We finally have great news for this project!! Here we go!

North Rail project launched
RP, China start building rail project from Manila to Ilocos

By EDMER F. PANESA & WILLIE CATAPAT

The Philippine and Chinese governments yesterday broke ground and launched the first phase of the most awaited North Rail Manila-to-Ilocos project aimed at reviving and modernizing rail transport north of Manila that has been abandoned for a quarter of a century.


China’s new ambassador to the Philippines, Wu Hongbo, reaffirmed Beijing’s commitment of a new 20-year concessionary financing for the rail project. House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. envisioned the project as a major boost to the economy.

De Venecia said the project begins the opening phase of a well-planned effort to rebuild the country’s railway system in North and South Luzon and on Panay Island in the Visayas and build the first rail system in Mindanao in a hundred years.

"This will be a lasting legacy of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to the Filipino nation. The railways will open up communities to greater trade and economic opportunities — and will unite our people," De Venecia said.

In his speech, De Venecia, on behalf of the Philippine government, expressed gratitude to Chinese President Hu Jintao, his predecessor Jiang Zemin and China’s new head of parliament Wu Bangguo and the leader he succeeded, Li Peng, for their relentless effort to the Philippine railway modernization project.

The first phase of the modernized South Rail to Sorsogon will be launched with the Manila-to-Calamba (Laguna) line, which will be financed by the South Korean government.

According to Philippine National Railways (PNR) general manager Jose Ma. Sarasola II, China is providing $400-million in concessionary financing for the Caloocan City to Malolos (Bulacan) line, which will eventually extend to the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (formerly Clark Air base) in Angeles City, Pampanga.

Sarasola said the Phase II of the project is the line branching out to the Subic Freeport Zone in Zambales.

He added that Phase III covers the line from Caloocan to the Fort Bonifacio Global City in Taguig, while Phase IV extends the line all the way to north to San Fernando, La Union passing through Pampanga, Tarlac, and Pangasinan.

Minister Mao Qian of the Chinese Embassy called the project as the "largest Chinese project in Southeast Asia," and the first 20-year concessionary loan even extended by China to any government in three percent interest and includes a five-year grace period.

Sarasola said 23 Chinese engineers are already in the country for final technical deliberations on the project, a double track system that will use narrow gauge tracks compatible with PNR lines.

The system will use diesel multiple units with a design that can be upgraded to electrified system that China successfully developed.

When completed, the 32-kilometer line is estimated to ferry 350,000 commuters daily, including those from the LRT and MRT lines with which North Rail will be interconnected.

The PNR, Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA), and its subsidiary, the North Luzon Railways Corp., Department of Transportation and Communications, and the Chinese government-owned National Machinery and Equipment Corp., are jointly undertaking the North Rail project.

Meanwhile, the DOTC and PNR are now working on the clearing and relocation of some 35,000 squatter families that built shanties dangerously close to the rail tracks.

The two agencies are now coordinating with Housing Secretary Michael Defensor.

The Chinese government is also partly financing the squatter relocation to new sites with a new housing.

The project is the initial phase of an ambitious national railway modernization program proposed by De Venecia and to which China and South Korea have already pledged substantial financing.

Last week, an international consortium backed by the governments of Germany, Austria, France, Thailand and India jointly pledged over R500 million to complete the feasibility studies for the Mindanaowide rail system, which President Arroyo and De Venecia have envisioned to open the island’s economy and unify its Christian, Muslim and Lumad communities.


Groundbreaking


The formal groundbreaking and launching of the Caloocan-Malolos phase of the North Rail project was held yesterday at the Caloocan City terminal of the Philippine National Railways (PNR) attended by top Philippine and Chinese government officials.

Speaker Jose de Venecia, one of the proponents of the project, said the launching of the first phase will signal the revival and modernization of the rail transport north of Manila that has been abandoned for almost a quarter of century.

Also on hand during the occasion were Caloocan City government officials, led by Mayor Rey Malonzo, China’s ambassador to the Philippines Wu Hongbo, Department of the Transportation and Communications (DoTC) officials and other representatives from government agencies involved in the project.

De Venecia thanked the government the President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Chinese President Hu Jintao, and his predecessor Jiang Zemin for their relentless support to the Philippine rail modernization project.

China is providing $400 million in concessionary financing for the Caloocan City to Malolos line, which will extend to the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport in Clark, according to PNR general manager Jose Ma. Sarasola II.

He said Phase II of the project is in the line branching out to the Subic Freeport Zone in Zambales. Phase II covers the line from Caloocan to the Fort Bonifacio Global City while Phase IV extends the line all the way to San Fernando in La Union passing through Pampanga, Tarlac, and Pampanga.

Sarasola said 23 Chinese engineers are already in the country for the final technical deliberation on the double-track system that will use narrow gauge tracks compatible to PNR lines. (Willie Catapat)

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Superb! Looking forward to this getting completed. Surely one step in the right direction for Luzon's economy. It is also a sign of DMIA getting ready to be a major international airport in the region.:cool:

wow that is great finally a modern railway system for our country is on the track that is really superb, jst imagine the huge benefit this rail system will do for our economy, im proud of it for our country and people, thanks for the generous countries like china who provided financing and who believes in our country and government

indeed...

I noticed that they are gonna be using Diesel trains that can be upgraded to electric powered trains. I wonder when they will upgrade. The original plan was to use high speed trains to link BGC to the Clark airport, but i guess they will only do that when the airport is built.

If only we had renderings and pics of the project and trains.

All systems go for $503-million Northrail project

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 first phase of the project spans 32.2 kilometers from from Caloocan to Malolos.

It will have six stations namely: Caloocan, Malabon, Valenzuela (main depot), Bocaue, Marilao and Malolos.

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.

The 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 R10 boarding fare plus R1 for every kilometer for a total fare of R42 from Caloocan to Malolos. "This is very much cheaper than other land-based transportation averaging R70," he pointed out.

The Northrail project is part of the Strong Republic Transit System composed of various railway projects around the country.

At the start of Northrail’s initial operations, passengers would be able to interconnect with the Southrail and eventually with LRT-1 and MRT3 without having to get out of the common terminal in Caloocan.

Of the $503 million, $421 million will be funded by the Chinese Government through the ExportImport 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.

Target completion date for the project is on 2007. The 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.(EHL)

Before the economic crisis, the planned trains were Spanish built electricity driven trains that can cruise at a speed of 210 kph. Sigh...oh well this is still very good. And they did say that they can upgrade the trains to electric trains.

:applause: for the northrail project. BTW, where they hell is Malolos? I've been wondering for a long time now.
When will they reach clark? Phase II?

Additional info...

Chinese bank grants $400-m fund to Northrail project

The Export-Import Bank of China (China Eximbank) extended a $400-m loan to finance the construction and rehabilitation of the first segment of the Northrail Project, covering 32 kilometers of rail from Caloocan City to Malolos, Bulacan.

The project involves the reconstruction and conversion of the existing Philippine National Railways (PNR) track into a double track version; land acquisition; utilities diversion; procurement of 30 four-car diesel multiple unit (DMU) type trains; and provisions for a train control and signaling system.

China Eximbank will finance 79% of the total project cost estimated at $503m, while North Luzon Railways Corp. (NLRC) will shoulder 21% through commercial loans.

To be completed in 2-3 years, the railway would initially service six stations along Caloocan, Valenzuela, Marilao, Bocaue, Guiguinto, and Malolos, and a depot in Valenzuela City.

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

The second phase of the project will link Bulacan to the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport in Clark, Pampanga.

Possible appearance of the trains....DMU's in England

http://freespace.virgin.net/ian.jessop/mu/gall/170503.jpg
http://freespace.virgin.net/ian.jessop/mu/gall/170109.jpg
http://freespace.virgin.net/ian.jessop/mu/gall/175003.jpg
http://www.o-keating.com/hsr/165006.jpg

Not bad...Since Northrail is new, trains might look better than these. Plus, they can be upgraded to electric powered trains.

For more information on DMU's check out this website: http://www.o-keating.com/hsr/dmu.htm

Some of the best looking DMUs: Hopefully our trains will be as good or better than these...

http://mercurio.iet.unipi.it/pix/gb/diesel/dmu/180/180.jpg
http://mercurio.iet.unipi.it/pix/gb/diesel/dmu/180/UK180111A.jpg
http://mercurio.iet.unipi.it/pix/gb/diesel/dmu/180/180-c-jp.jpg

BTW, where they hell is Malolos? I've been wondering for a long time now.
malolos is in bulacan. still far from clark. :(

Oh..:( I wonder when they will start Phase II then, which will go all the way to Clark. This project sounds like it could take many, many years...

i was actually hoping it would be something similar to the bullet trains of japan. :(

http://www.screensaverjapan.com/machine/shinkansen/shinkansen2.jpg

No way!! We aint rich enough for those...maybe in like 2050 or something;) hehe

the DMU's are a good start (much better than PNR) and they can be upgraded to faster electric trains that can to the high 100's to 200 km/h

So it's clear that we're not getting second hand trains from China?

Doubt it...but i'm not sure where we are getting the trains from. I hope they are brand new and are some of the latest models. $503 million USD is quite a lot, so lets just see.
I just posted DMU trains in England to give an idea of how the trains might look like.

i think they should do phase 1 & 2 all together, because commute time from clark to manila is long and no tourists would be willing to travel more than 1 to 2 hour. besides if the gov't want to get investors t invest in clark, they need the infrastructure.

i hope we get nice trains too =)

some more good news!!! if projects like these continue to come, i'd surely vote for GMA!!! hehehehe....

2007 sounds pretty good. it takes forever to settle disputes on relocation of squatters... that sucks. hope that by 2010, Phase II and Phase III (which isn't too long) will be completed. just in time for the end of GMA's 2nd term. hahaha... hopefully the DMIA will be built up into something like NAIA 3 by that time as well... or bigger... that would be sweeeeet!!

oh yeah, re: the trains, I earlier read on DOTC's site this article about how the country had already recieved the shipments of donated trains from China even before the railway was built because China didn't wanna keep them any longer. the ones that were to be used for Northrail??? weird though, cuz I read on another article also on DOTC's site that they had ordered steel instead of aluminum trains from China to keep costs down. so that means they bought new trains cuz they had an option and they had to keep costs down. who knows...? I hope they're as good or better than the ones GreyX posted above...

yeah i hope they are nice trains and aerodynamic! and hope they are not reject or left over from china! =)

man greyx u should know where malolos is :P

anyways at least we have trains. imo it's wise not go all the way to Malolos, they need to see if there are faults, problems, etc. that way it would be changed or fixed before they move it all the way to Clark

well, i dont know much about Bulacan...

What do you mean its wise not to go all the way to Malolos? they are going to Malolos. but yeah, they could fix things up before they go all the way to Clark

Absent, so just to get things clear, are we using Chinese surplus trains? or are we gonna get new trains? If we are getting surplus trains, how do they look like, are they reasonably new?

i mean Clark

Absent, so just to get things clear, are we using Chinese surplus trains? or are we gonna get new trains? If we are getting surplus trains, how do they look like, are they reasonably new?

I have no idea... i hope we get new trains cause using surplus trains on the Northrail would be just as bad as the Southrail right now - with trains that move less than 2kph... hahahaha! thats an exaggeration, but still.

well, there is an advantage to slow and old trains.... they're too slow to be derailed off the tracks! hehehehe....

I don't get why it takes so long to build railways though.... it took like 3 years to build the Megatren, right? why would it take just as long to lay down tracks along a span of 32km?? they don't have to build all those concrete pillars and stuff. and there are only 6 stations. the only thing that takes time is the squatter resettlement...

yeah 3 years is kinna long, maybe because of the relocation of the squatters.

they should get this done asap so they could do the phase 2!

those trains are cool :)

yeah... phase II and III should be put up soon cause that would create the first rail transport for three huge ecozones - Clark, Subic and FBGC - and would physically connect all three... but would that eliminate the plan for the Makati Monorail the mayor was planning??

I have no idea... i hope we get new trains cause using surplus trains on the Northrail would be just as bad as the Southrail right now - with trains that move less than 2kph... hahahaha! thats an exaggeration, but still.

well, there is an advantage to slow and old trains.... they're too slow to be derailed off the tracks! hehehehe....

I don't get why it takes so long to build railways though.... it took like 3 years to build the Megatren, right? why would it take just as long to lay down tracks along a span of 32km?? they don't have to build all those concrete pillars and stuff. and there are only 6 stations. the only thing that takes time is the squatter resettlement...

there's renovation or building of Northrail stations, fixing and renovating the rails to suit the trains, squatter removal, maybe security barriers. i dont think the gov't is planning to put secondhand Chinese trains simply into our old lines.

Squatters continue to defy order to vacate PNR tracks

By FRED ROXAS

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — Thousands of squatters continue to defy a government order to demolish their illegally constructed structures, including big commercial buildings, on the Philippine National Railways (PNR) property stretching from Meycauayan to Calumpit in Bulacan to give way for the construction of the North Rail Manila-to-Ilocos project.


Last Monday, the Philippine and Chinese governments launched at the PNR terminal in Caloocan City the first phase of the most awaited North Rail project designed at reviving and modernizing the rail transport service north of Manila that has been abandoned for a quarter of a century now.

PNR General Manager Jose Ma. Sarasola said that China is providing $400 million in concessionary financing for the Caloocan-to-Malolos railway which will be eventually extended to the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) at the Clark Special Economic Zone.
Sarasola said that the railway would later be extended to the Subic Freeport zone in Zambales.
Many small-time squatters alongside the PNR railway tracks in Bulacan have already started demolishing their shanties after the government financed their relocations to their former places.

The Chinese government is also partly financing the relocation of the squatters to to various housing projects.

The Department of Transportation and Communications and PNR are working on the clearing of some 235,0000 squatter shanties built dangerously close to rail tracks.

However, the owners of big commercial and residential buildings continue to ignore the government’s order to demolish their structures at their expense.

Some of the buildings, constructed without government building permits, even occupy portions of the shoulders of the MacArthur Highway.

The law provides that buildings must be at least 15 meters away from the center of a national highway.

The owners of some big commercial buildings in Malolos City claimed that these were constructed with the verbal permission of a son and close relatives of deposed President Joseph Estrada.

