^Good news. Wala lang sanang mga kickbacks pag me bagong projects maayos ren lahat.

can anyone close this thread and start a new one? :)

since nobody wanted to close the old thread, il take it on myself to open this one.. :) at least some good news to open the thread..

Arroyo gives China go signal for Northrail

First posted 07:48pm (Mla time) Dec 11, 2005
By Maila Ager
Inquirer

KUALA LUMPUR--President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has given the Chinese government the go signal to start the construction of the Northrail Project linking Manila to Pampanga province.

During the bilateral meeting with China Sunday noon, Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said the President informed Chinese Premier Wen Jiaobao that her government had already cleared 30 kilometers of the route and the Chinese engineers could now start their work.

"The President said we have already cleared about 30 kilomerters of the areas previously occupied by the informal settlers and that the Chinese engineers are now welcome to take a look and start the ball rolling as far as the Northrail project is concerned," Bunye told Manila-based reporters.

He said Jiaobao thanked the President and expressed elation on this development .

The project has been long pending because of the refusal of informal settlers to leave the areas which will be affected by the project.

There were also allegations of irregularities in the contract signed by both countries.

Asked if these issues had been tackled in the meeting, Bunye answered no.

"There was no mention of the problems," he said, "The Chinese Premier noted in the report that in fact significant progress has been made."

FINALLY!

Good I hope southrail to alabang continues as well that would be a good development both long overdue, if the news on mrt 7 and lrt 1 extension are on track 2006 may be a good year for our out of town commuters!

NO MORE TRAFFIC NO MORE TRAFFIC NO MORE TRAFFIC NO MORE TRAFFIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:okay: Good!

Exodus!

oh.. I hope this would really push through this time...

great!!! but i heard that there are some houses that will be destroy to give way to it... ung bang madadaanan ng way... in pampanga areas...

I wonder what the trains would look like.

old fashioned pa rin or modernistic na...

I hope hindi second hand na Chinese train. Kasi we have so many second hand Chinese buses already.

ano naman itsura ng second hand na chinese train??

Hey guys, just an info. Did you know that the old rail of PNR that passes through Pampanga passes through the nationwide-famous "Sisig sa Crossing"? You know Angeles City is famous for the mouthwatering sisig that is a true epitome of Pampanga's culinary genius. If Northrail would push through here, then the Sisigan has to go to a new location.

that's what i've been telling dati, may ibang matataman at kelangan gibain just to give way to this rail...

trains are new

what the heck is the sisig restaurant doing on the tracks!

Old friends for new projects

South Korean President Roh Moo Hyun arrived yesterday to reciprocate President Arroyo’s state visit to Seoul in June 2003. She was also in Busan, South Korea, in November for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit.

The Philippines and South Korea have been steadfast friends since the first days of the post-World War II period. Both countries were seen as free Asian republics that zealously supported the United States during the Cold War against the Communist bloc. The Philippines and South Korea, in the United Nations and in other international forums, often appeared side by side in debates against pro-Soviet, pro-Communist China and pro-North Korea protagonists.

Personal contacts between South Koreans and Filipinos have multiplied, becoming more palpable than they were a decade ago in Metro Manila and Seoul. The Philippines has become a favorite tourist and educational destination for South Koreans. In 2004 about 370,000 Koreans visited the Philippines or stayed as students, mainly for English instructions; Filipino tourism officials expect at least a 500,000 total by year-end. And South Korea is a home away from home for thousands of Filipino overseas workers.

Over the decades, Philippine-South Korea relations have grown remarkably—in trade, investment, tourism and productive employment.

At the APEC Summit in Busan, the subject of an Economic Partnership Agreement between the two countries was discussed. Negotiations on the shape and parameters of this partnership will most likely start with the Roh visit.

The Republic of Korea is the ninth biggest trading partner of the Philippines. South Korea was the second largest source of foreign direct investments in 2004. This is also most likely going to be the case when the year-end tally is completed. South Korean investments in 2004 made up more than one-third of all foreign direct investments in the Philippines.

Koreans have invested heavily in the Philippine energy sector, have gone into the shipbuilding sector and have pledged to invest much in infrastructure and transportation, including a $1-billion shipyard in Subic. South Korea has also contributed large sums of Official Development Assistance, most notable of which are the funds for the Laquindingan Airport Development Project in Misamis Oriental and the South Manila Commuter Rail Project (the SouthRail from Metro Manila to Laguna).

The launching of both the NorthRail-SouthRail Linkage project and the Information Technology Training Center in Quezon City, another project the Seoul government has helped finance, are high points on President Roh’s visit.

Presidents Arroyo and Roh will be the guests of honor at the launching of the NorthRail-SouthRail Linkage Project at the Philippine National Railway Tutuban Main Terminal on Thursday.

The railways project is a joint undertaking of the two governments. It will rehabilitate and build a more advanced railway system connecting the NorthRail terminal in Caloocan City and the north end of the SouthRail Project in Calamba, Laguna.

The visit of President Roh Moo Hyun is a harbinger of improved relations between Manila and Seoul. We expect a bounty of good news when the two presidents, together with their advisers, sit down to discuss prospects for better relations in trade, tourism, investments and jobs.

Rehab of busy railway

In what may well be considered as a fitting Christmas gift to the Filipino people, the president of the Republic of Korea, Roh Moo Hyun, joins hands with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in launching today the Northrail-Southrail Linkage Project that is expected to generate a windfall of economic benefits for the country.

The formal ceremonies marking the event will be held at the historic Philippine National Railways station in Tutuban, Divisoria, with the two heads of government leading the laying of the time capsule for the project.

Initially, the project involves the upgrading and modernization of the 32-km stretch of the PNR Southline from Caloocan City to Alabang in Muntinlupa City. It is being funded by a $50.42 million financing from South Korea, about 70 percent or $35 million of which will come in the form of a concessional loan from that country’s Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF). The Korean Import-Export Bank will shoulder the 30 percent balance through export credits.

The Korean financing is a soft loan payable over 20 years with a 2.5 percent annual interest. The interest will be paid semi-annually but the principal carries a 10-year grace period, which means we actually have 30 years within which to pay the loan.

Upon completion, the rehabilitated railway will use 21 new diesel railcar units to transport some 187,000 passengers every day. It will serve a total of 16 stations from Caloocan to Alabang, traversing the stations of Tayuman, Blumentritt, Laong Laan, Dapitan, España, Sta. Mesa, Pandacan, and Paco in Manila; Vito Cruz, Buendia and Pasay Road (Arnaiz Avenue) in Makati; and Food Terminal and Bicutan in Taguig; and Sucat, Parañaque.

According to PNR general manager Jose Ma. Sarasola II, the work will focus on the improvement and rehabilitation of existing facilities. Aside from upgrading of the railroad tracks, stations and flagstops, the project includes the double-tracking of the Sucat-to-Alabang line, the fencing of the station premises and putting up protective devices in all level crossings.

The PNR bridge spanning the Pasig River in Pandacan will have to be raised, a major bridge in Alabang will be reconstructed and several other minor bridges will be replaced. The upgrading of the South Line will actually cover the Alabang to Calamba section in Laguna and will run through the towns of San Pedro, Biñan, Sta. Rosa and Cabuyao. It will also involve the construction of new stations for the Pacita Subdivision area in San Pedro and Sta. Rosa and the improvement of existing ones.

Mrs. Arroyo and the Korean president will also witness the signing of a memorandum of agreement between the two countries for the funding of additional extension work. During the President’s trip to Busan, South Korea for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit, it was mentioned that the new Korean financial package for the PNR project could be in the neighborhood of $70 million to $100 million.

Sarasola said that the Southrail project will eventually be linked to the Northrail project which is undergoing rehabilitation with a $400 million financing from the People’s Republic of China. The first phase of the Northrail rehabilitation covers a 32-km distance from Caloocan to Malolos City.

The entire length of the first phase of the Northrail project is now almost cleared of squatters and actual construction work is about to start. The line will soon be extended to the Clark Special Economic Zone in Pampanga and eventually run all the way up to the city of San Fernando in La Union.

Northrail Corp. vice president for engineering Dennis Jugueta said the Northrail line is a double-track system that will run on narrow-gauge tracks. This can be easily connected with the Southrail, the entire length of which extends to Legazpi City in the Bicol Region.

It’s full steam ahead for the Northrail-Southrail Linkage Project notwithstanding the stumbling blocks, including the heckling and harassment from ill-advised and grandstanding politicians who have been insinuating that Chinese financing carries terms that are disadvantageous to the Philippines.

Even if the linkages between the two railway lines do not materialize immediately, the initial stage will bring immense benefits to the people of Metro Manila, Calabarzon area and Central Luzon once construction for both projects get started.

The two projects will inject a total of $500 million (about P27 billion) into the country’s economy.

Imagine the benefits that this huge amount will generate in terms of the thousands of jobs not only during the rehabilitation of the rail system but also in the actual operation phase, in the sale of construction supplies and materials, taxes and increased demands for foods and services along the length of the railway.

Think of how easily and speedily the railway system will transport people, agriculture products and manufactured goods and how it will perk business and economic activity in the Calabarzon area and in Central Luzon. And how much savings it will give to the government in terms of repair costs of the roads and highways that are now subjected to terrible pounding every day from the thousands of monstrous container trucks negotiating the distance to destinations north and south of Metro Manila.

Think also of how it will enable people to have a faster and cheaper means of commuting between their work sites in Metro Manila and their homes in nearby provinces. Likewise, it will also help the government realize the goal of decongesting Metro Manila.

Shorter travel time will also mean tremendous savings in fuel and reduction of losses to farmers, livestock producers and agribusiness producers. Perhaps, the only ones who will feel unhappy over this development are the “kotong” policemen who will find their “sideline” income reduced because there will be fewer cargo trucks from which they could extort money.

Transportation authorities said the Northrail project can also cut the country’s oil imports by up to 45 percent. This will come in the form of reduced consumption of gasoline, diesel and other petroleum products and reduced imports of passenger buses due to lesser demand for land transportation services which will be displaced by the mass transit system.

Assuming their figures are correct, that should also translate to proportionate foreign exchange savings that would otherwise go to the payments of oil imports.

No doubt, the Northrail-Southrail Linkage Project will help propel the country’s economy to greater heights of growth. And certainly, it deserves the full support of the citizenry, including politicians who have the penchant for belittling projects that will boost the image of the administration.

trains are new

what the heck is the sisig restaurant doing on the tracks!

Dito din sa Bulacan may carinderias sa train tracks. right next to them are internet cafes, billiard halls, giftshops etc. lahat sila nagiba na ngayon.

Good news for the trains, hopefully they can eventually be converted to all electric for the metro portions so there won't be any pollution

trains are new

what the heck is the sisig restaurant doing on the tracks!

you know naman there are some people who build in rails na akala nila di na gagamitin...

taken from philstar.com..

South Korean to aid 35M US-dollar upgrade of Philippine railways
12/15 2:12:11 PM

MANILA (AFP) - South Korea will help finance a 50.42 million-US dollar upgrade of the Philippines' derelict railway system through a soft loan and export credits, the two governments said Thursday.

The project was unveiled during the start of a state visit here of South Korean President Roh Moo-Hyun, who called on President Gloria Arroyo at Malacanang presidential palace.

A 35 million-dollar loan from the concessional Economic Development Cooperation Fund of Korea and Korean Export-Import Bank export credits would finance the first phase of the project, a presidential palace statement said.

This would cover the upgrade of a 32-kilometer (19.84-mile) stretch of existing tracks, stations, flagstops, level crossings, depots and maintenance facilities of state-run Philippine National Railways between northern Manila and Calamba, south of here.

Twenty-one new diesel cars that would carry up to 187,000 people daily would be pressed into service, while new signalling and communication facilities would also be installed, the statement added.

Check this site out. It tells the significant economic benefits of a trans-Manila rail road system such as the North and South rail project.

http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=felMaragay_dec15_2005

taken from philstar.com..

South Korean to aid 35M US-dollar upgrade of Philippine railways


That's nice and all, but when does it start?

it starts ________

Source: www.inq7.net, Leila B. Salaverria Clarissa Batino, 16 December 2005

THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL Railways will ask South Korea's credit institutions to extend an additional $70-million long-term loan to finance the second phase of the rehabilitation of PNR's south line, according to the agency's top official.

The new PNR loan is a follow-up to the $50-million credit line extended by South Korea's lending agencies.

Also yesterday, Finance Secretary Margarito Teves and the chair of the Export-Import Bank of Korea, Dr. Dong Kyu-shin, signed a $22.3-million loan agreement for the widening of the Gapan-San Fernando-Olongapo (GSO) Road and the dredging of the Porac-Gumain River.

The loan signing coincided with the state visit of South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun.

In a speech at the state-owned railway company, President Macapagal-Arroyo said the Philippines was grateful for South Korea's contribution to the government's fight against poverty, citing the $2 billion worth of assistance and private investments made during Roh's visit.

"This is a major contribution to one of our 10-point agenda, which is the decongestion of Metro Manila," Ms Arroyo said during the unveiling of the South Korean-funded Northrail-Southrail project at the PNR central railway station.

Thanks RP For his part, Roh thanked Ms Arroyo for the Philippine role in defending what is now South Korea during the 1950-53 Korean War, in which 7,000 Filipino soldiers died. He said South Korean businesses would continue to invest in the Philippines "to reinforce bonds made stronger through the years."

The Korean Eximbank loan for the road and dredging projects carries an interest rate of 1.5 percent a year. It will mature in 30 years.

"I'm well aware of the importance of the GSO road as a transhighway connecting Metro Manila to other provinces," Dong said.

The road has been unable to function well because of the floods that have been hitting it since the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo that brought with it heavy lahar flow, according to the Korean Eximbank chair.

