before the Supreme Court questioning the validity of the agreements on the Northrail project.

The Supreme Court has dismissed the petition on the ground that the proper forum to resolve the factual issues is the regional trial court.

Roque’s group has already filed a motion for reconsideration on the high court’s ruling. Roque says if the Supreme Court will not reconsider its opinion, they will file the case in the regional trial court.

Airport or commuter express?

Those who questioned the validity of the Northrail project also criticized the technical efficiency of the proposed railway system that will link Caloocan to Clark in Pampanga.

One of them is Rene Santiago, a former chief operating officer of Northrail from 1997 to 1998. He was one of the technical experts consulted by the UP Law Center.

Roque said Santiago is " just only one of several technical colleagues we have in the university who collaborated with us on this project. But certainly on record, because of experience of Santiago, former coo of northrail, his opinion was highly valued by the committee."

Santiago said the present northrail plan is a downgrade from the original plan. The original plan is to establish a modern airport express from Fort Bonifacio to Clark.

He said "The train we had will exactly look the same as the Hong Kong airport express because the contractor at that time the supplier was the Spanish railway group, they had supplied the Hong Kong airport, exactly same model to set up to support Clark."

But Northrail said there was no change in the plan. Once fully completed, Northrail will provide the following services: a commuter service, an airport service and a freight service.

Jugueta said: "Walang nabago sa dating plano. 'Yung UP Law Center nakakadisappoint kasi they came up with an opinion na hindi kami tinanong. They used the old study on Northrail [dated] March 1998 which was never approved by the National Economic and Development Authority."

Neri confirmed the 1998 Northrail proposal was very expensive. "It was too fantastic," he said.

Neri said " The Spanish project was very expensive. It was about $1.6 billion up to Guiguinto for 40 kilometers at 1997 prices. Now when the Chinese came in, it is down to $500 million dollars, 32 kms. The terms are much very very generous."

Jugueta meantime explained that they shifted from an electric-run and standard gauge train to a diesel-run and narrow gauge train, in order to connect to existing PNR stations. Adopting this system, Jugueta said, will allow PNR and Northrail trains to use each other's tracks.

"We want to have connection with the south PNR. We would be using PNR tracks from Caloocan, Metro Manila all the way to north. [We want] our trains to be able to go from north all the way to south and vice-versa. " Jugueta said.

However, Roque said the plan is ridiculous. He said, "Because if they should aim to connect with something, it should be MRT and LRT. Because if you are going to ferry passengers going to Bulacan. In the first place, people rely on the LRT and MRT (Metrorail Transit). But Neri says it is useless to have a high speed train because there are so many stops and high speed trains like Japan’s bullet train is dangerous."

Gains and cost

The present administration considers the Northrail project as a major component of a strong public transport system. Developing a transport system that will facilitate the growth of the economy could help the country beat the present odds.

Once the Northrail project is completed, it will fast-track economic growth in central and northern Luzon and trigger the emergence of new investment sites.

But Santiago said abandoning the plan to have a high-speed train may jeopardize future development plans of Clark and Fort Bonifacio.

"If you remove the airport express, you have to abandon plan to make Clark the future airport then you also have to change the plan that made Bonifacio, marketable or bankable. Global City [in] Bonifacio is being developed on the assumption that a high speed rail will go inside right in the middle."

However, contrary to Santiago’s claims, Northrail stressed that the link from Fort Bonifacio to Clark is still within their plans. The extension to the Global city is actually Phase III of the Northrail project.

Jugueta said, " Airport express, commuter at freight service…'Yun yung inoffer ng Northrail before at hanggang ngayon 'yun 'yung ino-offer namin (The offers stands up to now)."

Aside from that, the financial and economic viability of the northrail project is also being questioned. Some doubt its potential to earn revenues to pay off the loan since railways worldwide don’t earn money.

Roque said, " Most railroad projects worldwide are nonviable and being subsidized by taxpayers. My God, we should subsidize a top of the line product that will serve the purposes of this country."

But Neri said, "If the northrail train will lose money, it would not be much because the project is cheap."

"The beauty of this project, since we are able to make financing very concessionary, 3 percent interest, 20 years to pay, the Chinese doesn't give this to anybody else, we were the first country to get this." Neri said.