Other permanent buildings, including some banks and houses, were constructed with the permission of other local government officials.

Professional squatters who encroached on the irrigation system between the MacArthur Highway and the PNR tracks in Bulacan have been causing destructive floods every rainy season since 1973 in many Bulacan towns, old residents claimed.

When completed, the 32-kilometer rail project from Caloocan City to Malolos City will ferry some 350,000 commuters daily. The PNR North Rail line will be linked to the Light Rail Transit lines.

if they cant get the tracks cleared, the project could get delayed or stop. it's so funny how people in our country dont have any fear of the gov't!

if they cant get the tracks cleared, the project could get delayed or stop. it's so funny how people in our country dont have any fear of the gov't!
i certainly do not like to see a good project, that would benefit a lot of people, put to waste just because some people wouldn't want to cooperate.

:grouphug:
let's unite pinoys to make our country good.

i agree.....these business establishment should cooperate because this project would benefit them so much!

i didn't know that there are a smuch as 235,000 squatters on the PNR line =( that's a lot of people to deal with and relocate.

I hope they use new trains...

I agree, the project is taking such a long time because squatters are not willing to cooperate. But it is quite understandable because they have no where else to go. The government should relocate them to proper housing that is NOT far away from schools and jobs.

After all the relocation is completed, the project should go pretty quickly. And i think they are building security barriers to keep squatters from going back in.

China likely to expand railway funding
Source: Manila Bulletin, Tuesday, 06 April 2004
Author: Lee C. Chipongian

The Philippine government's proposal that China expand its loan agreement to include the Philippine National Railway's P2 billion rehabilitation projects for the Main Line South (Manila-Legaspi) and extension to Matnog, Sorsogon is likely to get approval soon, a trade official said last week.

Trade and Industry Undersecretary Thomas Aquino, who met with Chinese officials led by Vice Minister An Min of China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) during the Philippines-China Joint Trade Committee (JTC), said Beijing" expressed willingness" to cooperate with the local agencies for the PNR projects.

China, he said, is willing to assist the country further and to reach an agreement "on the country's request for similar preferential terms for financial assistance to upgrade the PNR mainline (Manila-Legaspi) and its extension to Matnog, Sorsogon." Full rehabilitation of the PNR Southern Line operations was one of the flagship projects of the Ramos administration.

The Chinese Philippine governments in February signed a $400 million loan agreement through the Export-Import Bank of China for the development and rehabilitation of the North Rail Project Phase I-Section 1 projects, for Caloocan City Malolos, Bulacan line.

Aquino disclosed, "both sides agreed to push forward for the early implementation of the Manila north rail projects" which is being funded with special concessions.

The project will provide for an effective transport system in central and northern Luzon using a modern computer railway system, and promote the economic development in the region.

The railway project with a length of about 32 kilometers will stretch from Caloocan, Metro Manila to Malolos.

The Caloocan-Malolos segment is Phase I, Section I of the North Rail Project, which was approved by the NEDA Investment Coordination Committee in December last year.
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Hussin vows establishment of Mindanao railway system
Source: Philippine Star, Tuesday, 06 April 2004

The implementation of the ambitious Mindanao railway system will be one of the priority flagship projects of President Arroyo's first 100 days if she receives a fresh mandate in the May poll, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Gov. Parouk Hussin said yesterday.

"The President gave me her assurance that this will be one of her flagship projects since this will speed up Mindanao's economic growth," he said.

Hussin, who is running for senator under the administration ticket, said the recent signing of a memorandum of understanding committing a consortium of German, French, Austrian, Indian and Thai railway experts to jointly finance a $10-million feasibility study is the first real serious effort in jumpstarting the plan.

"The President knows it too well that what we need in Mindanao is an efficient mass transit system that would carry people and goods across the region," Hussin said.

Under the plan, a Thai-Austrian-German group will take care of the project covering the Iligan-Cagayan de Oro City line while the Indians will cover the Iligan to Zamboanga City line.

Another railway line will connect Cagayan de Oro City to Butuan City and Surigao, and another line will link Surigao to Davao City and General Santos City.
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some more good news - taken from the LRTA site. things are finally moving along in the PNR!

Looks like the Arroyo administration is really trying to create and revive new and existing railway and train systems in the country!! Mindanao gets 4 brand-new rails! we have a few MRT/LRT proposals in Manila and Cebu. And the Northrail has kicked off while the Southrail's rehab is about to start already...!! sweet!!!

good news! hope it would push tru very soon!

imo the squatters are the biggest obstacle. but it should be taken care of carefully. it should not be rushed

Great news, thanks absent!:)

China has been aiding us a lot lately with our rail programs. :okay:

This is the best i can find of a Chinese DMU (diesel multiple unit) upgraded into an EMU (electric multiple unit)
http://members.tripod.com/~railway_china/lanjian-blue-arrow-01.jpg
http://members.tripod.com/~railway_china/lanjian-blue-arrow-02.jpg
It looks quite good. Appears to be quite aerodynamic. We will probably get something like that as our DMUs are upgradable to EMUs, just like this one.

wow, they're realy gud news! & here's another one, (i cant seem to find the news article though), nway, guess what, the PNR line in the south will soon be rehabilitated as well, via a consortium led by South Korean investors. construction probably starts by the later part of the year. o diba??? ang galing!!! u see, the relocation of squatters is now underway specially in the makati area. displaced families are now being brought to a new resettlement site in cabuyao, laguna, 45 km south of manila. the arroyo admin is realy doin all the efforts to modernize our railway transport system. konting tiis na lang, it won't anymore be an agonizing wait then.

very good news!! yeah.. I heard about the South Koreans funding (?) the Southrail modernization...

Yeah i read about the modernization of Southrail. Really good news, imo. I think good transportation is key to urban growth.
I'm sure the South Korean investors will do a good job in rehabilitating that discarding line.

Greyx-- I don't see the pictures of the converted Chinese DMUs. Tripod doesn't allow hotlinks.

hmmm...i guess i didnt know it was from tripod:D

here is the link.
http://members.tripod.com/~railway_china/lanjian-blue-arrow-01.jpg
http://members.tripod.com/~railway_china/lanjian-blue-arrow-02.jpg

still can't see it:D

i just want to share this, guys i had a weird dream last night, i was in a train in the philippines, funded by china. all of the trains were used with different type and color. the inside was refurbished but the chairs covering were all destroyed with holes. and at one time a part above the door even fell off. =) it was a really weird dream and i could relate it to this project. i hope it wont be a reality =)

hahaha.. if maintanance is poor after the completion of the project then maybe it will look like that (remember LRT1 before..) maybe the dream is a warning.. send an email of this to the phils govt.. maybe only then will they begin to realise the value of maintenance :D..

btw a question i can't stop pondering is why China would want to fund the Northrail project so enthusiastically?

hi lumpia! it think it would be hard to get the gov't to realize that importance of maintenence =)

yeah why china?

hahaha.. if maintanance is poor after the completion of the project then maybe it will look like that (remember LRT1 before..) maybe the dream is a warning.. send an email of this to the phils govt.. maybe only then will they begin to realise the value of maintenance :D..

btw a question i can't stop pondering is why China would want to fund the Northrail project so enthusiastically?

Maybe they wanna easen tensions from the Spratly conflict. Or maybe they wanna just get closer to the Philippines for future investment or alliances.

yeah, i'd say this is politically motivated. so i'd reckon the spratlys are related to this.

hahah.. so while the filipno govt is busy clearing squatters of nearly ALL of the proposed line. the chinese secretly annex the spratlys (they are just a few small island for goodness sake! :crazy: haha), must be something over gaining a few philippine faces to show an undercurrent of support for China (if a spin can be made on the story in Beijing), thus heightening the US's tensions toward Asia (China and US as we all kno dont really get on well :D).. china must now kno the value in global politics of making friends other than North Korea! i just think the govt shouldve been abit more cautious in accepting this.. one day the chinese govt or the US may ask the phils govt to take sides again (sigh.. maybe) and wher would the govt stand then?? China, its closest neighbour to the north west who had greatly boosted the Phils infrastructure? or the US, its old coloniser, who had helped in the Abu Sayyaf crisis??...

they are just a few small island for goodness sake

i think you must be missing something from the picture. if these were "just a fewl small island", then China, the Philippines or any other country wouldn't care about it. there are huge potential gas reserves underneath these islands, therefore a big source of development. that's why numerous countries are claiming it.

Exactly...those gas reserves are the most important thing in Spratly. No.1 reason why all those countries want it.

Hmm, since we don't have a 'Southeasternrail' thread and we're on the topic of China as RP-financier, I'll just post this here:

Arroyo promises railway services for Bicolanos

The Philippine Star 04/24/2004

President Arroyo has vowed to extend the train services to several areas in Bicol should she win the presidential election, saying that she will fulfill the dream of her father, the late President Diosdado Macapagal, of having the "Bicol Express" in operation.

This was revealed by the President last Sunday at the Sorsogon City Gymnasium with her vice presidential running mate, Sen. Noli de Castro.

Mrs. Arroyo said her administration was doing all it can to improve the country’s transportation channels, especially in the rural areas.

She said the Chinese government, through the China National Technical Import-Export Corp. (CNTIEC) has granted a loan amounting to $900 million to finance the railway project.

The President said the loan was a result of the country’s solid and strong bilateral relations with China.

She added that the bidding for the construction of the railway project will be done as soon as the election ban imposed by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) expires.

However, Mrs. Arroyo asked the Bicolanos to support her bid for a fresh six-year term if they want to make sure the railway project pushes through. The railway services will pass through Legazpi and several other areas, and end at Sorsogon.

Meanwhile, top officials of Bicol showed their support for Mrs. Arroyo by joining her campaign sorties in the region. These included Sorsogon Gov. Raul Lee, Camarines Sur Gov. Luis Villafuerte, Albay Gov. Al Francis Bichara, Camarines Norte Gov. Jesus Typoco, Catanduanes Gov. Leandro Verceles and Masbate Gov. Antonio Kho.

I'll make this the South and Northrail thread;)

Nice article..It should make the whole line complete. Looking forward to it.

if one looks up a map of the philippines in an old encyclopedia, you might see rail lines in the map... that's the path of Northrail and Southrail i reckon..

Has this been posted here before?

Philippines' Neda Studying Plan to Revive Panay Railways
ILOILO CITY, April 14 Asia Pulse - The National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) is studying the possibility of reviving the Panay Railways.

NEDA Assistant Regional Director Art Valero said they hope to come up with a recommendation after two months.

However, he said that if the budget for the project is too high, they might opt to have it elevated to their higher office for further study.

Valero said they will be putting weight on the financial consideration of the project, especially if the government will be shelling out some fund.

Plans to revive the Panay Railways have received various reactions both from the local officials and national officials who hail from Iloilo.

Senate President Franklin Drilon in one of his visits here said he has no concrete idea about the revival of the railway, but he believes that the plan requires a lot of money.

Former Trade Secretary and now senatorial candidate Mar Roxas has been consistent with his opposition to the project.

Sharing the view of Drilon, Roxas said that passengers would instead take the bus or other forms of transportation than take the train.

Local officials here also raised concern on relocation issues.

Based on record, the rehabilitation of the railway would affect more than 4,000 families all over Panay.

Despite these, Panay Railways Inc. General Manager Hannibal Lipardo expressed optimism that the plan will push through. In fact, a ground breaking ceremony was already set sometime in March but was postponed due to some reason.

Last 2003, the Department of Transportation and Communication also signed an agreement with a European consortium, Systra Philippines, Inc., Voest Alpine Schienen Gmbh and Siemens AG, that will undertake the rehabilitation.

The project covers a 122-kilometers stretch from Iloilo down to Aklan. It is expected to become operational in 2009.

i think the gov't should first concentrate in the Northrail and the Southrail projects. then if any problems arise in those projects, they should be considered and therefore we can avoid them in the next rail project, wherever in the counry they may be

I agree with renell. I think Northrail and Southrail should be the priority as they are vital links to the Metro. The government should make them as good as they can with the funds available. but nonetheless, the more infrastracture outside MM the better as it will boost commerce in those areas.

BCDA plans to sell stake in North Rail Transit System
By Marianne V. Go
The Philippine Star 04/26/2004

The Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) plans to divest its stake in the North Rail Transit System, a top BCDA official said.

BCDA president and chief executive officer Rufo Colayco said the project has been downgraded from its original concept of a high-speed railway system connecting the Diosdado Macapagal Airport in Clark to Metro Manila, to a slower commuter transit system serving the Central Luzon area.

It is well-known that while a commuter system offers more social benefits, it requires continuing government subsidy as it not always profitable and is capital-intensive, Colayco explained.

From the start, Colayco clarified that the National Government and BCDA already had an understanding that BCDA would set up the project but that it would eventually be turned over to a more appropriate entity such as the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC), the Philippine National Railways (PNR) or to a totally new railway corporation.

In fact, the borrower for the loan extended by the Chinese government for the revised North Rail project is the Department of Finance and not the BCDA, Colayco pointed out.

The estimated cost for the new railway system is P32 billion, of which P6 billion would be allocated for the squatter relocation and P26 billion for the railway system.

The Chinese loan would cover 80 percent of the project cost, while the remaining 20 percent would be sourced from a consortium of lenders.

To date, Colayco reported that BCDA has contributed P720 million for the project.

It is now waiting for government’s decision as to which entity would take over the railway project.

The PNR, while the logical choice is largely inoperative and still has many financial problems of its own to resolve, Colayco said.

The planned North Rail Transit System would start from Caloocan City, to Malolos, Bulacan.

----------------------------------
Mercado pushes Northrail project

K-4 senatorial candidate Orly Mercado urged yesterday the government to begin the construction of R26.1-billion Northrail project that would provide an efficient transit transport between Metro Manila and Central Luzon.


"Let us not waste time in starting this project because there are reports that the trains donated by the Japanese government are exposed to the elements and starting to rust at the maintenance yard and motor pool of the Philippine National Railways," Mercado said.

He said that the Phase I of the project covers the rehabilitation of the railroad from Sangandaan in Caloocan to Calumpit in Bulacan but it has encountered difficulties due to the lack of in-city relocation site for the squatters from Malabon and Valenzuela.