Public Works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. said the project would help decongest Metro Manila because it would support infrastructure development in the Clark and Subic Economic Zones.

Alabang-Calamba line He also noted that the dredging of the Porac-Gumain River in particular would help stop flooding in several Central Luzon provinces. The project is scheduled to begin in 2006 and would be implemented for four years.

PNR General Manager Jose Ma. Sarasola II said the railway would like to take advantage of similar favorable terms from Korea's lenders to improve the PNR's 30-km line from Alabang to Calamba.

PNR's south line has become prone to accidents because of poor maintenance. Thousands of squatters live along the tracks.

PNR, once a pillar Once a pillar of the country's land transport network, PNR is now deep in debt and relies purely on government subsidies to stay afloat. The agency is now striving to cut its losses and turn operations around, Sarasola said.

The rehabilitation of the first phase, covering the 32-km South Manila line from Samson Road in Caloocan to Alabang, will start in February.

Sarasola said the rehabilitation of the Caloocan-Alabang PNR line would take about 18 months to complete. By late 2006, the agency will start implementing the second phase.

The first phase will be financed with a $50-million loan from the Republic of Korea's Economic Development Cooperation Fund and its Eximbank.

"We will try to secure another $70-million loan from South Korea for the second phase of the south line rehab," said Sarasola. The loan will include the purchase of 21 diesel-fueled, brand-new rolling stocks.

South Korea's institutional lenders, according to the PNR chief, have immediately acted on the loan applications.

Fencing off stations Part of the rehabilitation of the PNR's south line includes the fencing off of station premises, and improvement of signaling and communications facilities.

Sarasola said the rehabilitation of the south line would not only reduce accidents but also speed up travel time along the tracks.

Once the upgrade of the first phase is completed, the South Manila line will have the capacity to carry roughly 187,000 passengers a day using 21 new diesel engines to be acquired under the project. It will have 16 improved stations.

Korea's development fund will provide a $35-million loan while its Eximbank will set aside $15.42 million for the foreign component of the project financing.

The government will provide the local component, equivalent to $14.26 million, for the right of way and some infrastructure for the railway line.

Integration Sarasola said the first phase of the project would also cover improvement of the tracks, double-tracking of the Sucat to Alabang line, and upgrading of stations, depots and maintenance equipment.

Eventually, the rehabilitated South Manila railway will be interconnected to the Northrail, the LRT lines and MRT 3 as part of the integration of Manila's railway system.

Good Project looks like it's finally taking off after a years delay. But 187,000 pax a day is not a lot for that line! They should be looking at 1 million!!!

bustero, is pax passengers???

I am really grateful for S. Korea's aid for us. I have to commend the president of S. Korea for addressing the rising poverty in Asia. He knows that our poor are greater in numbers than Africe and he's really turning out to be Asia's Bono. hehehe

yup, pax is passengers ! :)

hehe unlike other countries with too much pride we welcome any help , from bono or anyone as long as it's real help !

www.inq7.net, Clarissa S. Batino, 21 December 2005

STATE-OWNED National Development Co. will raise P2 billion in five-year money to finance the rehabilitation of the Philippine National Railways (PNR) and allow the debt-saddled company to slash about 80 percent of its workforce, the head of the PNR said.

NDC, the investment arm of the Department of Trade and Industry, has agreed to float P2 billion worth of five-year zero coupon bonds in January to help the rail agency implement a widespread "corporate reengineering," PNR general manager Jose Sarasola II said.

Once PNR's financial problems have been fixed as a result of a leaner and more efficient organization, it will privatize the operations of its commuter line Sarasola said.

He said PNR would use P1 billion of the proceeds of the NDC bond issue to clear the right-of-way linking the South Manila commuter line with the North Luzon Railway.

PNR tracks are lined with thousands of squatters that have to be relocated to make way for train operations.

The other half of the proceeds will be used to settle unpaid dues with the state pension fund Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) to allow PNR to retire 80 percent of its workforce.

The PNR owes about P1 billion to the GSIS in its employees' contribution that it has been unable to pay for several years for lack of funds.

"We are planning to bring down our size to the barest essential," Sarasola said in an interview. "We will retire 1,200 out of our 1,500 employees."

The PNR has signed a memorandum of agreement with NDC on the bond issue. He said its real estate assets would back up the money that the PNR in effect would borrow from NDC.

"We will use our 8.2-hectare property in Tutuban [area in Manila] as a collateral to the NDC's bond issue," Sarasola said.

PNR has to sell the property in five years so it can repay the P2 billion NDC, he said. The property is worth about P3.5 billion, he said.

The Tutuban property is where the Tutuban Mall in the Divisoria commercial area is located.

Sarasola earlier said the PNR would ask South Korea for an additional $70-million loan for the second phase of rehabilitation of the South Manila line.

That would be a follow-up on $50 million in credit that South Korea's lending agencies have approved for PNR to upgrade its Caloocan-Alabang line in Metro Manila. The proposed $70-million loan would be used for the line from Alabang to Calamba town in Laguna province.

Improvements in the South Manila line would allow PNR to recover and eventually privatize its operations, Sarasola said.

Once a pillar of the Philippines' land transport network, PNR is deep in debt and relies on government subsidy to stay alive. However, it has ample landholdings that it can use as collateral to raise money to pay debts and infuse new capital into its operations.

*****

PNR is eventually privatizing I see. They should take the opportunity to finally clean their books up. The COA opinion on their last audit was adverse. One of the items that COA flagged was the inflated value of their assets. They have not been properly depreciating their assets all these years...

ooo.. we are living in exciting times.. with so many news about the LRT lines and the rail lines.. hopefully within 5 years time there is a drastic improvement over the public transportation

I talked with Roni Manahan of PROS, they're a big urban planning firm (they planed the original fort). He was saying that they were currently working on a 50 hectare plan for the Muntinglupa prison estate (the whole thing is over 400 hectars) specifically for southrail squatter relocation! Actually he was saying it's nto properly matched as filinvest alabang is middle to upper middle class and this was socialized but anyway this is the goverment! So looks like they're serious about southrail as well. No more home along the riles.

thats really really great bustero! :D pau_p1 and i were just talking about that after our meet.. at least someone is going to do something about all those home along d riles!

yeah... that's great.. though I hope that Southrail would be successful and would not face the same fate Northrail is currently facing... I hope that Southrail would learn the lessons from Northrail...

and changing part of the prison estate to a residential.. hmmm.. that seems fine.. it might give life to the Filinvest area.. but where would they relocate the Muntinlupa maximum security prison?

taken from philstar.com.. always its start soon.. how come they cant give an exact date? is it really that hard to give an exact date??

Northrail project to start soon

The Philippine Star 12/23/2005

MALOLOS CITY — The Chinese-funded Northrail project linking Metro Manila to Central Luzon will start soon as the first 32 kilometers have already been cleared of structures and informal settlers, Vice President Noli de Castro said yesterday.

De Castro, concurrent chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council, turned over to the North Luzon Railways Corp. (NLRC) the 32-kilometer stretch of the MacArthur Highway from Caloocan City to this Bulacan capital for the first phase of the Northrail project.

Earlier, Chinese Ambassador Li Jin Jun urged the Philippine government to speed up the clearing of the first 16 kilometers from Caloocan to Balagtas, Bulacan to allow Chinese technicians to complete the design of the railway system. — James Mananghaya

These two projects should really get it on. Lalo na Southrail which is qutie the bang for the buck, just spend US$50 million and get a more modern safer mass transit!

The earlier all the projects are done, the bigger the savings will be... provided! that the contract is acquired fair & square.

provided that politics don't get in the way

what i do not understand :
northrail/phase I approx 33 kms. = 500 M $
southrail/phase I approx 40 kms. = 50 M $
how does this match ?

Hmm, oo nga naman, bakit mas mura ang Southrail project by $450M!! Mas mahaba naman to. Hey, we should demand more from them! They should give us maglev or bullet train instead of diesel cars for the Northrail project!

:nono:

ung southrail rehabilitation lang... ung nothrail as in bagong system talaga... something like that...

ung sa northrail is from caloocan to malabon db? un ung first phase... as in un b yung $500M?

Ah ic, so Northrail will the whole new thing. that explains why the costs are different.

i´m sorry, but i do not understand tagalog.....any comments in english please ? salamat !

^^ Which post were you referring to Richard?

i´m sorry, but i do not understand tagalog.....any comments in english please ? salamat !

Im also asking the same question you were asking about the costs of both North rail and Southrail.

The reason:

Northrail will be entirely built on a new system
Southrail only needs to be rehabilitated so that's why it costs lower.

i´m sorry, but i do not understand tagalog.....any comments in english please ? salamat !


xp is just asking if its the 1st phase that will cost $500million, northrail from caloocan to malabon

Mr. Richard Ich hoffe, daß dieses aber korrekt dennoch fröhliche Weihnachten von uns Philippinen Forumers http://smilies.vidahost.com/kao/chika/chip_xmas2.gif

ung sa northrail is from caloocan to malabon db? un ung first phase... as in un b yung $500M?

Yes.

xp is just asking if its the 1st phase that will cost $500million, northrail from caloocan to malabon

Mr. Richard Ich hoffe, daß dieses aber korrekt ist fröhliche Weihnachten von uns Philippinen Forumers http://smilies.vidahost.com/kao/chika/chip_xmas2.gif

Marunong ka mag aleman? teews ka talaga. :lol:

Mr. Richard Ich hoffe, daß dieses aber korrekt ist fröhliche Weihnachten von uns Philippinen Forumers http://smilies.vidahost.com/kao/chika/chip_xmas2.gif

Hey Tigs! How many languages are you fluent in? Just curious....

oh I also forgot. I think the price of the northrail is also higher because the relocation of the squatters living along the railway is also included...

Joyuex Noel!

Je désole monsieurs! Je parle soulement un peu francaise... Ahaha.. ang pangit!

taken from inq7.net.. so i think this means that the construction will really go as planned.. really great!

More families to be displaced as NorthRail enters 2nd phase

First posted 10:27am (Mla time) Dec 27, 2005
By Cynthia Balana
Inquirer

VICE President Noli de Castro is confident that the second phase of the clearing operations for the right-of-way of the 503 million-dollar, 32-kilometer North Luzon Railways Corp. (NorthRail) project will be implemented next month as scheduled.

De Castro, chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC), which oversees the relocation of families affected by the project, said he was confident that he would be able to clear the way.

Reports said that about 19,500 more families would be displaced when the second phase of the clearing operations starts.

Last week, De Castro turned over to the North Luzon Railways Corp. (NLRC) the cleared 37-kilometer Philippine National Railways (PNR) right-of-way, stretching from Caloocan City to Malolos town, Bulacan province.

The National Housing Authority (NHA) has relocated about 20,000 families there.

The Vice President said the turnover would pave the way for the implementation of the North Rail Development Project from Caloocan City to Bulacan.

De Castro said it took the NHA almost a year to finish clearing operations on the Bulacan segment of the project, which he described as the "the longest (right-of-way) I have had to cover so far."

"This is an important accomplishment for the housing sector, just as this turnover is an important development for the NorthRail project," he said.

The big-ticket train project will run from Caloocan City through Malolos in Bulacan, Clark Field in Pampanga, Sison in Pangasinan all the way to San Fernando City in La Union.

About 20.5 billion pesos of the 26.1 billion-peso project cost will be funded through a sovereign loan from the Export-Import Bank of China.

The remaining 5.6 billion pesos will come from the North Luzon Railway Corp., the local counterpart of the China National Machinery and Equipment Corp. (CNMEC), which will construct the first phase of the train line.

The CNMEC will work on the first section of the project's phase one, which will run from Caloocan City to the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport in Clark Field.

ung sa northrail is from caloocan to malabon db? un ung first phase... as in un b yung $500M?

i believe the first phase from caloocan to malolos will cost 500usd million dollars and the second phase from malolos to clark another 500Musd , the chinese government committed to fund most of the est cost 1 billion usd for the entire project

^^ unbelievably expensive project...hope the trains are very fast!

narinig ko gawa daw ito sa bamboo para native ang kanyang dating, at para maiba rin ang klase at pawang gawa pilipino ito, at lalo na ay upang hindi makantyawan o masabing gaya gaya sa ibayong dagat :)

the what??

the R E S P E C T, is that what you mean to me

suck it to me, suck it to me, suck it to me

^^ unbelievably expensive project...hope the trains are very fast!

^^ I agree. The Millau Viaduct in France (the highest bridge in the world) costs only $470 million (shown on National Geographic channel) took them 3 years to build and they constantly worry about the engineering hurdles along the way. In effect, we could also afford to built a mega structure too of our own.

expensive talaga... i hope when it's done the fare won't be that expensive too...

Just seen the huge construction of North rail terminal station in SM North edsa.. it's huge... more than 6 cranes? Somebody must take pictures of those... Please confirm... :)

Baka North Triangle Mall yung nakita mong construction kasi wala doon yung north rail.

Baka North Triangle Mall yung nakita mong construction kasi wala doon yung north rail.

but it states "NORTH RAIL"... nagtataka nga ako.. so please anybody confirm and take pics. Thanx

Oh, But alas we are both confuse. Yes, I saw the sign but the workers there say it is the north triangle mall. Probably, MRT 3 will be expanded and it will connect to North rail in Caloocan.

Im also asking the same question you were asking about the costs of both North rail and Southrail.

The reason:

Northrail will be entirely built on a new system
Southrail only needs to be rehabilitated so that's why it costs lower.

thank you kiretose : to all of them...... :-( ......
thank you askal82, very nice of you.

xp is just asking if its the 1st phase that will cost $500million, northrail from caloocan to malabon

Mr. Richard Ich hoffe, daß dieses aber korrekt dennoch fröhliche Weihnachten von uns Philippinen Forumers http://smilies.vidahost.com/kao/chika/chip_xmas2.gif

ja wunderbar ! (very good !) vielen dank tigidig (salamat po tigidig).....

where are you living, where is schaumburg please ?