Neri added that the government sometimes approves public works projects even if it can not recover its expenses.

"In certain projects, even though it is not inherently financially viable, government sometimes approve it because it has some public welfare implications like a road project you can never get back the money on public works…But since the economy benefits and the social welfare is enhanced by a road project then it is considered economically viable." Neri said.

Cost of relocation

Relocating thousands of settlers along the PNR railways should have taken place with or without the Northrail project.

Neri said the relocation of the residents is part of the total social cost that should not be imputed to any project. Neri said it is part of the cost of improving the housing conditions of the urban poor.

Among the relocation sites listed are: Northville 1-Meycauyan; Northville 2-Marilao; Northville 3-Bocaue; Northville 4-Balagtas; Northville 5-Guiguinto; Northville 6-Malolos; and Harmony Hills I & II and in Norzagaray, Bulacan.

Both the national and local governments are turning these sites into new communities for the railway residents

Northrail project manager Jun Rolona said, "So far as of Oct 24, National Housing Authority reported relocating at least 50 percent of the affected families of Bulacan. So again, because of the development of resettlement sites by November 30, I think they can deliver the right of way."

One of these relocation areas is Barangay Lambakin in Marilao, Bulacan.

Municipal planning and development coordinator Hermie Bautista claimed they were the last to start but the fastest to construct the houses.

"Actually ang start relocation bandang August, na-late kami kasi we have to settle issues bago kami magsimula dito (Relocation started in August because we had to settle issues before starting)." Bautista said.

The relocation site is home to a total of 1,760 families, all residents of Marilao. Each family is given at least 32 square meters and at least P50,000 in cash.

One of the beneficiaries of the housing program is Jaime Santa Rosa. His family lived for thirty years along the PNR tracks in Barangay Tabing Ilog, Marilao, Bulacan.

A teary-eyed Sta. Rosa conveyed his gratitude to the government for giving them a better future. "Ang unang naramdaman naming nalungkot kami, s'yempre nandun na kami halos naglakihan, kaya lang ang nakakaano malalagay na kami sa tama…Ipinaglaban po kami ng aming mayor, provincial, Kongreso, sa sariling bayan kami ilagay, dun kami natutuwa, hindi kami nilagay sa ibang lugar. Marilao to Marilao din (We were sad at first but our mayor, the provincial board, Congress fought for us and put us still in Marilao)."

Sta. Rosa said the terms of payment for the land are very affordable. "Hindi po kabigatan sa amin dahil P200 lamang po, h'wag lang kaming manigarilyo, bawasan text, tong-its, kayang-kaya po namin (It's not so hard considering the amortization, which is quite low)."

Bautista added, "Halos kung pwede ipamigay na lang P100,000 ang lote, request nila, kabayan, ibinaba sa P75,000 payable in 30 years at 6 percent interest (We sought help so they lowered it to P75,000 payable in 30 years)."

Bautista said they consider the relocation site a subdivision. Soon, an elementary school, livelihood and health centers will rise. He expects the development of the community to cope up with the development of the municipality.

Bautista said: "It’s a community development, challenge sa municipality. Guidance, presence will not be felt ngayon, hanggang madevelop sila and grow, mature as a community."

Sta. Rosa added: "Sa amin pong mahihirap, etong lugar na ito, munting paraiso natagpuan na namin ( For us poor folk, this place is paradise)."

Barangay Lambakin in Marilao, Bulacan, is just one among the relocation sites the national and local governments are offering for the railway residents. Other relocation sites may not be as good as this one but they are nonetheless a better alternative than living along railway tracks.

Indeed, the Northrail project may be seen as either a bold or a costly vision. It may be a costly undertaking but its implications could far outweigh the monetary and social costs. For now, government has taken the drastic step of moving people out of the railways.

it seems so easy to build the train tracks since will be placed on ground level.. i hope they finish this quickly

A lot of houses right next to the railway tracks had already been demolished here in Malolos. They demolished it little by little. Pati yung mga tracks mukhang nawala na din.

Sa Malolos ka ba based? How far away from the Bayan do the tracks pass?