"The trains were donated three years ago and were used by the PNR for regular trips from Caloocan to Bicol but some of these coaches were already beyond repair," he said. "They can’t stop the trains from rusting because of our mean and changing weather."

The project is the second biggest Philippine-China venture that has been described as a proof of the strenghtened bilateral relations between the two countries despite their political differences involving the South China Sea.

"We are wasting time and resources in not implementing the project as soon as possible because this project will enhance the growth potential of Metro Manila and Central Luzon," Mercado said. "If this project will be completed in three year time, it will provide an effective transport service for passengers and goods between Metro Manila and Central Luzon, connecting former military bases such as Fort Bonifacio, Clark Air Base, Subic Bay Naval Station and Poro Point," he added.

BCDA draws up NorthRail exit plan
By BERNIE CAHILES-MAGKILAT

The Bases Conversion Development Authority, (BCDA) is devising an exit plan over its ownership of the North Luzon Railways Corp. (NorthRail) saying it has not enough financial muscle to sustain a usually subsidized commuter train service.


BCDA president and general manager Rufo Colayco said they have several options for NorthRail including a spin off to an appropriate agency whether under the Department of Transportation and Communication, Philippine National Railways or a new rail company that will be created by Congress.

Colayco said that BCDA can no longer take care of Northrail after it has been converted into a commuter train service from the original high-speed transit.

He explained that history has proven that all commuter trains in the world whether in Japan, Europe or the US are not self-sustaining because aside from being capital intensive, the management are constrained from raising fares as commuter trains serve as mass transport system for the common masses.

As a result, most commuter trains are not selfsufficient and are therefore subsidized by the government,.

But in terms of social cost benefit, commuter trains have played a major role that the benefits created offset and far outweighed the subsidies extended by the government, Colayco sdaid.

But BCDA does not receive funding from the national government because based on its mandate, this agency is supposed to be self-sustaining from the proceeds of the privatized former military basis in the country.

BCDA then has no money to sustain the subsidy for NorthRail, Colayco noted.

Initially, Phase 1 will be opening commuter but world class train services with upgrading, potentials for higher speeds and capacities.

For now, Colayco said, BCDA was chosen as the vehicle to launch NorthRail because other agencies are not ready to handle the project. In the first place, PNR is also undergoing rehabilitation program.

There will be four phases of the NorthRail project wherein Phase 1 will be developed first.

Phase 1 involves an 80kilometer rail line between Caloocan City in Metro Manila and the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport in Pampanga.

Already, financing for Section 1 (Caloocan to Malolos) of Phase 1 has been secured by the Department of Finance from the Chinese government.

Section 1 has a total project cost of P32 billion of which P6 billion would be used for the relocation of squatters along the PNR’s Main Line North.

The bulk of the P26 billion financing is composed of an 80 percent loan financing from the Chinese government which supply the rolling stock and the remaining 20 percent to be borrowed from the private sector.

For this year, BCDA has allocated P720 million for the Section 1 project construction, which should be constructed first to complement the development of the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport in Clark.

Construction of Section 1 will also coincide with the construction of the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway, which is supposed to start this month.

Construction of Section 1 of Phase 1 has been prioritized as it is also part of the Subic-Clark Alliance for Growth (SCAD), which is an integral component of the W-Growth Corridor concept for North Luzon.

hmm.. this is gonna take a while, with all this red tape and shit. i'd say it'll be over 2008 the least, and 2011 the most, just right after a new president comes to power.

we had forgotten that it was downgraded to a commuter-rail system, meaning endorsing DMIA as the new int'l terminal for Metro Manila would be harder.

Mindanao rail project study finished
From Manila Bulletin
Vol. 376 No. 29
April 29, 2004



The dream Mindanao rail project is just a step away from realization after the Philippine National Railways (PNR) turned over yesterday the P55-million feasibility study to leaders in the region to complete the final phase of preparations for the historic Cagayan de Oro-Iligan City rail line.


The turnover is the final gesture indicating that the start of the construction on the first of four planned new rail lines that will criss-cross Mindanao will push through as scheduled.

It came on the heels of the groundbreaking two weeks ago of the Chinese government-financed North Luzon Railway Project, which runs north from Caloocan City to San Fernando City, La Union.

Considered as the first rail project in the South in over a hundred years, the Cagayan de Oro-Iligan City rail line will be built by a consortium, backed by the Thai and German governments.

House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr., the highest government official who witnessed the turnover, said the $1-million feasibility study is a gift of Thaipicon Industrial Co., a major rail developer in Thailand, at no cost to the Philippine government.

Thaipicon’s Mindanao rail project will be financed by the Thai Export-Import Bank owned by the Thai government.

The project is also supported by the German Siemens Group, which is backed by the German government’s KFV soft-loan financial institution.

Mayors Vicente Emano of Cagayan de Oro City and Franklin Quijano of Iligan City received the feasibility study from the PNR and the coordinator of the Mindanao Railways, Gene Mamondiong.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who gave the go-signal in mid-2003 to build the long-awaited rail line that would extend to the Misamis Oriental Export Processing Zone, had appointed Mamondiong for the project.

Also on hand to witness the turnover were Congressmen Constantino Jaraula of Cagayan de Oro City, Alipio Badelles and Abdullah Dimaporo of Lanao del Norte, and Oscar Moreno and Augusto Baculio of Misamis Oriental.

De Venecia and Baculio were instrumental in promoting the 2,000-kilometer Mindanao rail, whose first phase is the Cagayan de Oro-Iligan line.

The Speaker had proposed for the modernization of the country’s rail system, including the Mindanao Rail and Luzon North Rail projects, while Baculio witnessed the signing of the Mindanao-wide rail agreement in New Delhi, India last month.

“This will open Mindanao to a whole new era of economic development and social transformation,” De Venecia said. (Edmer F. Panesa)

Thats great! Mindanao desperately needs reliable mass transportation to move goods and people. If it wasnt for all the security threats down there, Mindanao has tons of potential. It doesnt get hit by Typhoons often, and the land there is quite fertile.

Ooo neat. THis has been in the planning for a long time now. I saw conceptual plans for this when I was working in the Philippines in 1999.

asides rails, they should also establish tollways in Mindanao. railroads seem like a good idea, though there's the big security factor

i prepared a map (tried to) to show where the northrail's gonna be. here it is.

http://www.geocities.com/eipangan/images/northrail_040430_01.txt

enjoy! :cool:

thanks rico!

Hehe.. I like the watermark. :) Now we can say that Rico is a legend. :okay:

hahahaha. thanks. it's also interesting to note we also have railtracks passing through baliuag and san miguel... at least according to microsoft's map. :D

geez, we should really start reimproving our rail system. it's transportation for the masses. :D

:applause: Nice map, Rico. Great job. Visuals really help understand things. Now i know where Malolos is:D

Thanks for the visual aid man!

it's quite ironic though that the best map i can find in the internet is made by the americans. we filipinos aren't really good at mapping our own country. :(

The Philippine-made maps aren't really that good, they are greatly lacking in detail. We have this National Mapping Agency but I don't think it will compare to the US Geological Survey.

nice :okay: good job rico

Railway Project in Mindanao to start in Aug.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
May 4, 2004

Cotabato City- The construction of the first phase of the Midanao Railway project will commence in August, a Malacañang official announced recently.
Virgilio Leyretena, deputy presidential assitant for Mindanao, said the construction of the project, which would connect cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan, had received a $485- million fund from the German and Thai governments.
Leyretena said the Philippine National Railways had already turned over the feasibilty study for the project.
The Mindanao Railway project has been in the drawing board for years now and the lack of fund had prevented the government from pursuing it.
Then Sen. Santanina Rasul said the railways would not only ease the movement of people from one place to another but would also boost the island's economy.
She noted the contry's with extensive railway systems had proved that economic growth comes with trains.
Leyretena, also the director of the Mindanao Peace and Development Fund (MPDF), told reporters here that the frist phase of the railway project also cover Misamis Oriental Exprt Processing Zone.
"This will open Midanao to a whole new era of economic development and social trasformation," Leyretena said.
Rosa- May V. de Guzman, PDI Mindanao Bureau.

Good news isn't it...I think M. railway project will be constructed in a fast phase than the North and South Railways because this is the first time Mindanao will have their own railway system and they don't have to worry on illigal settlers mainly because they will yet to construct rail lines...No more obstructions...

it would really very benefitting for our country specifically our growth areas.... this will help decongest the Manila area...

Sweet! This is great for the impoverished, Mindanao. It will really help spur economic growth in that area as it has great potential, if it wasnt for all the violence. And like pau said, it will help decongest MM as ppl will be convinced to stay in the provinces.

yep, it will definately help the development of Mindanao for people can travel faster, and the big cities there can grow more, and reducing the people migrating to MM.

Delay in relocation of squatters bugs rehabilitation of PNR line
By JULIUS VICENTE
TODAY Correspondent

The resettlement problem in Malabon and Valenzuela cities is being compounded by the delay in relocating the informal settlers residing on the railroad tracks.

The North Rail Inc. is the agency tapped by the government to rehabilitate the north line of the Philippine National Railways (PNR).

The project, which involves the development of 38.5 km of track from Sangandaan in Caloocan City to Bocaue, in Bulacan, is expected to be completed within three years.

But the National Housing Authority (NHA) has yet to relocate some 6,000 squatter families in the two cities to give way to the rehabilitation of the rail tracks.

Baby Manuel, president of the Home Along the Riles Valenzuela Federation, said on Monday that NHA officials have vowed to relocate the affected families last year but until now the agency has yet to carry out the plan.

“NHA has been asking so many requirements from us, the supposed beneficiaries of the government’s low-cost housing project. We just want to be relocated as soon as possible to give way to the rehabilitation of the North Rail in the city,” Manuel said in a telephone interview.

The affected barangays are Marulas, Karuhatan, Malinta, Dalandanan and Malanday, in Valenzuela; and barangays Potrero, Tenejeros, Letre and Acacia, in Malabon. Some 3,995 families from Valenzuela and 2,898 settlers from Malabon will be displaced by the project.

PNR engineer Edgardo Remonte expressed optimism that the NHA would quickly resolve the relocation problem and pave the way for the rehabilitation program of the North Rail.

The NHA had earlier proposed the Towerville resettlement project in barangay Minuyan, Santo Cristo, San Jose del Monte, Bulacan; Uson Property and Santa Lucia property in barangay Bignay, in Valenzuela; and Tanzaville project in Tanza, Navotas, as relocation sites for the slum dwellers, but development of these sites has been slow.

Maria Therese Obletias, division manager of the NHA for Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas and Valenzuela said an interagency committee had been formed to resolve the problem.

She said the affected families have no choice but to wait for the development of the resettlement sites.

Malabon mayor-elect Canuto Oreta said that he would prioritize the relocation of the squatters after he takes his oath on July 1.

Outgoing Mayor Amado Vicencio signed an alleged anomalous deal with Jun Jun Fishing Corp., which sold Tanza property to the local government of Malabon, an idle fish pond that was supposed to be the resettlement site for the city’s squatters.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
this sucks. Jerico, you were right. the Mindanao rail will probably be up before the Northrail. why don't they give some of the capable squatters jobs as construction workers or demolition workers? I mean, they get a new house plus a job... that Minadanao article is shocking though. the Thai gov't is helping us fund the rail project!! just goes to show how far and how fast they've progressed over the years...

Yeah this sucks...its really hard to relocate those squatters. I dont blame them, but i wish there was a way to make both sides happy. I think there is some progress, but North/Southrail will take a lot of time to complete. Are there still a lot of squatters to relocate?

well the problem is that the relocation sites the gov't are far off, and sometimes don't even have the simple necessities.

Yeah...probably this is the most complicated part in rehabilitating PNR. Some of the illegal settlers don't want to be relocated because they say that the relocation sites are far from where they have their living. Another one is the relocation sites itself coz' some of it, like the Buhain Mass Housing Project in Bulacan, is said to lie on an earthquake prone area thus giving its foundation unstable.

so what the government should do is create not just a housing site, but a living site.... where squatters can live, sleep, eat, work.

Wouldn't it be nice if they made a railway that loops around Northern Luzon? Like from Manila heading north up the western seaboard to the Ilocos region, then transverse to the east coast and back down, terminating in Manila again. But I guess that's just wishful thinking on my part.

well, there's the planned MRT-7 going up to the north-eastern part of luzon. as for connecting them, in that SRTS ad I saw a few days before the elections, there is a planned tollway (forgot the name) that starts somewhere at the end of the planned LRT-1 extension in the south and then circles towards the east to the Southrail, up to the MRT-8, north into MRT-2 and then further north that connects it to MRT-7. another smaller expressway (I think that's the 17km highway included in the MRT-7 package that would connect it to NLEX) would then connect MRT-7's tip to the Northrail.

think of it as the current loop of the LRT-1 and MRT-3, except the LRT-1 equivalent is from the north end of the northrail all the way down to the south end of the LRT-1 extension. the MRT-3 equivalent is the tollway that connects the LRT-1 extension (LRT-6) to the Southrail, MRT-8, MRT-2, MRT-7 and then back up to the NLEX and Northrail.

btw, the Universal LRT Corp. backing MRT-7 is the same group behind MRT-3??? if they're gonna put up something as bad as the MRT-3, I'd rather not have a line 7...who was behind Line 2??

Has this been posted here before?

Philippines' Neda Studying Plan to Revive Panay Railways
ILOILO CITY, April 14 Asia Pulse - The National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) is studying the possibility of reviving the Panay Railways.

NEDA Assistant Regional Director Art Valero said they hope to come up with a recommendation after two months.

However, he said that if the budget for the project is too high, they might opt to have it elevated to their higher office for further study.

Valero said they will be putting weight on the financial consideration of the project, especially if the government will be shelling out some fund.

Plans to revive the Panay Railways have received various reactions both from the local officials and national officials who hail from Iloilo.

Senate President Franklin Drilon in one of his visits here said he has no concrete idea about the revival of the railway, but he believes that the plan requires a lot of money.

Former Trade Secretary and now senatorial candidate Mar Roxas has been consistent with his opposition to the project.

Sharing the view of Drilon, Roxas said that passengers would instead take the bus or other forms of transportation than take the train.

Local officials here also raised concern on relocation issues.