Joyuex Noel!

Je désole monsieurs! Je parle soulement un peu francaise... Ahaha.. ang pangit!


tre bien, sé manifique ! (very good, fantastic !)

ja wunderbar ! (very good !) vielen dank tigidig (salamat po tigidig).....

where are you living, where is schaumburg please ?

its in illinois, one of the suburbs of chicago

wahehe... how i wish i could speak german rin...

Philippines Upbeat Work on Northrail PJT Will Start on-Time


MANILA, Dec 27 Asia Pulse - Philippine authorities are optimistic construction of the P4.2 billion (US$79 million) Northrail project will commence as scheduled in February 2006.
"We are already undertaking pre-construction work," said Jose Cortes, president of project owner North Luzon Railway Corporation (Northrail).

He said site clearing operations are now in full swing throughout areas where Northrail's brand-new railroad tracks will be laid.

The areas were former squatter colonies and about 20,000 informal settler families were relocated to various resettlement sites in Caloocan City and Central Luzon, he continued.

Cortes also said preparations are being made to fence the stretch of land where Chinese project constructor China National Machinery Equipment Group (CNMEG) will build the double-track line.

The three-year project spans a total 32.3 kilometers from Caloocan City to Malolos City, Bulacan. ADVERTISEMENT



As a precaution against untoward incidents, he said security forces are also due for assignment in the work areas.

CNMEG is likewise building field offices where construction personnel will work, he said during Saturdays Kapihan sa Sulo forum.

Cortes said Northrail is awaiting the revised set of plans from CNMEG for its review and final approval.

"Some revisions had to be made to make the plans fit actual site conditions which we were able to verify only after the informal settlers were relocated," he said.

Such revisions include re-aligning portions of the railroad tracks so these can be within allowed property limits.

This will enable CNMEG to build the Northrail line where the old Philippine National Railway tracks are located.

Since CNMEG is undertaking the work on a design-and-build scheme, Cortes said the corporation is finalizing details for bidding of project management services.

"We wan't to ensure the constructor complies with conditions in all our construction documents," he said.

Results of the bidding will be announced in February next year.



http://asia.news.yahoo.com/051227/4/2d1ge.html

Philippines Upbeat Work on Northrail PJT Will Start on-Time


MANILA, Dec 27 Asia Pulse - Philippine authorities are optimistic construction of the P4.2 billion (US$79 million) Northrail project will commence as scheduled in February 2006.
"We are already undertaking pre-construction work," said Jose Cortes, president of project owner North Luzon Railway Corporation (Northrail).

He said site clearing operations are now in full swing throughout areas where Northrail's brand-new railroad tracks will be laid.

The areas were former squatter colonies and about 20,000 informal settler families were relocated to various resettlement sites in Caloocan City and Central Luzon, he continued.

Cortes also said preparations are being made to fence the stretch of land where Chinese project constructor China National Machinery Equipment Group (CNMEG) will build the double-track line.

The three-year project spans a total 32.3 kilometers from Caloocan City to Malolos City, Bulacan. ADVERTISEMENT



As a precaution against untoward incidents, he said security forces are also due for assignment in the work areas.

CNMEG is likewise building field offices where construction personnel will work, he said during Saturdays Kapihan sa Sulo forum.

Cortes said Northrail is awaiting the revised set of plans from CNMEG for its review and final approval.

"Some revisions had to be made to make the plans fit actual site conditions which we were able to verify only after the informal settlers were relocated," he said.

Such revisions include re-aligning portions of the railroad tracks so these can be within allowed property limits.

This will enable CNMEG to build the Northrail line where the old Philippine National Railway tracks are located.

Since CNMEG is undertaking the work on a design-and-build scheme, Cortes said the corporation is finalizing details for bidding of project management services.

"We wan't to ensure the constructor complies with conditions in all our construction documents," he said.

Results of the bidding will be announced in February next year.



http://asia.news.yahoo.com/051227/4/2d1ge.html

great update...

can't wait to see renderings of this project. i am reall;y hoping that they build parking structures at the stations to encourage people to just park their cars and then ride the trains to their destinations.

so feb 06 is the date.. cant wait!!!

^^ cool! :okay: Hopefully they can build them quickly

Here in Malolos everybody is so busy with regard to the Northrail project. Lots of digging, clearing etc. All the establishments and houses along the tracks are completely demolished as of now. The old Malolos PNR station is now exposed for everyone to see due to the clearing. It actually looks nice.

i hope the new stations look good...

Here in Malolos everybody is so busy with regard to the Northrail project. Lots of digging, clearing etc. All the establishments and houses along the tracks are completely demolished as of now. The old Malolos PNR station is now exposed for everyone to see due to the clearing. It actually looks nice.
ey you mind taking a picture if you could next time, that would be awesome

Anyone have any idea what the stations are for Southrail? ive got a personal interest 'coz i just bought into a residential development in binan near the highway...

Hopefully real estate prices will appreciate with the improved links to the CBDs (one of my considerations for buying it) say, 5 years down the road. I've been banking on the south superhiway improvements 'coz it's got its own exit to the highway (mamplasan) but the more links the better!

^^ we've a route map posted (several times in fact) just troll through the back threads and you'll be able to find it there.

can't wait for this, hope they'll finish it sooner...

im counting on you to finish it asap

im counting on you to finish it asap

is that show still on, im wondering

Here in Malolos everybody is so busy with regard to the Northrail project. Lots of digging, clearing etc. All the establishments and houses along the tracks are completely demolished as of now. The old Malolos PNR station is now exposed for everyone to see due to the clearing. It actually looks nice.

Please take some photos so we can see it. :)

bulakenyo, can u take some pictures of the old malolos station? im curious what it looks like.. :)

^^ hahaha.. sabay kmi ni askal mgpost..

i asked the guy so many times about those digging, i think he said "tsupe" to me. i :dunno:

Does anyone have pix of the new trains they plan to use already. I'm excited to see this, though I hope it's not a letdown. Sana it's modern looking like the tgv or something (may diesel ba na ganyan?)

i asked the guy so many times about those digging, i think he said "tsupe" to me. i :dunno:

Uy sobra ka ginoong tigidig! heheheheh! :)

I tried taking pictures before, but there were policemen accompanying some guys in the area. Baka masita ako eh. I'll go ahead and take pictures within the week.

^^ Oh really? Sabagay, baka pagkamalan kang terorista. Its true, even here in the New York City. Someone can report you for taking photos of structures (such as bridges, buildings, tunnels and others) from conspicuous places. They might suspect you're a terrorist.

^^ Oh really? Sabagay, baka pagkamalan kang terorista. Its true, even here in the New York City. Someone can report you for taking photos of structures (such as bridges, buildings, tunnels and others) from conspicuous places. They might suspect you're a terrorist.

they should really differentiate a terrorist from a tourist... :bash:

wahehe... kawawa ka naman kung napagkamalang kang terorista... social na terrorist, nagpipicture pa...

they should really differentiate a terrorist from a tourist... :bash:

They can't because those horrible terrorists dress up as tourists if ever.

wahehe... kawawa ka naman kung napagkamalang kang terorista... social na terrorist, nagpipicture pa...

Baka kasi ang nililitrato yung mga weak spots ng mga structures- u know baka may plano silang hindi maganda.

Relocation of 13,697 families along railways in early 2006
By Joel P. Mapiles Wednesday, January 04, 2006

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Some 13,697 families living along the Philippine North Rail (PNR) properties in Pampanga are expected to be relocated early this year once construction of the double-track narrow gauge rail line from Apalit town to the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) inside the Clark Special Economic Zone (CSEZ) starts.

Romuel Alimbuyao, assistant manager of the National Housing Authority (NHA) for Central Luzon, said the agency has already finished the family census of those who would be affected in the towns of Apalit, Minalin, Sto. Tomas and Mabalacat and in the cities of San Fernando and Angeles.

With the development, Alimbuyao said the NHA will be activating the Local Inter-Agency Committee (Liac), which will be tasked to conduct consultations and meetings among the local officials, non-government organizations (NGOs), religious sectors and informal settlers who are directly affected by the project.

Alimbuyao is hoping that the negotiations, consultations and the relocation of the families will be finished within six months.

He said in Bulacan, there are still 2,573 families who are not yet relocated by the NHA, while the clearing from the town of Bulacan to Malolos City of 12,878 families was already completed last year.

The NHA official said they are implementing the "in town" scheme wherein the resettlement sites in which the families will be resettled in are located within their town. He said the families were affected by the construction of the first phase of the project, which is the 32-kilometer double-track, narrow-gauge rail line from Caloocan City to Malolos City in Bulacan.

In 2004, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed Administrative Order (AO) 111, which designated the NHA as the lead agency for implementing the rail-related resettlement program.

The NorthRail project is a major component of the "Strong Republic Transport System," the flagship infrastructure project of the Arroyo administration. The big-ticket venture is envisioned to provide a fast and reliable mass transport service for passengers and goods between Metro Manila and Central and Northern Luzon in order to spur the growth and development of the areas.

To ensure habitable and adequate relocation sites, Vice President Noli de Castro - who is also the chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) - said he personally visits to the resettlement sites in Bulacan "almost every week to monitor the progress and to make sure that the well-being of the families are being looked after."

The Vice President said he is confident that the NorthRail project is on track, even as he appealed to local residents to help make it easier for the government to evict the railway informal settlers with minimal protests.

Baka kasi ang nililitrato yung mga weak spots ng mga structures- u know baka may plano silang hindi maganda.

high-tech na rin sila kelangan pa ng pics para pag aralan at pagplanuhan... :)

@kiretoce - so that news article above means that the construction of the northrail to clark will push thru soon? maybe in a year or two?? WOW!! great great news!

^^ Looks like it, but I'm still keeping my fingers crossed! :okay:

i passed by the rail tracks along buendia last saturday and i was surprised to see that there was this booth that said that there was a relocation program for the squatters there.. it said that it was for the northrail/southrail linkage project.. anybody else saw this?

^is that good or not because u mean by the rail tracks

i believe its good.. cuz the tracks are the old railroad tracks of the PNR.. there are alot fo squatters living there right? the government is going to try to relocate them all i think..

pero bakit ilalagay yung mga squater sa mas lalong madaming squater festered area

tigidig sorry but i think you misread my comment..

i meant that there was a booth along the tracks of the old PNR rails and i think it was for people living along the tracks to sign up or something so that they would be relocated somewhere away from the tracks..

finally some news.. taken from philstar.com..

Northrail project goes full-blast next month
By Ding Cervantes
The Philippine Star 01/18/2006

CLARK FIELD, Pampanga — Chinese Ambassador Li Jin Jun assured officials of the Clark Development Corp. (CDC) that the $503-million North Railway (Northrail) project will go full-blast by the end of February.

CDC officials said Li was here over the weekend and briefed them, as well as officials of the Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC) and Malacañang representatives, led by Presidential Adviser for North Luzon Renato Diaz, on developments in the railway project largely funded from a loan from the Export-Import Bank of China.

Li said the old railway of the Philippine National Railways from Kalookan City to Malolos, Bulacan is expected to be fully cleared of informal settlers by February.

This, according to Li, would pave the way for the start of the first phase of the modern railway that would link Metro Manila to the Clark special economic zone, specifically the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA).

Meanwhile, Danilo Francia, CIAC president and chief executive officer, said a joint committee is expected to finish this year a detailed study on a world-class passenger terminal at the DMIA, which is expected to be fully operational by 2015.

Li said the Northrail’s Phase 1 would cover some 80 kilometers from Kalookan City to the DMIA — the first section from Kalookan to the southern part of Malolos, Bulacan, and the second section from northern Malolos to the DMIA.

According to CDC officials, Clark establishments to be affected by the Northrail construction have been given notices to move out.

Among them is the Omni aviation school where First Gentleman Mike Arroyo was said to have trained how to fly aircraft.

"The Northrail project will provide efficient transport service for passengers and goods between Metro Manila and Central and Northern Luzon, particularly between Clark, Fort Bonifacio, Subic Naval Base and Poro Point," said CDC information manager Sonny Lopez.

"The railway system is expected to enhance the development and growth potentials of these areas," he added.

Of the total $503-million cost of the Northrail project, Lopez said $421 million was loaned from the Chinese government through the Export-Import Bank of China "under very concessional terms."

The Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) secured the remaining $82 million from local loans, largely for the relocation of thousands of families living along the old PNR railway.

"The loan terms provide for a 20-year repayment period, inclusive of a five-year grace period, at three percent interest," Lopez said.

^^ well yeah, there's a rail near our village ang they are starting to cleaning things up around the area...

just this weekend, I heard the evening news that those living near the tracks were fetched and brought to Laguna relocation site. they were even given financial assistance for a small livelihood and were given some sort of free or discounted ride agreement in advance when the Northrail/Southrail will be completed. they seemed satisfied. you can see it from their faces.

for me, I believe infrastructure projects like these are very essential. it will really improve commerce, decongest metro manila and attract investors. i bet real estate people will benefit from it too. just in case this will be finished soon, those house and lots and other buildings located far south or north will now be a train away from manila. this is truly one great news.

@ I luv myself, welcome to the forum. This is the beauty of using railways as a form of public transportation. It has immense impact on human interconnectivity and the efficient exchange of goods throughout a given region.

North Rail project starts February

CLARK ZONE, Pampanga - Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Li Jin-jun said the construction of the China-funded North Rail project will commence on the last week of February this year.

The Chinese ambassador made the announcement during his meeting over the weekend with officials of Clark Development Corp., Clark International Airport Corp. and the Presidential Assistant for Central Luzon.