Dito po ako ng-college. Tapos ngayon dito ako nagwo-work. Malolos has two commercial centers. The Bayan and the Crossing. Kung sa Bayan, medyo malayo ang tracks from that point. Sa Crossing sobrang lapit. The tracks are parallel to the highway (sorry hindi ko kabisado yung name ng highway dito). Maganda pag natanggal na yung mga bahay ng squatters kasi mae-expose na yung tracks. It would be nice for the motorists and pedestrians to see new trains run the tracks again. Maganda siguro yung view from the flyover. Pag may train na dito sasabayan namin sa flyover to take some pictures.

thanks bulakenyo! so its still in the demolition phase? wala pang construction? tsk tsk..

thanks for the observations, bulakenyo:)

And wow, what a long article stephen. I'll read it when im not so lazy:D

The train tracks are supposed to be less than 100 meters away parallel to McArthur Highway. You should be able to see it for most part of the journey from manila to north on it. I think through time the land in between has probably been built up so you can't see the tracks anymore. I Have no idea if all the land structures being built is legal or not.

Should the northrail reach Phase III, where in fort boni will the station be located?

yeah.. that was a long read.. but worth it...

anyways... when the Phase III of Northrail does proceed... where do you guys think the railways would pass through?... would this mean that this will cross EDSA at some point? current PNR line runs through the Manila-Makati area on the western side of Metro Manila

@ Stephencua, thanks so much for that enlightening article. It was a long but very very informative read. I would like to point out some stuff though.

I know that the current trains will be diesel powered, but i heard from a forgotten source that the tracks can be converted to allow electric? Is that true. I know people in this forum are very resourceful so if anyone can shed light on this thank you.

And this quote,
The two leaders also maintained that their effective cooperation on the NorthRail Project has become a new symbol of RP-China friendship and cooperation.

But Professor Harry Roque of the University of the Philippines Law Center said the result of these diplomatic talks should have appeared in an executive agreement or a treaty between China and the Philippines.

Roque said, "Well certainly [these were] not evidenced by the documents themselves. Had there been the intention, they should have made the agreement into treaty form signed by both governments and duly concurred in by the respective legislature because in the Philippines, treaties require concurrence of 2/3 members of the Senate."

If Arroyo were to go to the senate for a 2/3 member concurrence for the approval of this project, it would never get built. We all know the intentions of our Senate is far from approving projects that would aid to the progress of this country.

I also feel as if UP is a little bit bitter. I know UP is a great school and has a fantastic reputation at home and abroad, but they sometimes can let hubris make them seem, i don't know what word to use. They are also so idealistic that they fail to sometimes think practically.

@Bulakenyo, thanks for the update on relocation. I hope and pray that all those relocated will find greater happiness in their new homes. I know i'm far from being in their shoes, but i would find proper housing much better than living in makeshift homes along railroad tracks.

Yeah. The squatters are actually lucky to have been relocated to some pretty decent locations. They should be able to find livelihood there. If they don't, talagang kulang na lang sila sa diskarte. I felt bad to see a family or two pack up and leave every day. Especially the kids, I really felt bad for them. But hey, their relocation would prove to be a good move in the long run. Kesa nasa tabi sila ng trains. Plus, whenever I recall the crimes (both petty and serious) allegedly committed by those from the squatters' area; their relocation gives me a sense of relief. Pag nakikita ko yung mga bakal sa railway tracks na nawala, medyo nababawasan ang awa ko sa kanila.

Because of you Ben (@dancethingy), I took the time and effort to read @Stephencua's posting of that lengthy article. Yes, very informative.


If Arroyo were to go to the senate for a 2/3 member concurrence for the approval of this project, it would never get built. We all know the intentions of our Senate is far from approving projects that would aid to the progress of this country."

I also feel as if UP is a little bit bitter. I know UP is a great school and has a fantastic reputation at home and abroad, but they sometimes can let hubris make them seem, i don't know what word to use. They are also so idealistic that they fail to sometimes think practically.

I know the word you are searching for ...arrogant. Just to clarify, UP Law Center is not UP and Harry Roque does not speak for the entire UP populace.

I guess the ensuing debate on whether this contract should be treated as a treaty necessitating 2/3 vote of the Senate or an executive agreement was on account of the problemmatic technical and legal situation created when the government bypassed the public bidding process to award the deal to CNMEG. By stating that the bilateral agreement is in the nature of an Executive Agreement, they can claim that the process need not go through the public bidding process because it was made pursuant to a bilateral cooperation agreement between RP and China.