Based on record, the rehabilitation of the railway would affect more than 4,000 families all over Panay.

Despite these, Panay Railways Inc. General Manager Hannibal Lipardo expressed optimism that the plan will push through. In fact, a ground breaking ceremony was already set sometime in March but was postponed due to some reason.

Last 2003, the Department of Transportation and Communication also signed an agreement with a European consortium, Systra Philippines, Inc., Voest Alpine Schienen Gmbh and Siemens AG, that will undertake the rehabilitation.

The project covers a 122-kilometers stretch from Iloilo down to Aklan. It is expected to become operational in 2009.

Can't wait to see the Panay railway open. :D That and Northrail and Southrail project. :D

North rail project
hit by more delays

Posted: 11:02 PM (Manila Time) | Jul. 07, 2004
By Edson C. Tandoc Jr.
Inquirer News Service

FUNDING for the project has been released. Foreign engineers to oversee construction have arrived. But three months after the groundbreaking ceremony, the North Rail Project has not begun.

The lack of government funds for the relocation of affected residents in the cities of Caloocan and Malabon was stalling the project, Northrail president Jose Cortez Jr. told the Inquirer.

While part of the loan has been allotted for the relocation of informal dwellers who have settled along the old rail tracks of the Philippine National Railways, the bulk of the expenses would have to be shouldered by the National Housing Authority (NHA).

"We are still looking for funds," NHA general manager Ed Pamintuan said in a phone interview.

Cortez said the relocation alone would cost the government about 3 billion pesos.

But Pamintuan assured those waiting for the project to start that his agency could get a budget next month and start moving 27,000 families waiting to be relocated.

expect it, every big project in the Philippines has to hit a snag. sad innit?

yeah, what's going on? they wanted to develop clark but they are so slow......common people behind the project, get your acts!!!

:weirdo: any latest news regarding this project?

is this project dead?

is this project dead?

well.. I hope not... specially after the advertisements made by the Arroyo administration about this..... kasi naman puro si Angelo ang focus nila ehh :bash:

actually, no. the only problem is the squatters, like in the c5-boni serrano interchange.

well the gov't should do something about the squatters, if they want this project done then they better put more focus on this.

:guns1:

hahaha.... our politicians lack the political will.... sayang ang boto!!! :bash:

well the gov't should do something about the squatters, if they want this project done then they better put more focus on this.

well the problem is most politicians benefit from these people. these are voters. so they can't just do a move that would be "disadvantageous" for them... so how can we expect them to exert more political will in helping these poor people? siyempre political agenda muna bago ang "will" diba?

:lol: politics is really dirty... :bash:

Khun GrayX,

Be carefule when Pinoy Government is going to purchase the DMU sets from China Railway for both Northrail and Southrail .... The SRT railwaymen complained that the railway products from China are very POOR Quality. The Leaked LPG Train, the cement trains with major cracks on the main structure, the cargo trains whci husually slippewd out of the tracks easily .... Therefore, the proposed plan to buy 30 CKD7F locos form Chaina Railway is a plan to STEAL the meony from THAI taxpayers INDEED!

I'm not so sure abotu the quality of Indonesian-made GE UM20C sold to PNR .... If you know about those GE locos from Indonesia, Please tell me since the governemtn is goign to buy 7 GE locos and 112 aircon passengers cars from Indonesia.

any latest news regarding this project?thanks

The development of the North especially Clark and Subic is part of PGMA's ten point agenda...so hopefully the Northrail project is one of the priorities.

Wisarut, hmmm...dats scary. Hopefully it wont turn out that way.

with another re-re-re-rebidding of the SCTEx project..... baka d na matapos hehe

yeah... heard about the rebidding. the project cost has gone way up now because of the peso depreciation. they have to get this moving. the earlier the better. but the peso has seemed to stabilized over the past few weeks. I'd rather have it delayed than rushed with all these conflicts and issues and stuff. I'm hoping the project to be rebid includes all originally planned exits and interchanges and stuff. dang BCDA...

I think that rebidding is good for transparency's sake. They should not give the losing proponents and the Supreme Court reason to - gasp! - nullify the contract at the last minute due to some technicalities.

Better to do it by the book than to regret it later.

update : this project will be started on September...... 2020? hehe

By JONATHAN L. MAYUGA
TODAY Reporter


After decades of neglect, the country’s railway system is getting the rightful attention from the government.


Undeniably, the country’s railways are right now in the brink of extinction. The intervention of the government to rehabilitate and modernize the railways is needed, just as the Philippine National Railways (PNR) needs nursing back to life.


The PNR is currently financially distraught, hemorrhaging from huge losses over the past years because of poor management, which can even barely maintain a decent office to do business and run its day-to-day operations. Railway facilities continue to deteriorate owing to waning public patronage. Commuters shun the PNR train, taking instead air-conditioned buses or the modern, elevated trains for convenient, comfortable and faster transportation. The PNR trains are being avoided because of the unsightly view of squatters’ shanties along both sides of the tracks and the long, boring ride inside the PNR’s decrepit, smelly commuter trains.


Professional squatters have put up businesses along the PNR properties, maintaining eateries, barber shops, vulcanizing shops, slaughterhouses, auto-repair shops and almost all sorts of establishments. Some even turn train stations into a flea markets.


Meanwhile, looters continue to bug the PNR’s operations, stealing the trains’ spare parts, the steel railings, the crushed rocks and gravel that firmly hold the rails, and just anything of value.


Today, only the Main Line South is left operational. Of the 940-km stretch, only 479 km are actually used. The Northrail Project, which would make use of the Main Line North of the PNR, was stalled by the squatters’ problem. The PNR is now in shamble, so to speak, and this mirrors the state of government efficiency.


A symbol of Filipino nationalism
The birth of the PNR is a result of Filipino patriotism, and the toiling in Spain of our heroes in the 19th century.


The first railway was constructed in Luzon, but was actually conceived in Spain by Filipino patriots like Dr. Jose Rizal, Antonio and Juan Luna, and many others, who were then fighting for political and social reforms thousands of miles across the sea.


A royal decree of King Alfonso XII of Spain authorized the preparation of the general plan of a railroad in Luzon on June 26, 1875, because of the fight waged by the Filipinos for their motherland.


They were then mocking Spain with this commentary, which awakened the king of Spain: “…While Spain meant well in her colonial policies as demonstrated by her benevolent Laws and Royal Decrees, unfortunately these decrees were seldom enforced by colonial officials, and abuses committed by officials of the Philippines were not known by the King of Spain.”


The construction of the railway itself was already a sign of progress, as the construction required thousands of workers that gave jobs to Filipinos whose work then revolved mostly around agriculture.


While it created jobs and spurred business activity in many parts of Luzon, the construction of the railway also had its adverse effect. People lost their homes as the construction also required some middle-class Filipinos to sell their properties for the construction of the railroad tracks.


Andres Bonifacio, whose birthplace was Tutuban, had to sell their small property in that swampy place in Tondo to give way for the construction of the railways.


On July 31, 1887, the railroad project had its cornerstone laying at the Tutuban main station.


The concession for the construction of the railway from Manila to Dagupan, Pangasinan, was awarded to the Manila Railway Co. Ltd., London.

The work went on until November 24, 1892, which saw the inauguration of the Manila-Dagupan Line, the first railroad in the Philippines. The 195-km line thus started transporting passengers.


The railway was damaged during the Philippine Revolution until it was placed under the control of the United States Army, which repaired and restored traffic on August 13, 1898. On April 20, 1900, the United States Army returned the railroad to Manila Railway Co. Ltd., London.


The US Congress, on July 1, 1902, authorized the Philippine Commission to grant franchises and concessions for construction of public utilities and services. During the same year, the Manila Railroad Co. Lt., London was transferred to the Manila Railroad Co., New Jersey.


In January 1917, the Philippine government acquired the Manila Railroad Co., New Jersey, and took over the railroad operation.


It was on January 31, 1938, when the first Bicol Express train became operational. On May 8, the same year, the unified system of railroad from San Fernando, La Union, to Legazpi, Albay, was inaugurated.


During the Japanese Occupation from 1942 to 1945, the railroad was under the control of the Japanese Imperial Army. It was only in February 1945, when the US Army took control and in turn transferred it to the Commonwealth Government on February 1, 1946.


The year 1956, saw the dieselization of the trains being operated by Manila Railway Co. On June 20, 1964, Republic Act 4156 was approved, creating the Philippine National Railway, absorbing all the assets, liabilities and personnel of the Manila Railroad.


The railway symbolizes the people’s dream for progress and development after the war, the same dream that paved the way for its construction more than a hundred years ago. The dream faded, and decades of neglect conquered the sense of nationalism that started it all.


Ups and downs
Like most government-owned corporations, the PNR has its ups and down. And for several times, it was nearly given up by the government. In 1999, the PNR board of directors entertained the idea of privatizing the PNR because of the huge losses it had been incurring.


Today, the PNR is heavily indebted and it now stands to lose its Tutuban property, which PNR management intends to sell to pay its huge debt to the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS). Employees’ salaries and workers’ wages are delayed at times, and top-level management cannot even maintain a decent office.


The PNR has lost many properties during its long period of financial distraught, including the Manila Hotel and the Pines Hotel in Baguio City, which it had to sell to maintain its operations. It also lost its own bus line servicing its employees and workers.


Some properties in Mindanao have also been sold to cover its huge losses and to be able to maintain operations.


As there were periods of distress, there were also times when the PNR employees and officials held their noses up in the air. An employee of the PNR said that 30 years ago, the PNR was competing with San Miguel Corp. in recruiting the brightest fresh graduates from the best universities and colleges. Utility personnel of the PNR during those times earned more than what a teacher earned.


The 1960s, the decade when the PNR was put to work, witnessed an all-time high, with trains from as far as Bicol transporting people and goods to as far as San Fernando, La Union and vise versa.


The 1970s and early 1980s witnessed the waning public patronage. It was also during this period that the facilities slowly deteriorated. The operation from Sangandaan, Caloocan City, to San Fernando, La Union, was also stopped because of poor revenues.

Service innovation was introduced in an effort to attract more commuters, most of whom were already riding buses instead of the train, by launching the Peñafrancia Express. Thirty-five newly refurbished coaches and divided into four trains offered amenities such as piped-in music and train stewardesses who offered personalized service and free snacks. Air-conditioned coaches were also introduced, and travel time was cut by less than half to eight hours.


There was also the Kaunlaran Express, which featured video movies at a minimal fee and air-conditioned dining coach in addition to other amenities.


But these innovations did not last long, as the competition with bus service along the same route lost steam for management, so it decided to switch attention with the launching of the PNR. Cargo Express for faster, efficient and safer transport of goods from the Bicol Region.


Again, these innovations were not meant to last, as the operational cost was more than what the PNR could make with poor patronage. Because of the huge losses it had incurred, it had to retrench more than two-thirds of its employees. Thus, from 10,000 the PNR only has only some 2,000 employees.


Wrong policies
PNR employees who have toiled over the decades of neglect blame the government for what the country’s railway firm has become. The country was the first in Asia to have its own railway, but now it has the worst in terms of railway facilities and even technology.


Our train service is also the worst, with squatters being a pain in the neck to PNR management and an irritation to commuters, who sometimes get stoned.


Commuters have long been complaining against people living along the railroad tracks for throwing at them stones or filthy garbage, sometimes human and animal excrement wrapped in paper. The local police could not do anything about it.


There are around 80,000 squatter families living along the PNR railroad tracks from San Fernando, La Union, to Legazpi, Albay. The mere presence of their shanties is severely affecting its operation and delaying ongoing projects to rehabilitate and modernize the railway.


While other countries have trains that can run as fast as 150 kph, our long-distance trains run at a speed of only 50 to 60 kph, while our short-distance trains or commuter trains run at only 10 to 20 kph.


With such speed, the PNR cannot compete with other faster modes of transportation such as the bus and elevated trains.


Engineer Edgardo Remonte, the PNR assistant general manager for operation, admitted that the government itself is to be blamed for the PNR’s bankruptcy.


He said the government concentrated more on the construction of more roads than more railroad tracks to reach far-flung areas and other destinations, and failed to introduce innovations to improve the service it offers to commuters.


Beside, he continued, the government constructed the expressway that runs parallel to the railroad track of the PNR.


“Instead of running perpendicular to the railroad, the expressway runs parallel to our railway. The government also issued franchises to provincial buses, which compete against the PNR,” he said. “Fortunately,” he added, “the government has realized the importance of the railway as a means of transportation, and it is now trying to rehabilitate and modernize our railway system.”


A comparative study of transport fares charged by the PNR as against that charged by private bus companies show that using the train is more economical. From Manila to Legazpi, for instance, the train fare is only P383, while bus fare is P712, or a difference of P392. Both offer air-conditioned accommodation, although the bus offers much faster travel.

Remonte blames the existence of squatters along the sides of the railroad tracks of the PNR for the slow train-travel time. “How can we go faster when people are all over the sides of railroad tracks?” he said.


“Relocate the squatters, clear the danger-zone and 90 percent of our maintenance problem is solved, and 50 percent of our rehabilitation project is done,” Remonte said.


According to Remonte, the PNR also has limited number of rolling stocks, which would carry passengers to their destination.


Remonte noted that there was a dramatic increase in ridership after the recent oil-price hike because bus fares also increased. However, the PNR lacks rolling stocks to make frequent travel as possible and to accommodate the passengers.


The PNR has only 14 locomotive engines to pull the trains. At present, the PNR only has two trains for daily long-distance routes from Manila to Legazpi and vice versa. The rest, composed of at least four coaches, are used as commuter trains plying short-distance routes from Manila to Calamba in Laguna and Batangas and vice versa.


According to Remonte, the PNR is not making enough money from its operation. He admitted that the PNR is incurring a loss of at least P20 million a month, considering that for the employees’ salaries alone, the PNR has to spend P22 million a month. The PNR is spending P3 million a month for diesel plus the usual maintenance cost to keep the trains running.


“We also need to spend for spare parts, some of which are destroyed or stolen. Our income from passengers is around P6 million to P 7 million a month, so what do you expect? The PNR is incurring huge losses every year. But still, we manage to survive,” he said. The PNR is getting support from the national government amounting to P30 million every year, until it was stopped in 2002.