Through his interpreter, Li told CDC President Antonio Ng, CIAC President Danilo Francia, CDC Executive Vice President Victor Jose Luciano and presidential assistant for Central Luzon Renato Diaz that immediately after the clearing operations and resettlement of squatter families, the Chinese firm will built Phase I of the $503-million North Rail project.

The project will provide efficient transport service for passengers and goods between Metro Manila and Central and Northern Luzon, particularly between Clark, Fort Bonifacio, Subic Naval Base and Poro Point.

Phase I of the project will cover an 80-km rail line between Caloocan City in Metro Manila and the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport in Clark, Pampanga.

The initial phase of the project entails the reconstruction and upgrading of the line from the existing Caloocan station to the airport in CSEZ. The goal is to develop CSEZ as Asia-Pacific’s regional transshipment logistics hub.

Of the $503 million, $421 million will be funded by the Chinese government through the Export-Import Bank of China while the Philippine government will fund the remaining $82 million as counterpart fund incorporating expenses for squatter relocation.

Li expressed satisfaction with the report made by Ng that since July last year, Clark has had the lowest power rates among the economic zones in Central Luzon and in the northern Philippines.

He took cognizance of the duty-free and tax incentives, including the low lease rates in Clark, which he said, could entice Chinese businessmen to invest in Clark.

finally.. lol can't believe the chinese are the ones dictating when the project starts, they must've been so pissed of all the stupid delays

:lol: Pinoy talaga.

hahahha.. i think you're right about that renell.. :P

Northrail to bring $25B in investments

The construction of the $503 million Northern Luzon Railways (Northrail) Project will bring in an estimated $25 billion in investments from China over a period of five years, Northrail President Jose Cortez Jr. said Friday.

Cortez said the investments will come from a group of 500 Chinese businessmen who will be coming to the country for a trade conference next month. He said the trade conference will kick off with the start of construction of the railway project.

"They said they are ready to invest around P25 billion in so many areas in the Philippines but they said they will only do that if they see Northrail progressing. So we've got to get this going," Cortez told ANC.

He said Trade Secretary Peter Favila will meet his Chinese counterpart during the conference.

He said the first phase of the project is expected to be completed within three years.

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).

Cortez said the railway is expected to service 165,000 passengers daily, which will increase to 350,000 during its 10th year. He added that unlike the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) and the Light Railway Transit (LRT), Northrail will also carry bulk cargo.

Earlier, Cortez said all political and legal obstacles in the construction of the 32-kilometer railway have been removed.

The Supreme Court earlier dismissed a petition of the UP Law Center and the League of Urban Poor for Action (LUPA) to have the project declared null and void.

In ruling against the petition, the Supreme Court said it is not the "trier of facts" and the petitioners should seek relief from lower courts or the Court of Appeals.

The petitioners argued that the project did not undergo public bidding and was severely overpriced. The UP Law Center said the project is the product of an agreement between two corporations rather than an agreement of two states, therefore laws on procurement should have applied.

The petitioners also said proponents of the project should have acquired a "certification of availability of funds" as required by Republic Act 9184, or the Government Procurement Act.

My wife told me that when she passed South Super Highway yesterday, malinis na daw ang train tracks. Looks good for North and south.

finally.. lol can't believe the chinese are the ones dictating when the project starts, they must've been so pissed of all the stupid delays

hehehe... nice... :) puro delays nalang... kaya ayan gumalaw na ang mga intsik.,

Northrail to bring $25B in investments

The construction of the $503 million Northern Luzon Railways (Northrail) Project will bring in an estimated $25 billion in investments from China over a period of five years, Northrail President Jose Cortez Jr. said Friday.

"They said they are ready to invest around P25 billion in so many areas in the Philippines but they said they will only do that if they see Northrail progressing. So we've got to get this going," Cortez told ANC.

Is it $25 billion or P25 billion? Which one?

hope it won't be derailed by money-craving officials and it won't be the next naia III.

i highly doubt that it would turn out to be another NAIA 3

^ you need a lot of things to go wrong for it to become the next NAIA3. sana walang maging NAIA3.

Northrail to bring $25B in investments

The construction of the $503 million Northern Luzon Railways (Northrail) Project will bring in an estimated $25 billion in investments from China over a period of five years, Northrail President Jose Cortez Jr. said Friday.

"They said they are ready to invest around P25 billion in so many areas in the Philippines but they said they will only do that if they see Northrail progressing. So we've got to get this going," Cortez told ANC.

Is it $25 billion or P25 billion? Which one?


Make it clear people..is it 25 Billion Pesos..or 25 Billion Dollars..

hahaha i wish its $25 Billion.....but damnnnnnnnnn thats a hugeee amount over 5 years dont ya think? me think its gotta be P25 Billion

Anyway, I've seen some improvements along Magallanes and the tracks along South Super Highway. Is it connected to the rehab of PNR? They've also painted the walls and installed some cover along SSH to hide those iilegal settlers.

Anyway, I've seen some improvements along Magallanes and the tracks along South Super Highway. Is it connected to the rehab of PNR? They've also painted the walls and installed some cover along SSH to hide those iilegal settlers.

most probably... but what is very apparent is the recent clearing operations along the PNR line between Gil Puyat (Buendia) and P. Ocampo (Vito Cruz):

http://img377.imageshack.us/img377/3848/img23233nc.th.jpg (http://img377.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img23233nc.jpg)

http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/2745/img23224xa.th.jpg (http://img91.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img23224xa.jpg)

http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/3069/img23242ua.th.jpg (http://img91.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img23242ua.jpg)

http://img377.imageshack.us/img377/781/img23252jw.th.jpg (http://img377.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img23252jw.jpg)
the last image was taken while we were crossing the PNR tracks towards P.Ocampo (Vito Cruz)...

Rehab of busy railway

In what may well be considered as a fitting Christmas gift to the Filipino people, the president of the Republic of Korea, Roh Moo Hyun, joins hands with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in launching today the Northrail-Southrail Linkage Project that is expected to generate a windfall of economic benefits for the country.

The formal ceremonies marking the event will be held at the historic Philippine National Railways station in Tutuban, Divisoria, with the two heads of government leading the laying of the time capsule for the project.

Initially, the project involves the upgrading and modernization of the 32-km stretch of the PNR Southline from Caloocan City to Alabang in Muntinlupa City. It is being funded by a $50.42 million financing from South Korea, about 70 percent or $35 million of which will come in the form of a concessional loan from that country’s Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF). The Korean Import-Export Bank will shoulder the 30 percent balance through export credits.

The Korean financing is a soft loan payable over 20 years with a 2.5 percent annual interest. The interest will be paid semi-annually but the principal carries a 10-year grace period, which means we actually have 30 years within which to pay the loan.

Upon completion, the rehabilitated railway will use 21 new diesel railcar units to transport some 187,000 passengers every day. It will serve a total of 16 stations from Caloocan to Alabang, traversing the stations of Tayuman, Blumentritt, Laong Laan, Dapitan, España, Sta. Mesa, Pandacan, and Paco in Manila; Vito Cruz, Buendia and Pasay Road (Arnaiz Avenue) in Makati; and Food Terminal and Bicutan in Taguig; and Sucat, Parañaque.

According to PNR general manager Jose Ma. Sarasola II, the work will focus on the improvement and rehabilitation of existing facilities. Aside from upgrading of the railroad tracks, stations and flagstops, the project includes the double-tracking of the Sucat-to-Alabang line, the fencing of the station premises and putting up protective devices in all level crossings.

The PNR bridge spanning the Pasig River in Pandacan will have to be raised, a major bridge in Alabang will be reconstructed and several other minor bridges will be replaced. The upgrading of the South Line will actually cover the Alabang to Calamba section in Laguna and will run through the towns of San Pedro, Biñan, Sta. Rosa and Cabuyao. It will also involve the construction of new stations for the Pacita Subdivision area in San Pedro and Sta. Rosa and the improvement of existing ones.

Mrs. Arroyo and the Korean president will also witness the signing of a memorandum of agreement between the two countries for the funding of additional extension work. During the President’s trip to Busan, South Korea for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit, it was mentioned that the new Korean financial package for the PNR project could be in the neighborhood of $70 million to $100 million.

Sarasola said that the Southrail project will eventually be linked to the Northrail project which is undergoing rehabilitation with a $400 million financing from the People’s Republic of China. The first phase of the Northrail rehabilitation covers a 32-km distance from Caloocan to Malolos City.

The entire length of the first phase of the Northrail project is now almost cleared of squatters and actual construction work is about to start. The line will soon be extended to the Clark Special Economic Zone in Pampanga and eventually run all the way up to the city of San Fernando in La Union.

Northrail Corp. vice president for engineering Dennis Jugueta said the Northrail line is a double-track system that will run on narrow-gauge tracks. This can be easily connected with the Southrail, the entire length of which extends to Legazpi City in the Bicol Region.

It’s full steam ahead for the Northrail-Southrail Linkage Project notwithstanding the stumbling blocks, including the heckling and harassment from ill-advised and grandstanding politicians who have been insinuating that Chinese financing carries terms that are disadvantageous to the Philippines.

Even if the linkages between the two railway lines do not materialize immediately, the initial stage will bring immense benefits to the people of Metro Manila, Calabarzon area and Central Luzon once construction for both projects get started.

The two projects will inject a total of $500 million (about P27 billion) into the country’s economy.

Imagine the benefits that this huge amount will generate in terms of the thousands of jobs not only during the rehabilitation of the rail system but also in the actual operation phase, in the sale of construction supplies and materials, taxes and increased demands for foods and services along the length of the railway.

Think of how easily and speedily the railway system will transport people, agriculture products and manufactured goods and how it will perk business and economic activity in the Calabarzon area and in Central Luzon. And how much savings it will give to the government in terms of repair costs of the roads and highways that are now subjected to terrible pounding every day from the thousands of monstrous container trucks negotiating the distance to destinations north and south of Metro Manila.

Think also of how it will enable people to have a faster and cheaper means of commuting between their work sites in Metro Manila and their homes in nearby provinces. Likewise, it will also help the government realize the goal of decongesting Metro Manila.

Shorter travel time will also mean tremendous savings in fuel and reduction of losses to farmers, livestock producers and agribusiness producers. Perhaps, the only ones who will feel unhappy over this development are the “kotong” policemen who will find their “sideline” income reduced because there will be fewer cargo trucks from which they could extort money.

Transportation authorities said the Northrail project can also cut the country’s oil imports by up to 45 percent. This will come in the form of reduced consumption of gasoline, diesel and other petroleum products and reduced imports of passenger buses due to lesser demand for land transportation services which will be displaced by the mass transit system.

Assuming their figures are correct, that should also translate to proportionate foreign exchange savings that would otherwise go to the payments of oil imports.

No doubt, the Northrail-Southrail Linkage Project will help propel the country’s economy to greater heights of growth. And certainly, it deserves the full support of the citizenry, including politicians who have the penchant for belittling projects that will boost the image of the administration.

i love it. this is really good for the filipinos! :)

taken from abs-cbnnews.com..

Bilibid to house railway resettlers

By JONATHAN M. HICAP, The Manila Times Reporter

Families in Muntinlupa that will be displaced by the NorthRail-SouthRail Linkage Project will be relocated to a portion of the New Bilibid Prison reservation.

The Senate Committee on Urban Planning, Housing and Resettlement, headed by Senator Rodolfo Biazon, held a consultation on Saturday together with the National Housing Authority, Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council, Department of Transportation and Communications and families from Caloocan to Calamba to thresh out the issue of relocation.

Rep. Ruffy Biazon of Muntinlupa, who represented his father, said the meeting was in preparation for a Senate hearing.

It is estimated that 31,700 families from Caloocan and Muntinlupa will be affected by the railway privatization and maintenance project.

In Muntinlupa, about 11,000 families will be relocated to a 50-hectare portion of the national prisons where mass housing will be built, Biazon said.

The Phase 1 of the project will be implemented up to October next year and will involve the stretch of Caloocan to Alabang covering 34 km of railways.

Phase 2, to be carried out from 2008 to 2010, involves a 27-kilometer stretch from Alabang to Calamba, Laguna.

Biazon said an in-city resettlement program will minimize the socioeconomic impact of relocation.

^^atleast they will build mass housing to those who will affected by it... kesa pabayan lng nila, baka maging issue pa yun... :)

I hope they renovate and build proper train stations in Metro Manila the ones currently are jokes.

And to stop the squatters coming back the government shouldn't build houses, they should build settlements.

omg. sa wakas. mawawala na ang mga tao sa riles sa PUP. :) and sana pagandahin nila ung sta. mesa station nung southrail para naman magamit koh pag malilimayon.. :)

ey correct me if i'm wrong... diba tutuban station ung link ng north and south rail.? sana total renovation ang gawin doon... gawin nilang mataray. as in. :)

ey correct me if i'm wrong... diba tutuban station ung link ng north and south rail.? sana total renovation ang gawin doon... gawin nilang mataray. as in. :)

technically, there should be a main central station of sorts in Fort Bonifacio. As for it pushing through, ahehehehehe...