In the meantime, this hullabaloo is forestalled by the Supreme Court by dismissing Roque, et al.'s petition questioning the validity of the agreements. It is unlikely to reverse itself on motion for reconsideration. So hopefully, the construction can proceed unabated until the issues of facts are sorted out in the Regional Trial Court. By then, the issue will be moot and academic because hopefully, the project will have been finished and operational.

Nonetheless, I must say that the GMA government is doing a good job in finding explanations or justifications going around the legal and technical loopholes created in awarding this contract by making it out as an Executive Agreement (as opposed to a treaty).

If you read the 1987 Philippine Constitution, the difference is this:
While a treaty or international agreement needs ratification by 2/3 vote of Senate to have the full force and effect of a binding agreement, executive agreements do not need to have legislative sanctions. (Article VII, section 21). Also, the President of the Philippines may enter into international treaties or agreements as the national welfare and interest may require, and may contract and guarantee foreign loans on behalf of the Republic, subject to such limitations as may be provided by law.

In this case, Time is of the Essence. Let the project commence and finish. That will rest the case.

Thanks ate Lili

i saw in the news last night VP de castro inspecting the squatter areas, he said that the deadline for the relocation was today (dec 1) i think from the few shots shown was that the relocation was successfull..

^ Ok, hopefully everything will be moving smoothly along.

taken from philstar.com.. so i guess wala pa ring construction.. tsk tsk.. next year maybe

New Chinese envoy prods RP on North Rail project
By James Mananghaya
The Philippine Star 12/09/2005

BALAGTAS, Bulacan — The government should speed up the relocation of settlers and clearing of structures along the old railroad tracks of the Philippine National Railways (PNR) to give way to the Chinese-funded North Rail project, new Chinese Ambassador Li Jin Jun said yesterday.

In a press conference at the Bigaa station of the old PNR tracks here after inspecting the project sites in the Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela (CAMANAVA) area, Li said that Chinese technicians from their contractors are set to arrive in the country on Sunday to start evaluating the project sites.

He said construction would start as soon as 16 kilometers of the project site from Caloocan to Balagtas have been cleared of structures and settlers.

According to the Chinese envoy, this is the first condition set by their government for the construction of the first 32 kilometers of the train facility.

The second condition is that both parties — the Chinese and Philippine governments — should agree on the design of the project. Much of the design has been done in China and this will be discussed with North Rail Corp.

North Luzon Railways Corp. (NLRC) officials announced yesterday that the actual construction of the Caloocan-to-Malolos line should start by mid-December.

NLRC president Jose Cortes said the Chinese envoys’ visit to the actual site showed the Chinese government’s resolve to assist the country in acquiring an inexpensive yet efficient mass transportation system for the country.

North Rail is an ambitious $421-million project acquired through a preferential loan from China, which means that its interest rates are lower than a commercial loan. It also has longer repayment terms and the Chinese government would subsidize the difference while the loan is being paid.

President Arroyo had requested from Chinese President Hu Jintao a more convenient loan term, allowing the Philippine government to repay the loan over 20 years instead of the usual 12, with three-percent interest instead of four and 95-percent cover instead of 85, which are the usual loan terms of the Chinese government.

Despite these assurances, the contract was the subject of an inquiry by the House of Representatives, which investigated several anomalies in the deal. The alleged anomalies were cited in a University of the Philippines study of the contract.

Li described the North Rail deal as a "friendly arrangement" between the two governments and the deal was described by Cortes as more beneficial to North Rail than to China.

The Chinese government has also assured the Philippine government of its willingness to extend the railway line to Clark in Pampanga and eventually to San Fernando, La Union.

Cortes said that once completed, even the first phase of the North Rail project could help spur development of Central and Northern Luzon.

Aside from providing easy and cheaper access to new economic growth areas, the project will also improve the interconnection of major transportation facilities in the Manila-Clark-Subic triangle.

The speed railway system is also seen as part of the solution to Metro Manila’s traffic congestion.

"We expect a shift from road-based transport to a rail-based one, thus decongesting the road networks in busy Metro Manila," Cortes added.