The PNR is earning P72 million a year from its lease of the Tutuban property, which is now supporting the day-to-day operation of the PNR.


Remonte said that in order to save the PNR, the government should privatize the train’s operation to let investment flow in and help the company regain its strength and compete with private bus companies.


Or better yet, he said, the government should subsidize the operation of the PNR and allot budget for its modernization to bounce back and regain its lost glory.


Mismanaged?
Disgruntled employees, however, blame graft and corruption more than simple mismanagement as the reason for the collapse of the railway system under the PNR.


Armando Cruz, president of the Bagong Kapisanan ng mga Manggagawa sa pnr-itf, said that since the government took over the Manila Railway Corp., the condition of the railway system worsened.


He said squatters multiplied year after year, and the government did not do anything to prevent them from encroaching on government property.


“Government and PNR officials only took advantage of their position and turned the PNR into a milking cow. They did nothing but to enrich themselves while in power,” Cruz said.


According to him, PNR officials are “systematically” draining the resources of one of the richest government-owned corporations and allowing the rank-and-file employees to suffer the consequences of incurring huge losses year after year.


“There is definitely a problem somewhere. Where does the PNR’s money go? Before, the PNR owned the Manila Hotel, the Pines Hotel in Baguio. We had lots of properties that were lost because those at the helm were doing nothing but sell the PNR’s property to cover up for the losses. But did they do anything to maintain these trains, to upgrade the technology? Where did they spend the money, then?” he said.


PNR officials, Cruz said, are facing several cases of graft and corruption at the Ombudsman. While the PNR is already incurring losses, some officials were accused of purchasing overpriced spare parts, materials and even office supplies.

The government could have at least stopped corruption perpetrated by those at the helm by removing them from office, he said.


While Cruz said he and members of the train workers’ union welcome any move on the part of the government to rehabilitate the railways system, he expressed doubt that it would, in general, save the institution and the people who have toiled during its decades of neglect.


According to Cruz, PNR employees are always the least of the worries of the government.


“We have been waiting for those promised changes, but nothing happened. If they want to rehabilitate the railway, so be it, but I hope this grand plan includes us, those who have been working hard to make these trains run despite its poor condition,” he said.


The PNR, according to him, owns real estate properties, which the government can use for its rehabilitation, to pay the huge debt it owes the GSIS, and to grant employees benefits they deserve.


But he said the government never had the political will to do what was right. In fact, he said, instead of driving away squatters, Philippine presidents even gave away the property of the PNR to illegal settlers, instead of relocating them to other areas to allow the smooth flow of traffic.


There are at least 1,800 regular employees at the PNR, half of whom would be retiring in the next five years, according to Cruz, but all of them are facing a bleak future owing to the huge debt of the PNR to the GSIS.


The GSIS, through its president, Winston Garcia, has asked Jose Maria Sarasola III to remit the employees’ contributions. Employees complained that because the GSIS has not received any contribution from the PNR, their request for salary loans and other benefits as government employees had been denied.


Last year four PNR employees retired from government service, and their only hope to get their retirement benefits is for the PNR management to settle its obligation.


According to Cruz, even without subsidy from the national government, the PNR can use some of its resources to improve the train facilities. It is the second richest government corporation, agency or department in terms of real estate property, next to the Armed Forces of the Philippines.


It owns 48 million square meters of land all over the country, but much of them have been occupied by squatters, and some were actually given up for the purpose of human settlement, among others.


Such resources, he said, could be used to resuscitate the dying institution and nurse it back to health and start a good employee-employer relationship by remitting the GSIS contributions of the employees.


Strong Republic Transit System
The Strong Republic Transit System (SRTS), envisioned by President Arroyo, aims to maximize the use of the existing and new railways for fast, safe and effective means of transportation to compliment the envisioned MRT and LRT loops.


The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) also plans to implement a single-journey ticketing system to improve its services to the riding public.


Under the SRTS, a modern railway system will be built almost simultaneously in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao to serve the people, move cargo, link and fuse economies and societies, while building new communities along the railways for the people living in Metro Manila.


Like the LRT and MRT projects, the railways rehabilitation and modernization projects are all part of a strategy geared toward development. The grand plan is expected to affect those in the transport sector, particularly those who depend on the operations of Metro Manila passenger buses and jeepneys, tricyles and pedicabs. Ironically, however, there’s no grand plan for those who, sooner or later, would lose their livelihood.

Among the government’s proposed projects to improve the railways system are the Northrail Project, the South Manila Commuter Rail Project, the PNR Main Line South, the Panay Railways Rehabilitation Project and the Mindanao Railways Project. They cover a total amount of P40 billion and were personally endorsed by Speaker Jose C. de Venecia Jr. through a letter dated October 8, 2001.


President Arroyo issued Memorandum Order 46 on December 10, 2001, directing the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (hudcc) to relocate and provide alternative housing sites for the informal dwellers within the PNR right-of-way in areas to be affected by the PNR rehabilitation and modernization.


She also issued Memorandum 48 directing the DOTC to oversee the projects’ implementation. Three years after, however, not much has been done and accomplished.


Some 600 squatter families living along the PNR tracks in Sangandaan, Caloocan, have been relocated, after the hudcc demolished the shanties. Residents offered little resistance, and soon cooperated with the government. But not for long. The relocation of the squatters in Malabon was stopped early last year, apparently as the election drew near. No local official or the sitting President, who aspired for an extension of her term dared act to displease a voter.


The problem of squatters
The Northrail Project, funded by the Export-Import Bank of China and the Chinese government, has been delayed again for more than a year owing to the problem brought about by the squatters. The project’s proponent, the North Luzon Railways Corp. is already fretting because of the financial losses it has incurred, owing to the delay.


The concerned government agencies once again failed to relocate the squatters in Malabon City and Valenzuela City. The government also failed to relocate squatters in other areas to be affected by its various projects, apparently because of its inefficiency.


A relocation site, a 12-hectare property in Tanza, Navotas, which was acquired by the local government of Malabon in partnership with the hudcc and the National Housing Authority (NHA), was found to be unfit for human settlement, as the place is flood-prone and sinks at the slightest fall of rain or during high tide.


The property is near a river, and was a fishpond sold at an overpriced amount to the local government by a friend of the mayor.


The anomalous land deal led to the 90-day suspension last year of the mayor of Malabon, Amado Vicencio, which was imposed by no less than President Arroyo.


Newly elected mayor Canuto Oreta has created a committee to look into the problem and find a suitable relocation site for the Malabon PNR squatters. There are around 2,800 squatter families in four Malabon barangays who would be affected by the project.


In Valenzuela City, newly elected mayor Sherwin Gatchalian is also faced with the problem of looking for an in-city relocation site for its more than 7,000 squatter families who would be affected by the project.


At least 10,000 to 15,000 more are expected to be relocated from seven Bulacan towns, who would be displaced by the project’s Phase I, which covers work from Sangandan in Caloocan to Calumpit, Bulacan.


No matter how many of the squatters are relocated by the government, more of them would mushroom in a continuing cycle. Obviously, people need work and where there is work there people would go.


Somehow, the government needs to find a formula stop this vicious cycle if it is to keep the railway projects in the right track and return the glory days of the train transportation.

wow... very imformative article.

if they cant make the railroad line on-ground, make it underground or partly elevated. that's what they've done in main european cities

i understand the northrail has an elevated area into the future to converted to an MRT

huh? a Northrail line to be converted to MRT? or connected?

parang may track sections na gagawing overhead dahil nga sa right-of-probs. I don't really know the details na. PEro looks like now mukhang hindi na high-speed Manila-Clark trains ang gagawin.

i thought it was commuter trains right from the project started, and the high-speed trains were only proposed and not really planned

it is just a commuter train but the line is capable of upgrading to high speed trains in the future...

oh, maybe when Clark Airport expansion is put into place, dun lang nila gagawin yung Hi-Speed Railway na yan. I also heard before that it was scrapped due to "untimely" calls.

oh, maybe when Clark Airport expansion is put into place, dun lang nila gagawin yung Hi-Speed Railway na yan. I also heard before that it was scrapped due to "untimely" calls.

yeah... I guess that makes sense. we won't really need the high-speed trains until they relocate the majority of international flights into a new DMIA.

yep. but by the pace this Northrail is going, it would be finished in 2010.

Northrail project economically viable, says Neri
By Ted P. Torres
The Philippine Star 08/27/2004

The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said yesterday that the North Luzon Railway Project is economically viable based on its economic internal rate of return (EIRR) of 15.81 percent which is more than the benchmark EIRR.

Based on NEDA’s evaluation, the project has a positive net present value of P1.088 billion.

NEDA Director General Romulo Neri said the Investment Coordinating Committee (ICC) deemed the project financially feasible based on revenue forecasts that used projections on traffic volumes.

"The project’s net present value after deducting taxes based on a 3.86-percent discount rate, which is the weighted average cost of capital, is at P6.921 billion via the total investment perspective and P5.914 billion via the equity owner’s perspective," Neri said.

He said that the "government had undertaken a very thorough approval process including a feasibility study on this project."

Neri cited the social benefits of the railway project, including the decongestion of Metro Manila, which is one of President Arroyo’s eight-point agenda, and thus encourages the dispersal of Metro Manila’s population towards Central and Northern Luzon.

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

Neri said it will be the first time that the Chinese government has given the Philippines a concessional loan for rail projects.

The first phase of the project includes a 32.14-kilometer rail track line from Caloocan to Malolos.

when is northrail phase 1 suppose to be finished?

I don't know. Pero now, not an inch has been moved for this project... super delayed.

I know the solution to the squatter relocation issue!! The government needs to support GK! All their funds for squatter relocation and housing should go to GK instead. This is because whenever the govt tries to relocate them, there is violence. But in GK there is no violence, there is only happiness. Go to my Gawad Kalinga thread for more information (if you dont know what GK is).

hmmm... I think the answer would be to criminalize squatting with high penalties....but of course there should be enough housing first... coz the gov't builds houses and communities for squatters, but the squatters are stubborn and won't leave the land they're squatting.... or take the house and sell them and go back squatting... tapos reklamo na walng provide na pabahay ang gobyerno... aba'y buti pa ang squatter may aircon... kami wala!

but if an NGO could help... it would be good

a helping hand is very much needed in the clearance of the squatters, but some of them, the gov't will be needed an iron hand. the train tracks should be fenced with electric wiring. making the trains a couple km/h's faster would discourage living there too.

just pass a law that would bar squatters from voting in the place where they squat. the rest will follow. ;)

GMA has given an order to start construction for the Northrail project as soon as possible.. i guess she doesnt want to look bad to the Chinese government...

not the just Chinese government, the whole of the country. this is one of her major projects in her term.

yes, we should not let investors turn away on investing in the country. again, feel bad for NAIA 3 german investor.

Fraport? well i dunno exactly if their hands are completely clean....

yeah..they made some shortcomings too.

PNR rehabilitation starts next month
By JULIUS VICENTE
TODAY Correspondent

The rehabilitation of the Philippine National Railways (PNR) tracks from Caloocan to Central Luzon will start on November 2 after months of delay owing to the lack of relocation sites from squatters occupying the tracks.

Jose Cortez, undersecretary of the Department of Transportation and Communication for Rail Transport Sector and concurrent chairman of North Rail Inc., said the $400-million project’s ground-breaking will be held on November 2.

He said the construction work must start next month so that the government will not violate the Memorandum of Agreement with the Chinese EximBank that funded the project.

The agreement includes a penalty clause that will compel the government to pay 1 percent in interest if the project is further delayed.

“To avoid paying penalty to the Chinese bank, we have to move on November 2, if not . . . doon kami sa interest maiipit,” Cortez said.

More than 7,000 squatter families will be displaced by the PNR rehabilitation project that will include the railroad barangays in Caloocan, Malabon, Valenzuela and Bulacan.

The Caloocan squatters have been relocated to San Jose del Monte in Bulacan while the relocation sites for Malabon and Valenzuela squatters are now being prepared.

Cortez said the Chinese EximBank granted the Philippines a $400 million loan for the construction of Phase 1 of the railroad project that will start from the train station in Sangandaan, Caloocan to Bocaue, Bulacan. Phase 2 of the North Rail project will end up in La Union.

The PNR rehabilitation project has been delayed by the disagreements on the price and scheme of payment for the relocation sites that are owned by private companies and individuals.

Dennis Jugueta, vice president for engineering of the North Rail Inc., told Today that the North Rail will begin construction work next month once all the squatters are cleared.

“With the squatters still within the PNR tracks we cannot start, but we are working with the concerned government agencies to start the work next month.”

The National Housing Authority is responsible for the relocation of the squatters. NHA also provides technical assistance to North Rail Inc.

NHA officials said Valenzuela squatters will be relocated in barangay Bignay in Valenzuela and Towerville in San Jose del Monte in Bulacan.

Ed Pamintuan, NHA general manager said that the government already bought the 14-hectare piece in Bignay, which costs P245 million.

Pamintuan said only 365 squatters in Caloocan were resettled at Towerville and the rest have remained along the tracks.

The NHA officials said that Malabon is the toughest part in the relocation plan because there is no longer any space for relocation within the city land.

Malabon Mayor Canuto Oreta vowed to help the NHA to find a resettlement site for the affected squatters.

“Kakausapin ko ’yung mga affected families para walang away,” Oreta said.

Valenzuela Mayor Sherwin Gatchalian urged the affected squatters in the city to start transferring to the relocation site in barangay Bignay.

Gatchalian said most squatters along the tracks are nuisance and have caused flooding because the residents have occupied the creek besides the railroad.
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yay!! hopefully everything goes well... and construction is done cleanly and properly. I wanna see what trains they're gonna be using. and station renderings...

the relocation of squatters is the hardest thing. China has given us funding, why dont we make the best use out of it

the problem, i mean the housing problem kasi was further worsened by the dependency of the current administration on the private sector on doing the task(of providing homes), and these houses has to be mortgaged thru private banks that have high interest rates!! eh sinong mahirap ang kukuha non?! kung govierno mismo naman ang gagawa, ang daming anomalies (like erap's pangarap village & fvr's smokey mountain scam, etc...) sobrang laki na talaga ng problema sa pabahay dito...ang daming squatters & the population too is exploding na....it's like ur facing a giant monster that's ready to devour you anytime. nwaiz, that's still a pice of good news, but i choose to wait till november 2 nalang, mahirap na, baka ma-delay na naman yan...errr

North Rail woos foreign traders

By JULIUS VICENTE
TODAY Correspondent


The national government is exploring the possibility of extending the North Rail project up to Subic, Zambales where it can attract more foreign businessmen to invest in the country.