Northrail Project To Start On February
Philippine Star - 1/18/06

Chinese Ambassador Li Jin Jun assured
officials of the Clark Development Corp.
(CDC) that the $503-million North Railway
(Northrail) project will go full-blast
by the end of February. Li said the old
railway of the Philippine National Railways
from Kalookan City to Malolos, Bulacan
is expected to be fully cleared of informal
settlers by February. This would pave the
way for the start of the first phase of the
modern railway that would link Metro
Manila to the Clark special economic zone,
specifically the Diosdado Macapagal International
Airport (DMIA). Of the total
$503-million cost of the Northrail project,
Lopez said $421 million was loaned from
the Chinese government through the Export-
Import Bank of China “under very
concessional terms.” The Bases Conversion
Development Authority (BCDA)
secured the remaining $82 million from
local loans, largely for the relocation of
thousands of families living along the old
PNR railway.

sounds promising :)

Northrail Project To Start On February
Philippine Star - 1/18/06

Chinese Ambassador Li Jin Jun assured
officials of the Clark Development Corp.
(CDC) that the $503-million North Railway
(Northrail) project will go full-blast
by the end of February. Li said the old
railway of the Philippine National Railways
from Kalookan City to Malolos, Bulacan
is expected to be fully cleared of informal
settlers by February. This would pave the
way for the start of the first phase of the
modern railway that would link Metro
Manila to the Clark special economic zone,
specifically the Diosdado Macapagal International
Airport (DMIA). Of the total
$503-million cost of the Northrail project,
Lopez said $421 million was loaned from
the Chinese government through the Export-
Import Bank of China “under very
concessional terms.” The Bases Conversion
Development Authority (BCDA)
secured the remaining $82 million from
local loans, largely for the relocation of
thousands of families living along the old
PNR railway.

nice!!!

Vol. XIX, No. 153
Friday, February 24, 2006 | MANILA, PHILIPPINES

Corporate News

BY JENNEE GRACE U. RUBRICO, Senior Reporter
Northrail woos Ayala for railway project

The North Luzon Railways Corp. (Northrail) has invited the Ayala group to look into the possibility of putting up malls that would serve as train terminals for the railways system in a bid to reduce government’s cost for the project.

In an interview, Northrail President Jose Cortes, Jr. told BusinessWorld the company had pitched the idea to the Ayala group in a letter.

"We have conveyed it in writing and we’re just waiting for them to reply. The letter was to inform them of our interest to join whatever activities they have along the way. If they set up a mall, we’ll be willing to put the rail station in the same area to give them the market," Mr. Cortes said.

Northrail, which will initially run from Caloocan to Malolos, Bulacan, will have six stations for the first phase -- Caloocan, Valenzuela, Marilao, Bocaue, Guiguinto and Malolos.

Malls that will serve as terminals for the train system could benefit from the 164,743 passengers that Northrail will transport daily once it starts operations. Northrail said the number of passengers it will transport will later increase to 363,193 daily.

Mr. Cortes said Northrail is giving Ayala the option to choose which terminals it would want to put a mall in. "It would depend on what properties they have," he said.

Ayala Land, Inc. spokesman Jan Bengzon said the company is not as yet in the position to say if it is interested in the proposal. "All I can say is we’re looking at it, as I’m sure other developers are," he said.

He declined to say if Ayala has properties located along the designated terminals for Northrail.

The SM Group, meanwhile, has already signified interest in putting up malls in some areas that are designated for Northrail terminals.

"They are just waiting for the terms of reference," Mr. Cortes said.

Among others, the SM group would like to know if the Northrail stations would pass through its existing malls in the north. SM has malls in Valenzuela and Marilao, and is putting up a mall in Clark, which Northrail could later use as a terminal once the project is extended all the way to the Clark Special Economic Zone.

Mr. Cortes added mayors of the towns that Northrail will be passing through are also talking with the Gokongweis and other mall owners for the possibility of putting up malls that would serve as train stations.

Northrail is asking mall owners to build malls that would serve as terminals for the railways system to lower its costs. Mr. Cortes earlier said that if Northrail builds the terminals itself, it will only be able to allocate P5 million per station.

As this developed, Northrail is set to bid out a contract for a consultant that would advise the government agency on the construction of the railways system.

Mr. Cortes said the government firm wants to have a consultant that could serve as a check and balance to the China National Machinery & Equipment Corp. Group, which is the contractor for the railways project.

"We will get a consultant who will be advising us. And then, they will also draft the terms of reference for the bidding of the [train’s] operations and maintenance later on," he said.

He said the terms of reference for the consultancy contract are currently being drafted. Among the proposed provisions, Mr. Cortes said, is one that requires consultants to look for their own sources of funding.

"We will pay them over a certain number of years, once we start operating, even if they are going to do the consultancy job for three years [before operations]," he said.

He said he has set the limit for the price of the consultancy at $8.5 million. Bidding for the consultancy contract, he said, is scheduled before April.

Among those that expressed interest for the contract, Mr. Cortes said are Louis Berger of the US, which will be funded by the American Eximbank and Systra of France, which will be funded by Paribas. Snowy Mountains Engineering Corp. of Australia, which will be funded by the Export Finance and Insurance Corp., and TUV of Germany, which will be sourcing its funding from KfW, had also expressed interest, Mr. Cortes said.

He said part of the work of the consultant would be to talk to prospective bidders for the operations and maintenance of the railways system "to find out what are their areas of concern."

Among those that are interested in operating and maintaining Northrail, Mr. Cortes said, are the South African government, a private firm in India, and the Chinese delegation

has the construction started already? february is about to end..

nyeh. northrail will start in caloocan...? they have a link to southrail in tutuban naman. why dont they use it instead and build an ayala there. ano ba yan... so do they mean hindi connected ang north and southrail dahil ang noth starts at caloocan and south starts at tutuban? corny.

oh my.. that's ridiculous isn't it. baka kasi naging-mall na yun tutuban?:? I'm hoping there's still some kind of commuter rail across MM that'll link both.

Napaka inconvenient naman ata yan? Or dahil hindi msaydong in demand your route na yan?

mas lalong walang sasakay dyan kung hindi linked ang north to south rail.

from what I know they meet up in calookan. They do not interconnect in the sense that the chinese have now put in a new standard gauge for the rail line while south rail is using the same gauge in fact the same rails!

^^ yes they have the same rails... and if you ride the southrail, you'll notice ang nakasulat sa labas ng ibang train.. "NORTHRAIL". that means, ginagamit ng southrail ung hindi na ginagamit ng northrail... and according to my metro map kasi, the two lines converge in divisoria. the tutuban station... they use one station...

eto ha... i do-drawing ko since wala akong scanner... its lame so dont laugh.

the best i could do... dont laugh ha! :) pangit eh.

http://i2.tinypic.com/opztco.jpg

hahah... ang layo mashado ng mabuhay rotonda sa kanto ng maceda.,, un lang correction ko po. other than that... its as good as a xerox copy of my map... (jowk lang) :lol:

Aok now I understand. BTW, your school is in PUP hehe... From what college?

Aok now I understand. BTW, your school is in PUP hehe... From what college?
College of Economics Finance and Politics. (CEFP) taking up pol sci.

if you can see the map... both north and southrail can start at tutuban. but according to the previous artice... it looks like the northrail will start in caloocan station... (well, given na ung may PNR compound sila don para maging depot.) pero i would really like to see both lines start at tutuban,... un ung magiging grand-grand station. it will further boost the area. malay mo i consider pa ng ayala ung tutuban na gawan ng mall since (medyo lang naman..) na medyo malapit ang avida doon. :) :lol:

but if they plan to also start southrail also in caloocan... well and good. (since its possible... see the map)... but if not... its baduy kasi walang connection...

i'll ask my friends who use the southrail to go to school everyday kung saan nagsastart at nageend ang southrail... (they live in alabang eh) astig no... PNR papunta at pauwi ng school... i encourage everyone to use this line... its a good experience... (ung aircon na train ung sakyan nyo! meron) kasi kung ung bukas... baka tapunan kayo ng mga skwater ng kaning baboy or tubig. :) (i'm not joking. they do that.) that's why they have to clear them up... hehehe... :lol:

For development purposes, I think it behooves upon the government to make Tutuban the grand station for rail network. What's the use of giving it the name Tutuban if it's not going to be center of high speed movement of people and merchandise just like the German autobahn.

College of Economics Finance and Politics. (CEFP) taking up pol sci.

if you can see the map... both north and southrail can start at tutuban. but according to the previous artice... it looks like the northrail will start in caloocan station... (well, given na ung may PNR compound sila don para maging depot.) pero i would really like to see both lines start at tutuban,... un ung magiging grand-grand station. it will further boost the area. malay mo i consider pa ng ayala ung tutuban na gawan ng mall since (medyo lang naman..) na medyo malapit ang avida doon. :) :lol:

but if they plan to also start southrail also in caloocan... well and good. (since its possible... see the map)... but if not... its baduy kasi walang connection...

i'll ask my friends who use the southrail to go to school everyday kung saan nagsastart at nageend ang southrail... (they live in alabang eh) astig no... PNR papunta at pauwi ng school... i encourage everyone to use this line... its a good experience... (ung aircon na train ung sakyan nyo! meron) kasi kung ung bukas... baka tapunan kayo ng mga skwater ng kaning baboy or tubig. :) (i'm not joking. they do that.) that's why they have to clear them up... hehehe... :lol:

YEah, I've read that the Northrail would start at caloocan and end in Malolos, Bulacan. Well, according to my map, the PNR has a service compund there and they also have a training center. It is located in Sangandaan, Caloocan south of UE-Caloocan Campus and some blocks away from La Consolacion School (unfortunately, I have no scanner). I think that the southrail would also start at caloocan station. If they would make a grand station there, then it would be very nice. How about a grand station like that of NYC? (in my dreams perhaps)

I've tried riding in that train. Actually it's not even airconditioned and it's very old, rusty and slow train (fortunately, no one threw garbage or stuff like that on us). My former HS classmate insisted that we should ride that train when we went to her school. She's also studying in PUP. She's a Mech. Eng'g major.

And about those squatters along the tracks, I saw that some of their houses are already demolished. Especially those near SSH.

I understand Northrail will end in Calookan not tutuban. Tutuban itself is not operational they've made some provisions for a line to eventually connect to Port area but this is just a provision.

I'm not sure the north rail line will maintain the presnt standard. The articles back on this thread seem to point out the change in gauge, anyway that's what I remember. Any good reference for this?

i guess its ok if they'll use caloocan station as the end... as long as the southrail uses it also as its end station,... its a bit odd to have the northrail and southrail without a connection... well, as i see in my MM map tama ka xp it is in sangandaan and its just a few blocks away from UE-caloocan... hmmm... i've never seen this place but in my map, it looks like there is room for a lil bit of expansion for the station. (in case they make caloocan station as the grand-grand station)

and i guess, with the rails i see in my map... it is indeed posible to start and end both north and southrail in caloocan... :)
eto nanaman ako. i do-drawing ko ulit. :) wag tumawa. hindi ako artistic.
http://i2.tinypic.com/oub0cj.jpg

question... are they going to completely abandon tutuban and go directly to blumentritt after caloocan station? (well, if ever the southrail indeed will start in caloocan also)
they could...
if they do... then just sell the place. baka may mangyari pa sa lugar na un. :)
:cheers2: :lol:

xp... ganyan din ba ung sa map mo? cheap lang ung map ko eh.., ung 200 sa national bookstore na di-latag-style. cityaltlas yata ung sayo eh... ung book style... alin ung sayo ung malaki o maliit na book? hehehe... :)

Yup. Citiatlas siya. Pero yung amliit lang kasi mahal yung malaki. hehe...

thanks for the drawings guys! at least kahit papano i can visualize what the end product could be.. :)

Wow! Just by looking at the drawing I can visualize the development that can take place around the area. Galing!

Excellent drawing actually.

Tutuban is forever closed, in fact there have been long term talks in converting the 50year lease into a sale. Dont' hold your breath on this though.

North and south rail will surely connect, but my understanding is that you can not drive a train from the north to the south due to the change in gauge the chinese have proposed (this is my understanding hence not a fact if there is better information I'd be glad to hear it).

The citiatlas manila transit map has been posted here a number of times it's unfortunately buried deep in the old threads. Kung matyaga kayo mahahanap niyo iyon and you can repost it. It shows the line 5? which is the circular line that goes around manila,makati,mandaluyong and back.

I think that the southrail(line 5) which is a circular line is already scrapped. Instead the new southrail would be using the old tracks of the PNR from caloocan city to alabang, muntinlupa and would be funded by the Korean Government. Am I right?

line 5 is not southrail,

southrail is a heavy poundage line which can be used for freight,

line 5 is purely light rail in it's original envisage,

YOur right that the new south rails refurb of US$50million is Korean

I think that the southrail(line 5) which is a circular line is already scrapped. Instead the new southrail would be using the old tracks of the PNR from caloocan city to alabang, muntinlupa and would be funded by the Korean Government. Am I right?

yep-yep... korean. nand2 pa yang info sa thread na to... sa may likod-likod...

i hope simulan na rin nila to... any updates on this...? wala akong mahanap eh... mukang matagal pa to...

question po... kailangan po bang isara ang buong southrail when the rehab starts... o staggard? (oh sh*t. spelling. i'm dumb when it comes to spelling)

Some old images of PNR found in the web.

Wagon Shed
http://www.geocities.com/alcogoodwin/Wagonshed.jpg

Old Paco Station
http://www.geocities.com/alcogoodwin/Paco_Station_B.jpg


Map of PNR/MRT/LRT
http://www.lrta.gov.ph/images/srts%20map.jpg

Some old images of PNR found in the web.


Old Paco Station
http://www.geocities.com/alcogoodwin/Paco_Station_B.jpg



i love this picture... okie rin kung ganyang class ng stations... medyo classical ang dating... pero mas cute parin kung modern at glassy ang effect... :) :lol:

^^ Nasasayang ako sa stasyon na iyan. I still remember it in use and picking up my mom when she came from a trip in bicol. It was newly restored in the late 80's and the detailing was nice. And this was the small PNR station!

I don't think southrail will need to close the line. the 50million is primarily for rolling stock. the rest is for station upgrade (or more accurately to put a real station!). The tracks are still quite usable, unlike sa northrail na ninakaw na ang tracks. These just need to be maintained properly and can be done through time. That's why so many people were after this including Ayala.

i cant wait to see the new stations of the northrail.. hopefully it is able to capture the same type of architecture as the one featured above..