National Housing Authority (NHA) general manager Federico Laxa said that as of yesterday, a little over 16 kilometers of the project site — from Caloocan to this town — have been cleared of structures.

He gave assurances that in the next three days, they would be able to complete the relocation of the families residing in areas covered by the first phase of the North Rail project, from Caloocan to Malolos City.

Some 18,000 families will be transferred to various in-town resettlement sites, which Laxa described as the fastest and the biggest relocation in Philippine history.

However, some settlers in the old PNR tracks in Barangay Borol 1st in this town have complained that they were not awarded a piece of land in the relocation site in Barangay Santol, also in this town.

Romeo Cruz, a resident, told reporters that some of his siblings failed to avail of lots and are now worried over their fate when clearing operations start. — With Jerry Botial

South Korean president to visit RP
By Veronica Uy INQ7.net Dec 09, 2005

Visiting South Korean President Roh Moo-Hyun will join President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in launching two projects financed though soft loan by his country, the Department of Foreign Affairs announced.

Roh will witness the inaugurations of the Northrail-Southrail Linkage Project and the Information Technology Training Center in Quezon City.

The Northrail-Southrail Linkage Project (NSLP) seeks to modernize the Philippine National Railways commuter train services from Caloocan City to Alabang in Muntinlpua City.

The Information Technology Training Center in Quezon City seeks to advance the training capacities of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) in training Filipinos on IT.

The NSLP involves the procurement of 21 diesel-fed rail cars, construction of a double-track line, and the upgrade of PNR’s signals and communication systems.

The two projects were financed through a 50.42-million dollar soft loan from the Korean government.

"President Roh's state visit would be an opportunity for both counties to further strengthen their political and economic ties which currently could be described as very good," the DFA said in a statement.

Roh will be in Manila for a state visit this December 14 to 16.

Korea is the ninth largest trading partner of the Philippines and a major source of foreign direct investments, particularly in the country's electric power plants.

Korean investments in the Philippines accounted for 36.5 percent of total foreign direct investments in 2005.

Korean tourist arrivals are expected to reach the half a million mark by yearend, even as they accounted for 16.5 percent of total tourist arrivals in the country in 2004.

The DFA said agreements in social security, construction and road works, and mineral resources would be signed during the state visit.

The Korean Times website said Roh's visit was part of his "summit diplomacy" focusing on economic cooperation in the Asian region and to improve Korea's ties with Malaysia and the Philippines.

Roh is currently visiting Malaysia where he will also attend the Asean+3 Summit in Kuala Lumpur. From there, he will fly to Manila.

cool.. so this means that the northrail AND the southrail are going to be undergoing construction? wow..

Everyone cross your fingers and do the twist
Pray that THESE project starts pronto,

Sa Malolos station almost 100% cleared na. pati yung mga commercial establishments (net cafes, stores etc) nagiba na.

Mukhang matutuloy na rin ito...sana naman...

__________________________________________________
South Korea to fund new P2.7-B rail project

First posted 04:05am (Mla time) Dec 10, 2005
By Volt Contreras
Inquirer


AFTER the controversial Northrail, another foreign-funded train project for Metro Manila and surrounding areas is set for a high-profile launch next week.

Visiting South Korean President Roh Moo-Hyun will join President Macapagal-Arroyo in launching the Northrail-SouthRail Linkage Project, the Department of Foreign Affairs announced yesterday.

Financed through a $50.42-million (about P2.7 billion) soft loan was coursed through Korean Export-Import Bank, the NSLP will modernize the Philippine National Railway services from Caloocan to Alabang, the DFA said.

It involves the procurement of 21 diesel-fed rail cars, construction of a double-track line, and the upgrade of PNR’s signals and communication systems, the agency added.

Roh will be in Manila for a state visit on Dec. 14 to 16. It will be his second meeting with Ms Arroyo in return for her state visit to Seoul in June 2003.

The two leaders will also inaugurate the RP-Korea Information Technology Center in Quezon City, and are expected to sign agreements in the areas of social security, construction, road works and mineral resources.

South Korean investments account for 36.5 percent of the total direct foreign investments that entered the country this year. Among the heaviest Korean investments are in countryside electrification.

South Korea is the ninth largest trading partner of the Philippines. Its citizens accounted for 16.5 percent of the foreign tourists who visited the country last year.