Jose Cortez, Department of Transportation and Communications Undersecretary for Rail Transport Sector and concurrent chairman of the North Rail Inc. said on Monday, the government is considering the extension of the plan from its original project that would run from Caloocan to Bocaue, Bulacan.


Under the original plan, the Phase 1 project funded through $400-million loan from the Chinese Export Import Bank would construct 32 km of tracks from Sangandaan, Caloocan station passing through Bocaue, Bulacan owned by the Philippine National Railways.


Cortez said the Chinese funding agency is also considering an expansion of the project up to Subic, Clark in Pampanga and to La Union, which covers Phase 2 of the project.


“We’re asking the Chinese government to extend up to Clark and there is a possibility up to La Union,” Cortez said.


But the consideration of the proposed expansion still depend on the results of the feasibility study on much additional funding would be needed for the extension.


Dennis Jugueta, vice president for engineering of the North Rail Inc., told Today that the Chinese government would conduct a new study and it would be free of charge on how much would the Phase 2 cost.


Officials said many foreign business traders, especially China, are waiting for the completion of the North Line coming from the station of Subic Bay Free Port in Pampanga.


Jugueta said the target income of the North Rail would collect is P5.56 million a day as based on the feasibility study conducted by the agency and if foreign players would be encouraged to do business because of the construction of the new tracks.


If extended up to Clark, the North Rail project would be completed in a span of three years.


Officials said the activation of north line tracks would set a strategic station in Subic, Zambales to Manila that will strengthen the ties between foreign investors and the Philippines in terms of trading.


The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said that the Chinese business prospects are exploring the possibility of joining the country’s trading program.


DTI officials are very optimistic regarding the business partnership of the Chinese with the government for it could boost tax collection and the country’s income.


Trade Undersecretary Adrian Cristobal, Jr. said he is optimistic Chinese traders will invest in the country, citing perks offered by the government from the foreign investors.


The North Rail officials also said the creation of north line tracks in Zambales will help improve the investment of the country by giving trouble-free transportation of goods and services to Manila.


Subic Bay Free Port in Zambales is the country’s dropping point of imported merchandise coming from nearby countries and it has its own airport.Officials said as soon as the north line starts its operation the investors would be enticed to invest here.


The rehabilitation of Northern tracks is another priority project of the Arroyo administration, where it is a part of the government’s Strong Republic Transit System (SRTS) project that would interconnect rail systems in the country.


For the meantime, Phase 1 of construction would soon start its ground breaking on November 2, after months of delay owing to the problems of the relocation of affected dwellers in Malabon, Valenzuela and Bulacan.


The whole North Rail Phase 1 section, which stretches from Manila to Malolos, is 32.138 km. The stretch would have six stations in Caloocan, Valenzuela, Marilao, Bocaue, Guiguinto and Malolos.


Engineer Herminio del Rosario, PNR Real Estate Department acting deputy said that the relocation activities are ongoing to pave way for the project implementation by November.


Del Rosario said that the NHA is already giving evacuation notices to 7,000 informal settlers.


The NHA proposed the relocation sites in Towerville situated in Caloocan and Bulacan and also a 14-hectare piece in barangay Bignay, Valenzuela.

would be nice to extend this project to subic, hope they put careful planning to this project to maximize it usability!

Sounds good...but they should really start building. Thats all i'm waiting for. With the DMIA airport now starting to take shape from recent reports, the Northrail will get going for sure. They might even go all the way to clark sooner than we think. maybe.

That is good for a lot of Filipinos that travel from the North to the capital :D It will be such a great mode of travelling once it's done. I hope it just starts.

Businessmen want Arroyo to zap Northrail
Updated 04:00pm (Mla time) Sept 25, 2004 | INQ7.net

BAGUIO CITY , Benguet, Philippines -- Members of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) have asked President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to withdraw a P6-billion loan contract that gives a Chinese firm control over the North Rail project.

They said the government was "fooled" into adopting onerous terms when it contracted the China National Machinery and Equipment Corp.

Ambassador Donald Dee, newly designated presidential envoy for international trade relations, said businessmen instead asked Ms Arroyo to consider an offer made by a South Korean firm which has designed a cheaper mass railway project now linking Seoul to Pusan.

Dee, former president of the Employers Confederation of the Philippines, said Ms Arroyo was amenable to the businessmen's request.

"She asked me to give her the documents. If they're good, she assured me she will drop the Chinese contract," Dee told the PCCI North Luzon area conference here on Friday.

Left to the devices of the current contractor, the government would be issued a rehabilitated yet antiquated railway system that would be Metro Manila's first train gateway from Caloocan City to Malolos City in Bulacan, Dee said.

The government's decision to allow the Chinese firm to improve the existing rails of the Philippine National Railways and to relocate 83,000 squatter families along the MacArthur Highway to Norzagaray town in Bulacan "could be fatal to the country," he said.

Dee said the P200-billion deficit that has plagued the government has made it vulnerable to Official Development Assistance projects, where foreign donors dictate who to hire as contractors or consultants.

The Chinese loan agreement gives the contractor the right to hire its own agents, he said.

He said the relocation of squatter families alone would be "bloody" because the government had been unable to provide livelihood and basic necessities in relocation areas.

"But it is a fact that this is a big loan which ticks me off," he said. "Why do we need to spend P1 billion for each kilometer when the Clark to Subic Expressway project designed 92 km (of a 60 meter wide road stretch) for less than P850 million. This is cheaper. Why borrow money again?"

Vincent Cabreza, Inquirer Northern Luzon Bureau
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seems like this is going to face another delay. hopefully, GMA makes the right decision before the November 2 groundbreaking so that this doesn't turn into another NAIA-3 controversy. I'd like to have it delayed for now but turn up with the best available than being rushed and ending up pretty much the same as it orignally was. South Korean railways posted in SSC look absolutely awesome, and I hope that's how the Northrail will be rehabilitated into...

Businessmen want Arroyo to zap Northrail
Updated 04:00pm (Mla time) Sept 25, 2004 | INQ7.net

BAGUIO CITY , Benguet, Philippines -- Members of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) have asked President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to withdraw a P6-billion loan contract that gives a Chinese firm control over the North Rail project.

They said the government was "fooled" into adopting onerous terms when it contracted the China National Machinery and Equipment Corp.

Ambassador Donald Dee, newly designated presidential envoy for international trade relations, said businessmen instead asked Ms Arroyo to consider an offer made by a South Korean firm which has designed a cheaper mass railway project now linking Seoul to Pusan.

Dee, former president of the Employers Confederation of the Philippines, said Ms Arroyo was amenable to the businessmen's request.

"She asked me to give her the documents. If they're good, she assured me she will drop the Chinese contract," Dee told the PCCI North Luzon area conference here on Friday.

Left to the devices of the current contractor, the government would be issued a rehabilitated yet antiquated railway system that would be Metro Manila's first train gateway from Caloocan City to Malolos City in Bulacan, Dee said.

The government's decision to allow the Chinese firm to improve the existing rails of the Philippine National Railways and to relocate 83,000 squatter families along the MacArthur Highway to Norzagaray town in Bulacan "could be fatal to the country," he said.

Dee said the P200-billion deficit that has plagued the government has made it vulnerable to Official Development Assistance projects, where foreign donors dictate who to hire as contractors or consultants.

The Chinese loan agreement gives the contractor the right to hire its own agents, he said.

He said the relocation of squatter families alone would be "bloody" because the government had been unable to provide livelihood and basic necessities in relocation areas.

"But it is a fact that this is a big loan which ticks me off," he said. "Why do we need to spend P1 billion for each kilometer when the Clark to Subic Expressway project designed 92 km (of a 60 meter wide road stretch) for less than P850 million. This is cheaper. Why borrow money again?"

Vincent Cabreza, Inquirer Northern Luzon Bureau
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seems like this is going to face another delay. hopefully, GMA makes the right decision before the November 2 groundbreaking so that this doesn't turn into another NAIA-3 controversy. I'd like to have it delayed for now but turn up with the best available than being rushed and ending up pretty much the same as it orignally was. South Korean railways posted in SSC look absolutely awesome, and I hope that's how the Northrail will be rehabilitated into...

Here we go again! They better put their heads on straight and not make this into another "T3" like controversy! (sigh!)

:eek: errr...not again. Another delay. But yes, if the South Korean offer proves to be better and faster, GMA should take it! South Korean infrastructure is very good (line 2's trains are ROTEM south korean trains).

it definately won't be a NAIA3 issue because this one isn't even finished yet. all problems should appear and be dealt with before construction begins

I'm not really keen on the fact that China is funding the Northrail project. I hear a lot of bad things regarding their trains and stuffs. Well, If the Korean offer is much better, they why not accept it?

Pero, paano pala when the gov't decided to drop the China offer? Would it make some conflicts with regards to our relationship with the country? Will the government sacrifice it's long term goals?

Yeah...i heard a lot of bad stuff about Chinese railway, so i really prefer South Korea. SK is even making high speed trains soon.

i doubt the gov't will do that, because this project is really hitting two birds with one stone for them. improving relations with the Chinese gov't, and creating a railway to serve pinoys.

but then again, renell is right. GMA just recently visited China and she really wants to be in good terms with China, so dropping the Chinese offer will be difficult.

well anything that's rail-related they build would probably be better than the ones we have right now;)

if the South Koreans build it, the Chinese loan would probably pull out aswell. i dunno. but i'd do that:D

Solons try to derail railroad plan

By JULIUS VICENTE
TODAY Correspondent


The North Rail Inc. assured the government that phase 1 of the $503 million railroad rehabilitation project will push through despite protests at the House of Representatives with regard to the alleged irregularities in the use of funds and the unjust relocation of squatters from the Philippine National Railways tracks.


Jose Cortez, Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Undersecretary for Rail Transport Sector and concurrent chairman of the North Rail Inc., assured the people that the construction of new railways from Caloocan’s Sangandaan station to Bocaue, Bulacan, will start in November.


The government got a $400 million loan from the Chinese Export Import Bank as the result of the recent state visit of President Arroyo to China, while $103 million came from the Department of Budget and Management.


The rehabilitation of the northern tracks is another priority project of the Arroyo administration, where it is a part of the government’s Strong Republic Transit System (SRTS) project that would interconnect rail systems in the country.


Cortez said that the agency is currently working on certain requirements to resolve minor technicalities in the project so the construction would push thru on November 2.


Akbayan Representative Mario Joyo Aguja leads the opposition against the project as the lawmakers sounded the alarm over the alleged manipulation of the funds.


“The Arroyo administration is railroading the project without consulting the biggest stakeholders, the urban poor residents,” Aguja said in a statement. As he also gave criticisms on the impending dislocation of thousands of families living near the railroad tracks.


Aguja said that he is particularly concerned with the lack of information surrounding the relocation of the affected residents that almost 35,000 families will lose their homes once the government starts the implementation of the project on November this year.


“Are we ignoring the rights of these people to adequate, safe and affordable shelter?” Aguja asked.


Cortez said that there is no turning back because they have already signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the Chinese investor, which includes a penalty clause that will compel the government to pay interests if the project is further delayed.


He said the construction work must start next month so that the government will not violate the agreement with the Chinese bank that funded the project.Cortez however denied the accusations from some opposition lawmakers against the North Rail project that the rehabilitation is too expensive.


Cortez said that the project underwent the normal government approval process through the Investment Coordination Committee (ICC) which is tasked by the government in setting guidelines to ensure fair and objective decisions on projects that it evaluates and approves.


Officials said, the project’s total cost of $503 million or roughly P28 billion, as the current peso to dollar exchange of P56, is reasonable and comparable to industry standards.


“We believe that the cost of the North Rail project-phase 1 is reasonable and comparable to industry standards,” said Cortez.


The ICC reviewed and validated the North Rail project’s feasibility study submitted by the North Railways Inc. and the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) on May 2003.


The ICC is an interagency body composed of the Department of Finance, as chair, and the departments of Budget and Management, Energy, Agriculture, Trade and Industry and the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), among others.


Critics said the project’s high cost will be an additional burden to the fiscal woes experienced by the Arroyo administration.


In House Resolution 165 filed earlier, Aguja asked the Philippine National Railways, North Rail Inc., NEDA and DOTC to present specific and concrete plans for the resettlement of the families occupying the areas adjacent to the railroads to the Chamber, through the Committee on Housing and Urban Development and the Committee on Civil, Political and Human Rights. He also asked the said agencies to present and explain the budget for resettlement including identification of funding sources.


The said resolution was coauthored by other congressmen including Reps. Alan Peter Cayetano, Roilo Golez, Reylina Nicolas, Miles Roces, Luis Asistio, and Eduardo Zialcita.


They cited Article XIII of the Constitution stating that “urban or rural poor dwellers shall not be evicted nor their dwellings demolished, except in accordance with the law and in a just and humane manner.” The Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992 also prescribes for a “just and humane eviction.”


The issue is also supported by his colleagues in the party-list bloc Reps. Loretta Ann Rosales and Ana Theresa Hontiveros-Baraquel.


But North Rail officials said that the ICC based its decision on the economic viability of rail transport to impart social benefits by providing reliable, efficient, environment- friendly, convenient, and timesaving mode of transportation to the riding public.


The officials added that the project will help accelerate development in Central and North Luzon by providing easy access to these new economic growth areas.


Herminio del Rosario, PNR Real Estate Department acting deputy also said that the funds were already released to pave way for the project implementation by November.Del Rosario said that the DBM released some P300 million for the acquisition of lots and livelihood programs under the supervision of the National Housing Authority (NHA).


NHA earlier acquired the 14 hectare piece of land in Barangay Bignay and the Towerville situated in Bulacan and Caloocan.


The NHA vowed that they would give livelihood programs and adequate shelter to the affected families.