^^ the paco station, is it being renovated, right?

Tutuban station photos from the web. :)

http://www.frsevilla.com/extimages/p_tutuban.jpg

http://www.halohalo.info/JAPANsite/photo-studio/Street/Cluster.jpg

http://www.halohalo.info/JAPANsite/photo-studio/Street/tutuban.jpg

http://www.geocities.com/alcogoodwin/17Tutuban.jpg

^^ the paco station, is it being renovated, right?

last i heard, they are building a shopping center.:rant:

^i wouldnt rant if i were you because shopping ctr creates job for the people who are unfortunate besides that building can cause harm, look at that, its a rubble!!!

wait, tutuban and tiangee are the same right except those chinese are immigrant from what i experienced.

I was ranting cos the Paco station would be a beautiful building if they preserved it. There are enough shopping ctrs in the city, and yet they are destroying heritage buildings that show Manila's identity for more shopping centers.

yeah, why do they keep on building structures next to heritage sites? And ironically, most of these historical sites are decaying while new buildings are built next to them. I mean we love to build new but mediocre buildings while fail to renovate old and historical ones. Paco station should be restored because of its cultural and historical value.

w8... if that building is the 'old' paco station... ano gamit nila ngaun? i hope they refurbish that thing... it looks so 1920's classic american chuva...
ang ganda.! yan ang sagot natin sa mga modern rail stations ng ibang bansa...
dapat satin modern ung rails but the stations should keep its beauty without sacrificing technology. :)

I was ranting cos the Paco station would be a beautiful building if they preserved it. There are enough shopping ctrs in the city, and yet they are destroying heritage buildings that show Manila's identity for more shopping centers.

I hate when cities rich in history and culture are slowly getting butchered by these oppressive tasteless walmart structures devoid of any cultural or even architechtural value. :bash: :bash:

w8... if that building is the 'old' paco station... ano gamit nila ngaun? i hope they refurbish that thing... it looks so 1920's classic american chuva...
ang ganda.! yan ang sagot natin sa mga modern rail stations ng ibang bansa...
dapat satin modern ung rails but the stations should keep its beauty without sacrificing technology. :)


yeah!!!!!

classic will always be elegant in some way...

its like classic NYC or modern HK

Can't find the mindanao railway thread but parang dead na iyon so I'll just stick this here!

Vol. XIX, No. 167
Thursday, March 16, 2006 | MANILA, PHILIPPINES

The Economy

BY KERLYN G. BAUTISTA, Reporter
OPEC offers $20M for Mindanao railway

The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has pledged to extend a $20-million overseas development assistance (ODA) loan to the government for construction of the first phase of the long-delayed Mindanao Railway.

The OPEC commitment will complement the $500-million ODA loans that Germany and Saudi Arabia had pledged to the Transportation department for phase one of the Mindanao Railway.

Stretching 82.5 km across Iligan, Cagayan de Oro, Gingoog, Marawi, and Cotabato, the first phase of the Mindanao Railway is expected to benefit 60,000-90,000 commuters daily in the Iligan-Cagayan de Oro "Industrial Corridor."

Transportation Undersecretary for Railways Guiling A. Mamondiong said in an interview that ODA commitments from OPEC and Germany were formalized last week after OPEC Fund head Dr. Suleiman Jasir Al-Herbisch and First Secretary of German Embassy in the Philippines Eike Pete Sachsofsky gave their concurrence to possible loan applications.

FUNDING PROBLEM

Mr. Mamondiong said that ODA commitments from Saudi Arabia, on the other hand, were communicated to the Transportation department through the Committee on Railway and Ro-Ro Systems of the House of Representatives, whose officials flew to Saudi Arabia for a railway investor road show in December-January 2006.

Construction of the Mindanao Railway has been on hold due to lack of government funds since 1995.

The Transportation department has planned to build the Mindanao Railway System, a 2,000-km circumferential railway system, in six phases. Its first phase will connect Iligan and Cotabato. Phase two will connect Gingoog, Butuan, and Surigao. Phase three will connect Butuan, Monkayo, and Davao. Phase four will connect Davao, General Santos and Cotabato. Phase five will connect Iligan, Aurora, Dipolog, Liloy, Ipil and Zamboanga, and phase six will connect Cagayan de Oro, Malaybalay, Damulog, and Davao.

REQUIREMENT

Mr. Mamondiong said that the office of Transportation Sec. Leandro R. Mendoza is now evaluating whether the government can provide budget cover for the repayment of proposed ODA loans for the Mindanao Railway. Availability of budget covers is a requirement that government agencies have to show before they can be allowed by the Finance and Budget departments to apply for ODA loans.

The Transportation department, however, has a budget cover ceiling of only P3.2 billion every year from 2004 until 2010. The amount has been fully allocated for airports and other railway projects until 2008, leaving the Transportation department looking for alternative source of budget cover for Mindanao Railway.

Results of the budget cover evaluation for the Mindanao Railway is scheduled for release next month.

If the Transportation department can source the budget cover, the Mindanao Railway project will be submitted for further evaluation of the Investment Coordination Committee of the National Economic and Development Authority, the government body that approves big-ticket public infrastructure projects.

hmmm I wonder when they will start the north rail and south rail ang tagal tagal na!

Can't find the mindanao railway thread but parang dead na iyon so I'll just stick this here!

Vol. XIX, No. 167
Thursday, March 16, 2006 | MANILA, PHILIPPINES

The Economy

BY KERLYN G. BAUTISTA, Reporter
OPEC offers $20M for Mindanao railway

The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has pledged to extend a $20-million overseas development assistance (ODA) loan to the government for construction of the first phase of the long-delayed Mindanao Railway.

The OPEC commitment will complement the $500-million ODA loans that Germany and Saudi Arabia had pledged to the Transportation department for phase one of the Mindanao Railway.

Stretching 82.5 km across Iligan, Cagayan de Oro, Gingoog, Marawi, and Cotabato, the first phase of the Mindanao Railway is expected to benefit 60,000-90,000 commuters daily in the Iligan-Cagayan de Oro "Industrial Corridor."

Transportation Undersecretary for Railways Guiling A. Mamondiong said in an interview that ODA commitments from OPEC and Germany were formalized last week after OPEC Fund head Dr. Suleiman Jasir Al-Herbisch and First Secretary of German Embassy in the Philippines Eike Pete Sachsofsky gave their concurrence to possible loan applications.

FUNDING PROBLEM

Mr. Mamondiong said that ODA commitments from Saudi Arabia, on the other hand, were communicated to the Transportation department through the Committee on Railway and Ro-Ro Systems of the House of Representatives, whose officials flew to Saudi Arabia for a railway investor road show in December-January 2006.

Construction of the Mindanao Railway has been on hold due to lack of government funds since 1995.

The Transportation department has planned to build the Mindanao Railway System, a 2,000-km circumferential railway system, in six phases. Its first phase will connect Iligan and Cotabato. Phase two will connect Gingoog, Butuan, and Surigao. Phase three will connect Butuan, Monkayo, and Davao. Phase four will connect Davao, General Santos and Cotabato. Phase five will connect Iligan, Aurora, Dipolog, Liloy, Ipil and Zamboanga, and phase six will connect Cagayan de Oro, Malaybalay, Damulog, and Davao.

REQUIREMENT

Mr. Mamondiong said that the office of Transportation Sec. Leandro R. Mendoza is now evaluating whether the government can provide budget cover for the repayment of proposed ODA loans for the Mindanao Railway. Availability of budget covers is a requirement that government agencies have to show before they can be allowed by the Finance and Budget departments to apply for ODA loans.

The Transportation department, however, has a budget cover ceiling of only P3.2 billion every year from 2004 until 2010. The amount has been fully allocated for airports and other railway projects until 2008, leaving the Transportation department looking for alternative source of budget cover for Mindanao Railway.

Results of the budget cover evaluation for the Mindanao Railway is scheduled for release next month.

If the Transportation department can source the budget cover, the Mindanao Railway project will be submitted for further evaluation of the Investment Coordination Committee of the National Economic and Development Authority, the government body that approves big-ticket public infrastructure projects.


Mindanao rail! Yay! At least we know the present administration really wants to get it done. Sana masimulan na within GMA's term.

@bustero - we share the same sentiments.. when are we going to see actual pictures of the construction of either one of the two projects?

well, on a sidenote, i was able to pass by osmena blvd and i was surprised to see that there are long stretches wherein the squatters that live along the tracks are gone! it was really really surprising and great to see that all the houses were leveled.. and since there arent any protests being held i believe that they were relocated to a better place..

^^wow that's good development. at least there's physical signs of progress!

Good to hear:)

Any updates on the northrail project? Did they started already?

Didn't anyone took any pics of the northrail area?

The plan for southrail and northrail:

http://www.lrta.gov.ph/images/srts%20map.jpg

As you can see, the northrail and southrail would intersect at the caloocan station just as what richard24 had said before.

Northrail is not really that near from monumento (LRT 1 and future MRT 3 station) though. Its several blocks to the west.

oo nga... maybe that grand-grand station of lrt1 mrt3 southrail and northrail they're planning for caloocan is pretty big... :) hope so. :)

-------
oh just cheked my MM map... god, ang layo nga nung link ng lrt1 and mrt3 sa southrial-northrail... how the heck are they going to build that "grand station connecting everything"?
hope more info will come out the next couple of weeks. :)

^^ I know, thats what i said earlier. Its quite far. They cant build a massive station connecting the two. They would have to extend MRT 3 all the way to Northrail.

If they would extend MRT 3, parang ang sikip, the road is only 4 lanes lang ata. Kung kin-nonect nila would it be underground also?

I pass by osmena/south super regularly, and as stephencua reported, a lot of the squatters along the PNR tracks have been expelled and their shanties demolished.

However! Over the past few days I've noticed some stubborn squatters REBUILDING their shanties along the tracks! Wala pang 1 month na na-clear, umpisa na naman!

that is very depressing news JudeD.. dpat sunugin na yng mga bahay na yun..

"However! Over the past few days I've noticed some stubborn squatters REBUILDING their shanties along the tracks! Wala pang 1 month na na-clear, umpisa na naman!

that is very depressing news JudeD.. dpat sunugin na yng mga bahay na yun.."

Huwag naman. Baka may masunog na tao roon. Ang mabuti ay igawa na lamang sila ng bahay. Yung bahay na may rejas at may mataas na bakod at may mga guwardia.

I hate this kind of people. They want change in their life but when change is offered to them, they won't accept it!

Uhm I hope the government would extend mrt3 up to caloocan station so it could be linked to northrail and southrail hence the idea of a grand cetnral station would be possible. Imagine, 3 different rail lines in one grand station, cool! That would really be a seamless line! How would the government do the extension of the mrt3, btw? Would it be another line or they would use the same tracks/gauge as the mrt3? (praning ng tanong ko)

I actually wished that north rail and south rail were one thus not neccesitating a terminal in caloocan where you have to change trains. This way Clark airport passengers can get on the EDSA station or Buendia Station.

But too late for this. We're now assigned to two different rail lines.

^^ oonga, bakit di na lang i-extend up to the "grand station" para mas maganda, 3 lines in one station.

Wala na talaga yung Paco Station? Did they demolish the whole structure. If so, it's such a waste. Minsan, whenever I dream about the Philippines as a highly-developed nation, I would imagine Tutuban or Paco Station as busy hubs for our bullet trains. Can you picture a bullet train zooming through Mayon Volcano on its way to Davao (that's wistful thinking!!!)?

sana may makagawa ng train connecting all parts of the Philippine archipelago, from Batanes to Mindanao. Is it possible? :)

Hmm... well I guess its possible from an engineers point of view but from a financial viewpoint it's impossible:D

I remember, a long long time ago, there's this crazy guy running for president whose platform was to build a super highway and network of bridges to connect the entire archipelago. I forgot his name, I wonder where he is now.

In Discovery channel, I've watched about engineering and stuffs about creating a world highway, connecting all the continents of the world. If we are able to build a national highway with a railway that would connect all parts of the Philippines, it would be an advantage, for it might have the one of the longest bridge in the world.

I remember, a long long time ago, there's this crazy guy running for president whose platform was to build a super highway and network of bridges to connect the entire archipelago. I forgot his name, I wonder where he is now.
baka si eddie gil :D

well the highway exists from apari to davao, it's only cut in bohol to samar and leyte to surigao. Both of which would probably need tunnels not bridges, the straits there are very treacherous and wide. I think it's possible maybe 25 years from now to afford it. building technology keeps getting cheaper , relatively. You could connect the main islands first Luzon-Samar-Leyte (already connected to Samar)- Mindanao then from Leyte to Cebu to negros to Panay to Mindoro and back to luzon.

DBP to shoulder up to $10M of Northrail
BusinessWorld
4/17/2006 2:21:38 PM
Ma. Elisa P. Osorio

The Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) is set to finance up to $10 million of the government's three-year, $503.04-million North Luzon Railways Corporation (Northrail) project.

"Right now, they need technology to come in; so, we will be funding their consultants," DBP president Reynaldo G. David said in an interview before the long weekend, noting that consultants plus systems will cost between $8 million and $10 million.

"We can provide what they want," Mr. David said. "We will be involved. I am sure of that. I know - although they haven't come out straight and ask us for money - but I know they are going to come to us. That's for sure."

The first phase of the project involves an 80-kilometer rail line between Caloocan City in northern Metro Manila to Diosdado Macapagal International Airport in Clark Special Economic Zone in Pampanga.

Phase II involves a railway to Subic Freeport and Special Economic Zone in Zambales, Phase III extends to Bonifacio Global City and Phase IV is an extension to Poro Point Special Economic Zone in San Fernando, La Union.


A chunk of the project's total cost, $421 million, will be funded by the Chinese government through the Export-Import Bank of China. The terms include repayment period of 20 years, inclusive of a five-year grace period, at three percent interest rate.

The remaining $82 million, which will cover relocation of as many as 40,000 families and other expenses, will be funded by the Philippine government.

During Northrail's ground- breaking ceremony last April 5, its President Jose L. Cortes, Jr., said this is the first double track system in the country. "This will result in simultaneous rail operations in both the north and south-bound tracks," he explained.

The project also includes reviving the Philippine National Railway Main Line North which has been nonoperational for more than 25 years.

Northrail's first phase will use 21 diesel-powered trains capable of a top speed of 120 kilometers per hour, but will cruise at speeds of 80 to 100 kph. Maximum travel time from Caloocan to Malolos will be 45 minutes compared to buses which average 145 minutes of travel time for the same route.

Mr. Cortes said the initial fare rate will be P10 boarding fare plus P1 for every kilometer for a total fare of P42 from Caloocan to Malolos. He said this is cheaper than other land-based means of transportation that will cost around P70.

ive been seeing alot of reports.. but no pictures.. anybody out there with pictures of the site???

..........Phase III extends to Bonifacio Global City.........


how?
is this the circular subway thingie? or a new line that will cross the metro all the way to bgc? or are they going to use southrail line?

Great article...clears up what they plan to do with Northrail's network.

I think the extention to BGC will be a subway... At least, in the original plans. I dont know about now, because they turned the proposed northrail/subway multi-modal station site into Market Market and the other existing structures in the area.

how?
is this the circular subway thingie? or a new line that will cross the metro all the way to bgc? or are they going to use southrail line?
originally yes, i think it's really a pr blurb though, they originally had it planned but many things have changed since and they'll need detailed feasibilty to see if it will work,

this raises a question I had before... where along EDSA shall Northrail cross to reach BGC?.... anyways.. my girlfriend told me that there used to be an old rail track that crosses underneath the Guadalupe Bridge.. do you think they'd revive that track... the tracks has been buried under the settlers along the river...

^ imo near MCBD. :dunno: works well for commuters.

^^pau pi that's pasig line hehe medyo that's like before the war pa! It's one of the tram lines in Manila. Anyway your question is partly answered by the fact that the orginal circle line included Shaw Boulevard which is now part of MRT* (or maybe it really just was not aligned properly) Anyway that part is over EDSA through crossing.

if the connection between northrail (the subway) and southrail will be in BGC then mawawala na ung southrail tracks in manila? or it will still operate...?

the southrail will still remain.. there will just be a spur line to BGC...

@bustero... prewar pa ba un.. tranvia rail.. okay ahh.. :) well still wondering where the northrail will cross when the phase 3 becomes realized...

Several variations to this my friend. There's one that makes sense in that eastward it cross from manila following really old tracks to shaw and crosses over edsa at Crossing (EDSA Central) then down south along C5 to Fort at he Supposed terminus (market market), then cuts back to makati under Ayala (theres actually a provision from MRT to under Ayala for those who remember the MRT being built) then somewhere inside makati connecting back to Sta ana. There's another variation that follows the first part to the fort intermodal terminus (market market) then cuts back all the way to south rail. In other words it uses parts of mrt8 and South rail. I think it's possible that a connecting spur line is being considered from mrt 8 station c5/Pasig Blvd to Fort to Inside the fort along Lawton (the main avenue of the old and what's left of the old fort bonifacio - apretty big road too) connecting to Nichols interchange and on to the airport. This would make a lot of sense actually.

kelan namn kya ito matatapos?

wow, ang haba ng route, could someone post a map of the proposed MRT8?

mrt8 if i'm not mistaken, is the line from sta. mesa, manila to angono, rizal then eventually until laguna...

it will connect to both line 3(shaw?) and line 2(v. mapa)... :)

btw... has anyone seen any activities along the northrail line? constructions?

I that MRT ay natayo na, that would be the most confusing line in the metro, unlike the LRT, MRT3, LRT2 -->madaling mag-travel. MRT8--> malilito ata ako dito, hehehe

Several variations to this my friend. There's one that makes sense in that eastward it cross from manila following really old tracks to shaw and crosses over edsa at Crossing (EDSA Central) then down south along C5 to Fort at he Supposed terminus (market market), then cuts back to makati under Ayala (theres actually a provision from MRT to under Ayala for those who remember the MRT being built) then somewhere inside makati connecting back to Sta ana. There's another variation that follows the first part to the fort intermodal terminus (market market) then cuts back all the way to south rail. In other words it uses parts of mrt8 and South rail. I think it's possible that a connecting spur line is being considered from mrt 8 station c5/Pasig Blvd to Fort to Inside the fort along Lawton (the main avenue of the old and what's left of the old fort bonifacio - apretty big road too) connecting to Nichols interchange and on to the airport. This would make a lot of sense actually.

hmm..interesting. Thanks! Yeah, i've mentioned the line under Ayala ave, several times in the forum. Whatever route they do, it should increase connectivity between the CBDs and the suburbs.

I noticed na single rail lang presently ang PNR sa Muntinlupa up to nearby Laguna towns , will it be also upgraded to two rail and the shanties /structures along the perimeter will be also be demolish like in Makati City nowadays?

The present US$50million upgrade is basically very little line, it's all new trains and fixing some stations. I thought it was two rail lines anyway that's how they presently have it.

Just passed the south rail line in two places, Pandacan and Nichols and it's two rail lines already.

^ wow...that fast? nice to hear, anyways.

Maybe it was built so fast because it is only a short line and where else would it be fitting to build that short line but in Pandacan. Maybe the President graced that opening to make it consistent.

Actually the line is old! I just mentioned it because someone said that it was a one line affair. So Southrail really only needs new trains and nicer stations. I actually saw some refurbished train waiting stations. I'm not sure though if these are the new ones supported by the Korean Loan package but they seem workable.

from Sun-Star Pampanga
Monday, April 24, 2006
No more worries for NorthRail resettlers: housing office
By Dante M. Fabian

*Gov’t acquires lot for resettlement site
* Officials inspect site in Barangay Atlu Bola, Mabalacat
* 32-hectare land sufficient to house 6,000 families

MABALACAT -- National Housing Authority (NHA) general manager Rico Laxa Wednesday announced that the government has acquired land for the resettlement of thousands of families living along the path of the NorthRail transit system in Mabalacat and San Fernando.

Laxa said this as he and regional NHA officials, together with Mayor Marino “Boking” Morales, NHA director Azor Sitchon and Sto. Tomas Mayor Lucas Arceo inspected the resettlement site in Barangay Atlu-Bola here Wednesday afternoon.

Laxa said the Atlu Bola resettlement is a big site, with an area of 32 hectares sufficient to accommodate about 6,000 families.

Laxa and San Fernando Mayor Oscar Rodriguez also inaugurated another relocation site in Barangay Calulut for those who will be relocated from the railroad tracks in the City of San Fernando.

According to Laxa, the land will be subdivided into 40-square meter home lots to be amortized by the beneficiaries at P200 per month.

The NHA director said the government housing office is speeding up the completion of public facilities in the resettlement site such as the drainage, roads and open spaces, a school, a church and centers for religious activities.

During the inspection, Laxa said in order to facilitate the speedy completion of the project, the Local Inter-Agency Council (Liac) will invite the management of utility firms Pampanga Electric Cooperative (Pelco) 2 and Mabalacat Water District and request these to mobilize personnel to install water and electric lines for use by the families.

He explained that this is necessary to avoid a repeat of the causes of delays in electric connections and water supply and other complaints of settlers in the resettlement projects in Bulacan.

He however said instead of being stifled in its objectives for the railway dwellers, the NHA is even happy with the Bulacan experience where many lessons were learned particularly in the politics involved in such projects.

Laxa said still, NHA should be given credit for the speedy resettlement of about 13,000 families who lived along the railroad tracks since the obstacles have been completely eliminated and the beneficiaries now happily living in their new homes.

Laxa described this “as the fastest and most efficient relocation done in the history of the NHA.”

Laxa said the award of affordable home lots to the railway squatters will be the Arroyo administration’s first step in empowering and uplifting the socio-economic stature of the people.

He said the ownership of their family home lots would create a great difference in the lives of the poor dwellers of the railway and even provide these with livelihood opportunities.

Laxa explained that the new resettlement project, located in a pollution-free environment, will be provided with all amenities provided for under Presidential Decree (PD) 965 and Batas Pambansa 220.

While expressing appreciation to Laxa for the early approval of the resettlement site, Morales said the new housing project for the urban poor sector to be affected by the NorthRail manifests the poverty alleviation program specified in the 10-point agenda of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Morales said an access road will also be built to serve the beneficiaries in traveling between their homes and the McArthur Highway in going to their places of work.

Laxa said Morales has also agreed to allot funds for the roadway and has also requested Senator Lito M. Lapid to help in financing the road project.


(April 20, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here.

^^ - That's good news. :) The NHA will build houses for them right?? Where will they stay for the time being?

may pics na ba sa southrail at northrails?

^^ - That's good news. :) The NHA will build houses for them right?? Where will they stay for the time being?

Good question. While they are at it, they should also try to provide some means of livelihood. Perhaps some of them can be employed in the construction of the railway and receive preferential treatment for employment once the project is completed.

Another problem in similar projects in the past is that the resettled families actually sell the homes given to them and go back to squatting.

Hi, does anyone here have any updates on these rail tracks/sides cleaing?
Did they start clearing up the PUP Sta. Mesa portion? :drunk: or was this picture the Caloocan portion of Northrail?

The beauty of PUP was seldom noticed because of these eyesores ! :bash:
Kaso lagot sila sa Unyon ng magaaral! :lol:

http://www.inq7.net/archive/2006/apr/27/zoom1.jpg

^^ Oooh, are they already making work on it?

Hi, does anyone here have any updates on these rail tracks/sides cleaing?
Did they start clearing up the PUP Sta. Mesa portion? :drunk: or was this picture the Caloocan portion of Northrail?

The beauty of PUP was seldom noticed because of these eyesores ! :bash:
Kaso lagot sila sa Unyon ng magaaral! :lol:

http://www.inq7.net/archive/2006/apr/27/zoom1.jpg

you're also from PUP? i havent been there this summer... i'll try to check it out this coming enrollment... :)

i agree with you na hindi nakikita ang beauty ng campus ng PUP dahil sa mga yan.... although ang ganda na ng main gate at pinapaganda pa nila... :)

sana lang i-relocate nila ng maayos ang mga tao dito coz i'm sure... tama ka.. magrereklamo mga aktibista niyan... :)

btw... i think that picture isnt sta mesa. madaming puno eh.. :)

you're also from PUP? i havent been there this summer... i'll try to check it out this coming enrollment... :)

i agree with you na hindi nakikita ang beauty ng campus ng PUP dahil sa mga yan.... although ang ganda na ng main gate at pinapaganda pa nila... :)

sana lang i-relocate nila ng maayos ang mga tao dito coz i'm sure... tama ka.. magrereklamo mga aktibista niyan... :)

Hehehe, I am a PUPian ECE graduate 1997 ... tawag samin ng mga aktibista .. opportunista! hehehe wala kami pakialam sa kanila e! :rofl:

Sayang ganda ng PUP ... dahil nakakatakot maglakad sa Teresa minsan! hehehe

I smell Uncle Sam is behind all of these North Rail investigation bullcraps!
Big Brother don't want us to trade and make deals with Communist China... :bash: :bash: :bash:

http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=politics01_april24_2006
North Rail slams revival of Senate probe

By Fel V. Maragay

“WHY are they investigating a project that they have already investigated thrice?”

An incensed Jose Cortez, president of North Rail Corp. (NRC), yesterday deplored the Senate’s revival of the inquiry into the $500 million North Rail Project (NRP), saying it will lead nowhere and will just be a waste of time.

Cortez said a Senate investigating panel came out with findings that the flagships transportation project was bereft of irregularities. He said Senator Rodolfo Biazon, chairman of the Senate committee on housing and urban development, was one of the signatories of the report.

He dismissed as baseless the allegation that the NRP is “overpriced.”

“We are not engaged in any hanky panky,” the NRC president said. “We in the North Rail Project have already been investigated three times by the Senate.”

The Senate plan to reopen the inquiry into the NRP came in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling on Executive Order 464, which struck down its provision requiring Cabinet members to seek presidential clearance before they can testify congressional hearings.

The opposition-dominated Senate also announced that it will resume its inquiry into the “Hello Garci” tape scandal, the alleged rigging of the results of the 2004 elections and the P726 million fertilizer fund mess.

The NRP is funded by a $400 million loan from the Chinese government. The remaining $100 million will come from the Philippine government as its counterpart fund.

Construction work has started on the 32-km NRP, which will run from Caloocan City to Malolos, Bulacan.

A number of senators led by Senate President Franklin Drilon have called for the scrapping of the project based on a technical study by the University of the Philippines Law Center that it is overpriced and grossly disadvantageous to the government.

Beijing has issued a veiled threat to stop investing in the country in protest over the Senate allegations that the North Rail Project is tainted with irregularities.

“I am assuring our people that there is no overpricing in this project. I can show to the senators that on a per kilometer basis, the North Rail Project is even cheaper than the rehabilitation (of the southern line of the Philippine National Railways),” he said.

The rehabilitation of the southern line is being funded by the South Korean government.

Cortez voiced the suspicion that the Senate inquiry into the NRP is being resurrected to extract information that may be used for a new impeachment case that the opposition is planning to file against President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

“They should have pity on the people who are working on the project. This is a very noteworthy project that will benefit our people,” he said.