The whole North Rail Phase 1 section, which stretches from Manila to Malolos, is 32.138 km. The stretch would have six stations situated in Caloocan, Valenzuela, Marilao, Bocaue, Guiguinto and Malolos.


Del Rosario said that the NHA is already giving evacuation notices to 7,000 informal settlers.


The government earlier considering the extension of the project up to Subic, Zambales to attract more foreign and local businessmen to invest owing to the fast track services of merchandise.


The North Rail plans to build a strategic station at the Subic Bay Free Port to double the target income of the agency that could help alleviate the current fiscal crisis in the country.


When completed, the 32-kilometer rail line from Caloocan City to Bulacan is estimated to ferry 350,000 commuters daily reaching a P5.6 million income per day, if foreign business players plans to invest here, it could be doubled the target profits

oh no... uuhhh!! "hindi ko na alam kung ano ang totoo at kung ano ang biro?" :hilarious:

Solons try to derail railroad plan

They cited Article XIII of the Constitution stating that “urban or rural poor dwellers shall not be evicted nor their dwellings demolished, except in accordance with the law and in a just and humane manner.” The Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992 also prescribes for a “just and humane eviction.”


This is also known (I believe) as the "Lina Law"... which I think is the reason why more and more professional squatters are around.. the stupidest law ever signed!.... the government should have the right to move these squatters for the greater good with or without proper housing because in the first place these squatters should have never have settled on these areas....

this project will display how strong Gloria's political will is....

Manila-Clark railway proponents nix secondhand South Korean trains

By LAWRENCE AGCAOILI
TODAY Reporter


North Luzon Railways Corp. (Northrail) president Jose Cortez Jr. said local proponents of the $503-million railway project that will connect Metro Manila area and the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport in Clark Field, Pampanga, rejected the plan to use secondhand South Korean trains to cut costs.


Cortez said the equipment being offered by Korean Rail that would be taken from the company’s old railroad system is not compatible with the modern and narrow railroad tracks of Northrail.


He said Donald Dee, presidential assistant for international trade relations, proposed the plan to acquire machinery and coaches from Korean Rail to reduce cost.


Cortez explained that Northrail has already signed a memorandum of understanding with China National Machinery and Equipment Corp. as primary contractor of the railway project in September 2000.


He said the proponents of the railway project are pressed for time since the bidding for the technical consultancy is scheduled this month. Construction of the railway is scheduled to start next month.


Laying of the new railroad tracks will cost $281 million, the rolling stock is worth $88 million, other costs, such as taxes and project management will reach $87 million, signal and communications will cost $29.8 million, and right-of-way, $17.5 million.


Besides the sourcing of equipment, Cortez said other concerns of the project include the relocation of some 83,000 squatter families along the tracks in Caloocan, Malabon and Valenzuela City.


The state-run National Development Co. has yet to raise funds to finance the relocation program.


The proposed railway project was conceptualized in 1993 to connect Metro Manila with the Clark Special Economic Zone in Angeles City.


In 1995 the Philippine government entered into a memorandum of understanding with a Spanish railway consortium to pursue the first phase of the project covering Caloocan to Calumpit in Bulacan.


The project bogged down when funding to be sourced from an overseas development assistance facility from the Spanish government and from equity contributions did not materialize. The project was revived in 2002.

$50-M funding for train system gets BSP clearance
By IRIS CECILIA C. GONZALES, Reporter
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (Central Bank of the Philippines, or BSP) has approved the government's $50-million borrowing to finance the rehabilitation project for the southern Metro Manila line of the Philippine National Railways (PNR).

A BSP official said the policy-making Monetary Board approved on Thursday the government's borrowing program for the first phase of the railway project.

"The board gave its final approval," the official said.

The government earlier tapped South Korean multilateral institutions to fund the project.

South Korea's Economic Development Cooperation Fund and Export-Import Bank have agreed to provide 10-year loans of $35 million and $15.42 million , respectively, at 2.5% annual interest.

Based on the program, the government will provide a sovereign guarantee on the loans, which will complete the foreign financing for the first phase of the project to upgrade the 32-kilometer South Manila line from Caloocan City to Alabang town in Muntinlupa City.

The government will provide the local financing component equivalent to $14.26 million, to be used to secure right-of-way and build additional infrastructure for the railway line.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has said that infrastructure improvement in the mass railway transport will be a priority program. The rehabilitation of the railway, however, has long been delayed because of financing and right-of-way issues.

The government wants to improve the South Manila line following several fatal accidents.

The Department of Transportation and Communications earlier said the first phase of the project involves fencing of station premises as well as improvement of communications facilities to help prevent accidents on the railway tracks.

The rehabilitation of the Caloocan-Alabang line is expected to speed up travel time to 30 minutes for the whole stretch.

Under the PNR plan, the upgrade will give the South Manila line a capacity of 187,000 passengers a day, using 21 new diesel-powered railcars to be acquired under the project.

The first-phase upgrade would also cover improvement of the railway tracks, strengthening of the old PNR lines, double tracking of the line from Sucat Road in Parañaque City to Alabang and improvement of maintenance equipment.

I got news from the people who live in Malabon on the sides of the Rail Road tracks that they received notice that they are about to be evacuated by the second of November. I wonder where? If they will be move out to the new location, Is there already house build for them? I did a researched about it but the only thing I've got is that the house they are planning to build for this people are a house made from steel and sugarcane but this news was issued way back last year. I wonder what kind of house is it? Any idea?
The house project under Imelda Marcos in Navotas looks fine though the flood is too bad when its raining.

I really hope the project gets going soon!

The 35,000 squatter families should be relocated soon so that 500,000 families from Metro Manila, Bulacan, Pampanga, Bataan, Nueva Ecija, and Tarlac can benefit from the convenience and comfort of the Northrail project.

there are a couple of advertisments in the dailies which say that the northrail project will start constrcution next year.. try looking up some old issues of the philippine daily inquirer.. the main section.. in the centerfold..

it says there that it will cut travel time from manila to bulacan from 1 1/2 hrs to about 37 mins i think.. its done very similar to the old MRT billboards along edsa.. and if i remember right, the price is around P45 for the trip.. saving the commuter time and money..

il try to double check the advertisement and post the correct figures next time.. :)

about damn time a city like Metro Manila has a commuter train in and out of the city, connected to the MRT/LRT lines. helps traffic, businesses, cleanliness, demand for fuel, among other things. 45 pesos isn't that bad.

http://www.pbase.com/boyyniguez/railways

b&w photos of the abandoned railways of Central Luzon

The Northrail and Southrail projects will definitely be a big contributor to the decongestion of Metro Manila.

Imagine if the Northrail line is fully operational, a Makati City office worker can commute to and from his Pampanga residence everyday. And the travel time will only be about 30 to 45 minutes.

If the Southrail line is operational, people can commute from Laguna and even Batangas everyday and be in Makati, Ortigas or BGC also in about 30 to 45 minutes.

Shades of the Japanese bullet train, di ba? Because land is so scarce in Metro Tokyo, people reside in some far-off Prefectures (provinces) but they can afford to go to work in Tokyo everyday due to the good train service.

/\ Looks good in my imagination also, but I'll reserve my accolades until it does happen. :)

Eventually, that will happen sometime in the future. Most develop cities have that system of suburbs with railways and highways leading to the city. London, Tokyo, NYC are good examples of this.

I'd also like to ask, how come the railway in the north of MM was abandoned? now they have to spend lots of money to rehabilitate it.

maybe due to lack of maintenance, small traffic. maybe there's no demand at all. but due to the on-going development in the north, they realized they have to use the railway again...

I'd also like to ask, how come the railway in the north of MM was abandoned? now they have to spend lots of money to rehabilitate it.

i think they abandoned this railway after a major quake... too expensive to rebuild the railway that time... plus traffic was dwindling so not financially feasible. now, we're so behind.

yeah, i think it was become of declining usage, with the increase of road cars, and the development of the highways and expressways.

my history professor is telling us that the volume of railway ridership never decreased nor did the demand for new cars, coz the population then keeps on increasing....but he added that during the marcos period, they think ferdinand himself has to be held accountable for the deterioration of the railway system, coz he bias-ly favored the idea of land travel thru the use of cars, hence the 2 major express were constructed... hmmm...our class wasnt able to ask him(prof) though to elaborate the matter, coz the bell rang. but i think ferdinand was able to win the favors of japanese auto manufacturers & oil companies becoz of that...

he's biased against the Marcoses...

The Tollways were constructed to complement traffic currently being served that time by the PNR system. I evenvread an article (which i believe was also posted here) stating that PNR even provided "inflight" meals to attract ridership....

or maybe being the evil that he is (referring to FM),
I think it is possible he diverted operating funds from PNR to his pockets.... this is not impossible to happen...

screen captures i got from the correspondents.
philippine strong republic railway project.

http://www.geocities.com/eipangan/images/railway_041031_01.txt

http://www.geocities.com/eipangan/images/railway_041031_02.txt

ok.. im really getting sick of this "Strong Republic" naming of this. It is sooooooo tacky can't they name it something more creative or even simple like Luzon Railway

Oh. I've seen that episode of The Correspondents. And aside from showing the Future Strong Republic Railway Project, they also showed the pathetic situation of our current railway system. The train riders always have extra shirts because you risk getting wet because the squatters beside the railroad tracks have a habit of throwing water (or whatever nasty stinky liquids) on the trains passing by. They even interviewed someone who just got wet and is changing new clothes.

Well, If Squatters along PNR Railways REFUSE to move despite of the heafty compensation they have been offered and paid, I think Arroyo better APPLY t
he same way as the IJA have put Farang as well as those POWs to build the
Death Railway. One sleeper means one dead POW. ... Think abotu it ....

Another choice is to haul those squatter in the same way those who perished by suffocation durign the haul from Takbai to Fort Ingkhayutboriharn in Pattani ....

Sorry for very sarcastic response, but you better READY to apply this method
if you want both North Rail and SOuth rail to be done as fast as possible.

thanks but no thanks... there must be some much better ways other than that.. :)

yeah amras i hope there is. but if these people wont move we gotta make them move.

i find them too much pampered by the govt na nga eh, halos ibigay na nga lahat no! i mean for me, tama na kung lupa lang eh, but these craps (sorry, i dont mean to overgeneralize) would demand everything, bahay, lupa, corriente, tubig, transpo, & 50-100t livelihood package, i mean thats just too much!!!

we must make them move but we should never resort to violence or whatsoever. i'm just saying that we can always find peacefull ways of taking those lands.

Government should use a combination of dialogue and steely resolve and firmness.

i thought November start ng construction. Bakit wala pa ring activities?

My sis attended the Philippine PR convention last week and one of the speakers was the president of the Northrail. He said that the project is go na go na raw. He also talked about the importance of a good rail system for the country.

i'd say give the squatters a good package (proper housing and compensation), set a 6 month moving period, and then burn or demolish each shanty.. those that didn't leave should be taken out of their shanties by force.. 6 months is an ample time for them to adjust to a new place or to go home to their provinces...

it may be a crude means of relocation but with these squatters, an iron hand is needed... and the human rights groups should just shut up for the greater good.....

i'd say take away their right to vote and the politicians will do the rest. :D

Hay nako kailan pa kaya matatapos yan? Knowing our politicians! Maybe I'm working abroad na when those trains finish. I'm in Pamp. and I have hopes of studying in Manila, those trains are of big help, reeeeellly big.

Yeah, You are right Khun pau_P1. Either those Human Right Activists and Slum Dwellers have become railways works who toil Dawn to Dusk and Dusk to Dawn to Complese both North Rail and South Rail ..... or being BILED or FRIED Alive on Flaming Palm Oil in the giant woks ...

Finally.. there seems to be some activity.

I passed by Samson Road early this morning and saw guys putting up fences (which had fences in them earlier broken by squatters) at the PNR Compound at Caloocan Station...

Thanks for those video stills, rico:) The train looks pretty good.

Imo, forcing people out of their homes does not work. It has been done for decades now, and not much has happened. Peaceful methods such as building homes and a proper community for them elsewhere is the solution. And it doesnt end there, they should ensure the people have proper lifestyles such as a job, schooling, healthcare is available to them in their new home.

ok.. im really getting sick of this "Strong Republic" naming of this. It is sooooooo tacky can't they name it something more creative or even simple like Luzon Railway

well Luzon Railway is dull and boring :sleepy:

i kinda agree with ryan on the relocation site issue
Imo, forcing people out of their homes does not work. It has been done for decades now, and not much has happened. Peaceful methods such as building homes and a proper community for them elsewhere is the solution. And it doesnt end there, they should ensure the people have proper lifestyles such as a job, schooling, healthcare is available to them in their new home.

in theory that's the best way. though i have a feeling that it wouldn't go all that smoothly.. some squatters basically want a million bucks along with housing, jobs, etc. it's like they're in "wish upon a star".

yeah...well nothing is perfect. It is the best solution anyways. Go to my Gawad Kalinga thread to see how well it works!:)

yeah...well nothing is perfect. It is the best solution anyways. Go to my Gawad Kalinga thread to see how well it works!:)
i saw on tv (abs-cbn) a feature on the lakes of laguna and they had this small segment where they talked about the gawad kalinga project because they relocated people living along the lake to these communities.

some of the residents were complaining the houses were small (30 sq. m) and far from work.

30 sq. m. is indeed kinda small for a family.

Come train or shine
Posted: 1:47 AM | Nov. 06, 2004
Conrado R. Banal III
Inquirer News Service

IF PLANS do not miscarry, only three to four years from now, or by 2008, you can take a train between Malolos town in Bulacan province, north of Manila, and Caloocan City in Metro Manila in 40 minutes -- tops.

The train ride will cost you P43 one way, rain or shine, which means you spend less than P100 back and forth.

You can then connect to the railway systems of the Light Rail Transit and Metro Rail Transit crisscrossing the metropolis. No more road traffic! You have a predictable, exact travel time. You have more time for manicure. Okay, even pedicure!

To hundreds of thousands of commuters, that's heaven on earth.

By that time, based on studies of the Department of Transportation and Communication, traffic in the metropolis is expected to be so terrible, you can already expect to be a great grandparent by the time you get home from work, and you're not even married yet.

* * *

REALLY, there is no argument known to man or woman that can put down the railway program of this cute administration of Gloriaetta.