Meanwhile, Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs Gabriel Claudio advised the Senate to focus their attention on several important pending bills instead of spending precious time on investigation of alleged scandals in the administration.

Claudio reminded the senators that when they resume session on May 15, they only have 10 days of session left before the sine die adjournment on June 9. “GMA bashers in the Senate seem to be falling over each other in a mad rush to reprise their hearings on alleged electoral fraud and other issues obviously intended to discredit and weaken the administration.”

Claudio said the urgent bills awaiting Senate approval include the 2006 national budget, antiterrorism bill, bio-fuels bill, electoral reform bill, rationalization of fiscal incentives reduction of income tax for low-salaries workers, creation of credit information bureau and resolution on Charter amendments.

there u go again phil politics as hindrance to the country's development when will it end

&ing senate!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That entire part of congress is filled with bogus characters that are unqualified for any type of job regarding governing.

what a bunch of grand standing idiots.. tsk tsk..

There's an URGENT NEED to TOPPLE the LAME SENATE - the hindrance to Philippine development. 2/3 of its body is made of crocodiles flesh and skin, while the head represents a boa constrictor's head (curse to Drilon- the lover of the family with the big C surname (cancer ng lipunan, pamilya na nangunguna sa corruption) and his mafiosi fratmen). DRILON - the crow is calling your name.

Then again our ever lovable Senate intervenes. What on earth is wrong with them?! I smell politicking! They're doing anything and everything just to go against Malacanang. Pati ba naman ang isang importanteng infra project like this guguluhin pa nila! Oh please, as if you guys are squeaky clean. Kaya nga gusto ko unicameral government. At sana naman, huwag botohin 'yan si Drilon! He's so balimbing. Leave Northrail alone!

"At sana naman, huwag botohin 'yan si Drilon!"

That's the nature of politics ever since Caesar's time. Even if we change to parliamentary system, there will always be somebody who will take up the cudgel of playing Devil's Advocate. Kung wala si Drilon, somebody will be there. And this is a truism hanggang sumabog ang mundo.

But Drilon is not playing Devil's advocate, he's just being ridiculous.

this is plain stupidity... events like this drives people to lose their ounce of hope for this country. I just dont know what to say anymore.

So, what happens if Senate revives the investigation? Can they enjoin its construction or can they just move ahead with the construction while the matter is being investigated?

I dont think construction can still continue while the (4th)investigation is going on. But the point is the senate has other important things to tackle. By doing another set of investigation (which they already did 3 times!), they wouldnt just waste precious time, this would again lower the already critical investors' confidence in the country. over and over gain we have seen these people ruin our chances to move forward. one step forward, two steps backwards. come on! this is more than ridiculous.

^^ Is there a way to impeach the Senators for gross abuse of confidence?

These traditional politicians Guingona, Pimentel et al thinks they are still living in the shadows of martial law.
They could not see the light ahead of them, they tend to be always against to whom it may concern till kingdom come!

They are like dinosaur who can't adopt to the changing landscape... I hope these kind of thinking die out the dinosaur way ... :pet:

Dont get me wrong, I admire them they are brilliant lawmakers!
But I believe their purpose have long been overdue, they are becoming more of a liability. :goodbye:

Like vacuum tube in the advent of Silicon technology.

^^^^ I don't admire them. They belong to a generation of leaders that HAS FAILED IMMEASURABLY!!!!! They not only failed to move our country forward, they also squandered the momentum of prosperity left by the generation before them. May they rot in hell!!!

What? The Senate interfereing again?

Ano ba naman iyan??? Why is our Legislative branch like that?

Damn it!

This is another example on how too much politics gets in the way of progress.

De Castro padlocks NorthRail settlers' homes

First posted 10:03am (Mla time) May 01, 2006
Inquirer

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


AT LEAST 10 houses in a resettlement area for informal settlers were ordered padlocked the other day by Vice President Noli de Castro after he confirmed that these had been sold by their beneficiaries to non-qualified persons for the money.

A furious De Castro, chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC), directed the National Housing Authority to effect the closure order and evict the illegal residents.

De Castro ordered the closure after inspecting the houses in Northville 5, Barangay (village) Batia in Bocaue, Bulacan province.

He also castigated those who sold their houses.

"Binalaan ko na kayo noon pero hindi kayo nakinig. Ngayon, kailangan ninyong pagsisihan ang inyong matitigas na ulo [I warned you before but you did not listen. Now, you have to suffer the consequences of your being hard-headed]," De Castro told those who had sold their houses.

The Vice President had warned that the selling of houses in resettlement by the government under the NorthRail resettlement project was illegal.

Despite the lack of funds, the government was still spending millions of pesos to provide housing for qualified beneficiaries so that they could have decent lives, De Castro said.

De Castro said but since some of the relocatees proved to be very stubborn, he had no other recourse but to impose the corresponding penalty.

He said neither the seller nor the buyer of an illegally sold house in the relocation site would be spared from punishment because both would be evicted from the project.

He said the NHA would be more than glad to find other qualified beneficiaries to occupy the houses.

De Castro said that the selling and leasing of the houses awarded to beneficiaries violated the rules of the NorthRail relocation program.

Cynthia D. Balana

i went to marilao last holy week... and i discovered SM Marilao is sitting right in front of the railway tracks ng Northrail project (in fact property na rin nila)... kaya may malawak na space sa harapan nila... so if ever magiging station ung SM? if not, wala nang acces sa SM ung highway... SM would have to be happy sa bukid road sa likod ng mall

great job for De CAstro... those professional squatters should properly be dealt with!... they should also be blottered... we paid for their houses and they sell it somebody else so they can squat again and hope to receive another house!...

kelan ba construction nito>?

It should've started na dapat, diba?

Any updates on the Northrail project? Did they began already with the construction?

An old article with good info, manufacturer and actual cost of system.

MANILA, PHILIPPINES: The proposed $503-million North Rail project will not be a fiscal burden to the government, Socioeconomic Planning secretary Romulo L. Neri yesterday said.

Mr. Neri told a briefing yesterday that phase one of the project will not require huge government subsidies and that better loan terms had been negotiated.

"The actual cost of constructing the railway comes at $244.74 million and this is reasonable when you compare it with Spanish and Japanese railway systems that were under consideration previously," he said.

Mr. Neri said the project was initially priced at $600 million but the government was able to bring it down to $503 million.

The project proponent is North Railways Corp., a subsidiary of the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA). A loan of $395.22 million in the form of supplier's credit will come from the China National Machinery & Equipment Corp. while the BCDA will provide an additional equity of $107.8 million.

"We were supposed to pay for it in 10 years but we were able to bring it up to 20 years. Interest payment was also reduced from 7% to 3%. This was the first time that China has given a 20-year concessionary loan to a country," Mr. Neri said.

Estimates released by the National Economic and Development Authority said construction of the entire 32.138-kilometer double-track rail system will cost $244.74 million, with each kilometer costing around $7.6 million.

The rest of the $503 million will be used to finance the relocation of squatters, taxes on capital expenditures, and project management funds for the NorthRail Project Management Support Team.

Aside from its economic value, Mr. Neri said the project is attractive because it is expected to speed up passenger and cargo travel between Metro Manila and Central Luzon.

The North Rail project is aimed at revitalizing the long-abandoned Main Line North of the Philippine National Railways (PNR). It will be implemented in four phases.

In the first phase, six stations -- Caloocan, Valenzuela, Marilao, Bocaue, Guiguinto and Malolos -- will be established. It involves the construction and conversion of the existing PNR track into a double track, land acquisition for areas where the existing PNR track is too narrow, procurement of 30 four-car diesel train sets, and the provision of a train control and signaling system.

I have some relatives that are being payed with money beecause their houses are covered by the spaces allotted for the Northrail, theyre in Pampanga so that means work is really being done.

This is the company doing the work on the railway, somebody call them and ask for info for our sake hehe

CMEC Office in the Philippines, No.26 Magdalena Circle, Magallanes Village, Makati, Metro Manila, Philippines,
Tel:(63-2)8526946, Fax:(63-2)8529801.

Haven't seen this postec before, may be wrong but note the interesting parts in bold. If true then the concerns about diffrent gauges to southrail, an extension to fort boni adn the subway, kinds of trains are all answered.

NORTHRAIL PROJECT

Project Description:

The Northrail Project will provide efficient transport service for passengers and goods between Metro Manila and Central and Northern Luzon, particularly between former military bases which has been converted and developed into industrial, commercial and tourism estates (Fort Bonifacio, Clark Air Base, Subic Naval Base and Poro Point). The railway system is expected to enhance the development and growth potential of these areas.

Phase I of the Northrail Project will cover an 80-kilometer rail line between Caloocan City in Manila to the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) at the Clark Special Economic Zone (CSEZ) in Pampanga.

Other phases will involve the construction of:
Phase II – branch line to Subic Freeport Zone
Phase III – extension to Bonifacio Global City
Phase IV – extension to Poro Point Special Economic Zone, San Fernando, La Union

The initial phase of the Northrail Project entails the reconstruction and upgrading of the line from the existing CaloocanStation to the DMIA at the CSEZ. This was born out of a plan to reactivate rail service to the North to develop the CSEZ as Asia-Pacific’s regional transshipment logistics hub. Phase I is further divided into two sections: Section 1 from Caloocan to Malolos and Section 2 from Malolos to DMIA.

Features of Phase 1 Section 1 of the Northrail Project:
Type of trains Diesel Multiple Units (DMUs)
Number of DMUs 21 DMUs
Number of Tracks Double track (separate tracks for north and south bound trains to allow for simultaneous operation)
Track Gauge Narrow gauge (1067 mm gauge similar to existing track gauge of the South Rail to allow for interconnection/connectivity of the North and South Rail Projects) will require Right-of-Way acquisition with width of at least 30 meters (15 meters per track).
Operating Speed Approximately 80 t0 130 kph (for Inter-Urban Service)
Total Track Length 32.2 kilometers
Travel Time Approximately 32 minutes (with 3 minutes headway)
No. of Stations & Depot 6 train stations (Caloocan, Valenzuela, Marilao, Bocaue, Guiguinto, Malolos) and 1 depot in Valenzuela

Projections:
Total Project Cost (Est.) : US$503.04 million
Construction Period (Est.) : 3 years

Proposed Financing Plan for PRC ODA to the Project through the China National Machinery and Equipment Group (CNMEG):
Foreign Counterpart 95% of project cost
Interest Rate 3% per annum
Loan Repayment Period 20 years (inclusive of 5 years grace period)
Estimated daily number of passengers 41,186 passengers per day (based on an estimate that the Northrail System would only be able to attract 25% of total number of commuters estimated at 164,745 passengers commuting daily in the north and south bound directions)
Estimated farebox structure P10.00 boarding fee plus P1 per kilometer or
a total fare of P42.00 from Caloocan to Malolos or vice versa

ALL SYSTEMS GO FOR $503 MILLION NORTHRAIL

With the ground breaking rites held last April 5, it's all systems go for the construction of the $503 million North Rail Transit that will initially cover Caloocan to Malolos, Bulacan but eventually reach up to Ilocos, North Luzon Railways Corporation (Northrail) President Jose L. Cortes, Jr. said.

The North Luzon Railways Project Phase I Section I, spans 32.2 kilometers from from Caloocan to Malolos. The project will have six stations namely: Caloocan, Malabon, Valenzuela (main depot), Bocaue, Marilao and Malolos.

Cortes said for the first time in Philippine railway history, the country will have a double track system. "This will result in simultaneous rail operations in both the north and south bound tracks," he said.

The project also includes reviving the Philippine National Railway (PNR) Main Line North which has been non-operational for more than 25 years.

The Northrail will have a diesel powered train capable of a top speed of 120 kph 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 which average 145 minutes of travel time for the same route.

Cortes said the initial fare rate will 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 pointed out.

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 would be able to interconnect with the Southrail and eventually with LRT-1 and MRT-3 without having to get out of the common terminal in Caloocan.

He said of the $503 million, $421 million will be funded by the Chinese Government through the Export-Import Bank of China under very concessional terms. The terms include 20 years repayment period inclusive of a five-year grace period at three percent interest rate. "This is the first of its kind from China," noted Cortes.

The remaining $82 million will be funded by the Philippine government as counterpart fund which would already incorporate expenses for squatter relocation.

Northrail Corp. has signed a contract with China National Machinery and Equipment Group to undertake the construction of the project. Cortes said target completion date for the project is on 2007. He added that Northrail is expected to spur economic growth in both Central Luzon and Metro Manila with the faster delivery of goods and services, alleviate traffic congestion in Metro Manila and improve Metro Manila's environmental condition.

The North Luzon Railways Corporation is a subsidiary of the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA).

oh... so does this mean bye-bye to the subway to global? since it says that the rails would be the same as the one in the southrail... i smell less gastos pero its good. :)

seems that they'll just put a branch line to BGC... since the southrail line passes through the nearby southsuper highway. :) am i right? or is there any other posibility? kasi i read somewhere (or was it on tv?) na makati is clearing the squatters along their part of southrail.


and i'll quote something.

at the start of Northrail's initial operations, passengers would be able to interconnect with the Southrail
i love this... i can go to clark from my school. :lol: (lalo na pag vacant hehehe...)

kasi i read somewhere (or was it on tv?) na makati is clearing the squatters along their part of southrail.

the Makati section of the Southrail is already clean of squatters err... informal settlers... they've already started clearing the Manila side near P.Ocampo (Vito Cruz)

nako... malapit na rin i-clear ung sa PUP! :) :) :colgate: :) :) yipeee.!

i'm happy for them coz they will (hopefully) get new homes.. :) these people are really nice... we did some study last year in these rail-side houses and they're really good people... i hope the govt treats them right.. :)