This country needs a railway system -- a good working railway system. This is a fact, and everybody agrees on it.

Actually, we needed a railway system ever since we built the first railway several decades ago, which we then proceeded to neglect the past 40 years or so.

Now the question is this: Can we implement the railway program?

That remains to be seen. Already under attack is the priority railway project of this cute administration, the one called Northrail.

Some people say it is too expensive. They say the contract did not go through a public bidding, which should only invite court cases, not to mention political wrangling.

They also point out that the project will dislocate a lot of the so-called informal dwellers (i.e., squatters) along the existing railroad tracks, which neighborhood was even romanticized by a long-running TV comedy series, projecting life along the railroad tracks to be happy and funny.

Yet everybody is complaining at the same time that the project is taking too long to start. I mean, there is always something bad to say about the Northrail project.

* * *

HERE is my take in this project: Let's just do it right away please!

You see, I grew up in Caloocan, where the old Philippine National Railways (PNR) used to have its main train yard.

Everybody in my neighborhood had a father or a brother or a cousin working in the railways. Everybody did business with the people working in the railways.

We also took the train to go home to the provinces, both in the north to Tarlac province and in the south to the Bicol region, or to take a short vacation in Baguio City.

The PNR was the lifeline of the people of Caloocan for a long time, until the company went under precisely because it was run by the government.

To me, believing in this railway project is not just part of a reporter's job; it is something deeply personal. Anybody who wants it to fail is my enemy.

* * *

NOW the man in charge of the project, Transportation and Communication Undersecretary Jose Cortez Jr., is trying to turn around the project, since it got a lot of flak from media and politicians recently.

Cortez wants to do the groundbreaking next week. He said so in his talk during the recent conference of the Public Relations Society of the Philippines.

Cortez of course must talk about its benefits. Railway is by far the cheapest mode of transportation. It is also faster than the bus.

A train ride between Malolos and Caloocan will cost P43 per passenger. Today the buses are already charging P70 per.

That stretch will also take only about 38 minutes by train. The bus will take you anywhere from two hours to more than a lifetime.

* * *

BUT what about its cost, boss, considering that we were told that it could put us back by P1 billion per kilometer? It could be a daylight railroad robbery.

Actually, as Cortez explained it, the cost is P875 million per kilometer. It is still a stiff price, right, at least compared to the construction cost of, say, a highway?

But that figure included everything, such as the train cars, the yards, and even the taxes that the project is expected to remit to the government.

In a highway project, you don't include the cost of the cars that run on the highway.

That is not so for railways. The rolling stock of the Northrail, which will use diesel multiple units, will cost close to $100 million initially. The depot and the train yards will add another $15 million. Another $30 million will go to the equipment for communications -- you know, for signage and signaling, all those electronic gadgets. + Without all those, if you consider only the construction of the railroad tracks, the cost is only P250 million per kilometer.

That's definitely way off the cost of P1 billion per kilometer reported in the papers. I wonder where they got this figure. Somebody probably does not like the railway project.

* * *

ANYWAY, Cortez said that they were able to bring down the contract price. Hired to do the project was China's state-owned company CNMEG, which initiated the feasibility studies for the project.

Initially, CNMEG wanted $600 million. Cortez said that this cute administration negotiated with CNMEG to bring it down to $500 million. Actual cost is now pegged $420 million.

Thus, out of the total cost of $500 million, taxes and project management fees account for $80 million. In other words, the money does not go to the Chinese company. It stays here.

* * *

UNDER the subsequent phases of the Northrail, the trains can go all the way to the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport in the Clark Special Economic Zone, north of Manila, connecting to the seaport in the Subic Freeport Zone, northwest of Manila, and finally as far north as La Union province.

Down to the south, the railway will run to the "Global City" in Fort Bonifacio, near the Makati business district, which can then interconnect with the commuter railway systems of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) and Metro Rail Transit (MRT) crisscrossing the metropolis.

It is still just dream at this point. Anything can still happen. Well, just take a look at the MRT extension project on EDSA highway, from North Avenue to the Monumento area of Quezon City in Caloocan.

Last time I checked, somebody big in the construction business is blocking it. His construction company reportedly has money problems. Big-time!

Apparently, he wanted the MRT to give him a fortune of a reward-you know, as a "bonus" for having done the construction job for the first phase.

In other words, in this money issue, he is simply willing to take public interest as a hostage.

That's the kind of pitfalls Cortez must deal with, I guess, to make our dream of a real working train system come true. I pray he shines.

thanks for the article, worth reading. i just don't like how the author repeatedly said "this cute administration". as if pres. arroyo's admin is not capable of accomplishing big things. he must hate the president.

i agree, thanks for the article.. i hope that the current administration will have the political will to push thru with the project.. im willing to wait 3-4 years to have a vastly improved railway system in our country..

thanks for the article, worth reading. i just don't like how the author repeatedly said "this cute administration". as if pres. arroyo's admin is not capable of accomplishing big things. he must hate the president.

You hit the bull's eye tyronne. The columnist, Mr. Banal, oh let's just say he has misgivings about this administration. He calls the president 'Glorietta', not in an endearing manner mind you, ALL the time in his columns. And not just in this one.

It was a good read, nonetheless:)

You hit the bull's eye tyronne. The columnist, Mr. Banal, oh let's just say he has misgivings about this administration. He calls the president 'Glorietta', not in an endearing manner mind you, ALL the time in his columns. And not just in this one.

yeah... ironically, the "cute administration of Glorieatta" is all he ever rants on about in his little columns.

Northrail project finally takes off
By Edson Tandoc Jr. | Inquirer News Service | November 11, 2004

AFTER a difficult start, construction of the $503-million Northrail project has finally taken off.

Groundwork on the project had already started last week, and more engineers from China are expected to arrive on Sunday, Northrail project president Jose Cortez said yesterday.

The project will be financed by a $395.22-million loan from the China Import-Export Bank, and $107.8 million from the Bases Conversion Development Authority.

Questions about the costs and the problems on the relocation of affected residents continue to hound the project.

Opposition senators had questioned the cost of the 32-kilometer rail project that would connect Caloocan City to Malolos, Bulacan using the abandoned Philippine National Railways tracks.

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel had asked for a Senate inquiry on the project, which he said had "dubious ramifications."

Pimentel also noted that $288.26 million had been allocated to the relocation of affected residents alone.

But Cortez said the actual project cost could still go down as adjustments on some structures had been made.

He added that the project "is actually very cheap" because it would use a double-track system, unlike the old PNR which had just one track for both northbound and southbound trips.

Cortez also denied that more than half of the project cost would cover the relocation of residents, saying that only about $30 million had been devoted to relocation. The bulk of the relocation expenses shall be shouldered by the National Housing Authority.

More than 38,000 families would be displaced by the project.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I'm really hoping everything will go smoothly from this point forward. $288M for squatter relocation is just absolutely crazy. I'm sure that's wrong - considering he is from the opposition. I just hope this isn't ridden with corruption as many other projects (ahem... MRT-3... ahem...) have been.

how would PNR be able to double track their railroads in MM? :? anyways besides good news :yes:

:omg: Finally the day has come! And hopefully everything will run smoothly with no more delays and yeah, corruption. We should be happy now, but lets celebrate when it is actually finished:D (2009+?)

:omg: Finally the day has come! And hopefully everything will run smoothly with no more delays and yeah, corruption. We should be happy now, but lets celebrate when it is actually finished:D (2009+?)
and pleeeze, no more cancellation of contracts!

Don't hold your breath....but keep all your fingers crossed! :D

We should be happy now, but lets celebrate when it is actually finished:D (2009+?)

hahahaha...!! this better not turn into another NAIA-3, dangit!

btw, anyone know what trains they're gonna be utilizing? the tracks are capable of operating/have provisions for the original high-speed coaches the project were first planned for use on the Northrail, right...?

off topic but when i first read the previous statement, i thought of dried fish from cebu.

btw, anyone know what trains they're gonna be utilizing? the tracks are capable of operating/have provisions for the original high-speed coaches the project were first planned for use on the Northrail, right...?

for the meantime, theyre gonna use diesel trains (most probably from China) but the tracks are capable of handling high-speed trains, for future upgrades.. :cheers:

Train falls into ravine in Padre Burgos, Quezon

Updated 08:03am (Mla time) Nov 12, 2004
By Delfin Mallari Jr.
Inquirer News Service, GMA7, Agence France-Presse

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


PADRE BURGOS, Quezon, Philippines -- (2ND UPDATE) At least three people were killed and scores of passengers wounded after a Manila-bound train from Bicol province slipped of its tracks and fell into a 12-meter deep ravine early dawn Friday in Barangay (village) Duhat, this town 172 kilometers south of Manila.
A GMA Network reporter on the scene told the network's Unang Hirit morning newscast that three people were dead and that 312 people were on board the train at the time of the accident. Twenty-eight people, including the three reported dead, had been taken out of the train, he said.

Inquirer News Service, quoting Henry Burgos, head of the Quezon Regional Disaster Coordinating Council, said six people had been killed.

GMA-7 reported that some 100 people had been brought to hospitals in Lucena City and Pagbilao towns.

Five of the eight coaches plunged down a 40-foot [12-meter] slope, said Inspector Roger Fuentes, the town police chief.

"Practically all of them have injuries of some sort but more than 20 have serious injuries," Fuentes told GMA-7 dzBB radio from the scene.

"There are many casualties and some of them are unconscious," Edwin Cerillo, a surviving passenger, told the radio by mobile phone from the scene.

"The passengers of one coach are trapped inside," he said.

According to Noli Tolentino, a Philippine National Railways (PNR) maintenance engineer based in Lucena, the ill-fated PNR train exceeded the speed limit that had been imposed in the area.

"It's not sabotage. It's simply a case of overspeeding," Tolentino told Inquirer New Service.

The railroad track is at least 900 meters from the provincial road. Initial rescue operations were hampered by the dark and slippery trail leading to the site of the accident.

Rescuers expected more bodies would be retrieved as full rescue operations were launched by different rescue groups from the fire department, police, army, and non-government organizations.

The PNR said each of the coaches that fell down the slope has a capacity of 88 passengers.

for the meantime, theyre gonna use diesel trains (most probably from China) but the tracks are capable of handling high-speed trains, for future upgrades.. :cheers:

i thought all these high-speed plans are for later on? i don't remember reading about high-speed rails for the near future.

that's what I said, renell... hehehe :)

that's what I said, renell... hehehe :)

what i got was that when this phase is done, you can just put a high-speed train and it'll work:D i guess it's the wording

Central Luzon lawmakers push for railway modernization
The Philippine Star 11/17/2004

Three lawmakers from Central Luzon said yesterday that the construction of a "modern, efficient and safe" railways system, not just in Luzon but also in the Visayas and Mindanao, has "become absolutely necessary."

Reps. Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado and Pedro Pancho of Bulacan and Juan Miguel Arroyo of Pampanga said efforts to block the construction of the Northrail are nothing but a "demolition campaign based on disinformation."

"It is unfortunate that some quarters have sought to derail this project using patently false information. We have long sought a revival of the northbound line. It is absolutely needed by our growing population and our expanding trade and business activities," they said in a joint statement.

The Philippine National Railways (PNR) said the Northrail will link Caloocan to the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport at Clark Field in Pampanga, Dagupan City and San Fernando, La Union and will pass through Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac and Pangasinan.

To be financed and constructed by the Chinese government, the Northrail is a "double-track system," each line of which could cost roughly P437 million per kilometer. It aims to decongest traffic north of Metro Manila.

"The project is a major economic catalyst that will link business hubs and communities in central and northern Luzon, create employment, provide incomes to thousands of Filipinos and begin the long process of modernizing transport infrastructure in the country," the statement said.

The Northrail line will also link central and northern Luzon to Metro Manila, southern Tagalog and, ultimately, Sorsogon City in Bicol, where the Southrail will end. There will be a "system of inter-linking rail lines."

New railway lines are also planned to "criss-cross" Mindanao, the trio said, while two other lines will be revived and modernized in Panay Islands in the Visayas, as per the railway modernization plan of President Arroyo.

Meanwhile, PNR officials said that the southline rehabilitation work that covered the 300-meter curved stretch in barangay Duhat, Padre Burgos, Quezon province where the tragic derailment occurred last Friday was not concretized by its Australian contractor.

NEDA okays $1-B Bicol railway rehabilitation project
By Ted P. Torres | The Philippine Star 12/01/2004

The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) had endorsed a proposal to rehabilitate the Bicol railway at a cost of nearly $1 billion.

The Philippine National Railways (PNR) has already submitted to NEDA a feasibility study on the project which will complement a similar development in the northern portion of Luzon.

Socioeconomic Planning Secretary and NEDA director-general Romulo L. Neri said they are also looking at similar development programs for Mindanao.

Neri stressed the development of the Southern Luzon corridor as a strategy to decongest Metro Manila and provide new opportunities for growth in the countryside.

"The plan identified as one of its priority activities the rehabilitation of the existing rail link to Bicol as among the priority areas," Neri said.

"Key roads and roll-on, roll-off (RORO) port facilities have been lined up for Mindanao, which would complete the western, central and eastern nautical highways. New government centers are also planned to be established, and various tourism infrastructure have been committed for the Mindanao region," he said.

The feasibility study indicates that the Bicol railway operations will consist of two phases.

Phase 1 involves the rehabilitation and reconstruction works of 89 percent (422,662 kilometers covering Calamba, Laguna to Legaspi City in Albay) of the existing 474 km. long main line. Phase 2 involves the construction of a 112.23-km new rail line extending the main line to Matnog, Sorsogon, the takeoff point towards Visayas and Mindanao.

Phase 1 has an estimated cost of $627.81 million while Phase 2 is estimated to cost $304.23 million. Commercial operations to Lucena City in Quezon is proposed to start by 2006.

The project will adopt the narrow or cape track. The rail will run on a single track and will make use of diesel traction. Signaling system will consist of a line clear certificate and staff block.

Civil and track works for Phase 1, which will involve the rehabilitation of the existing line, will cost $1.04 million per rail kilometer. Phase 2, which will involve the construction of a new line, will cost $2.06 million per rail km. The combined costs were estimated at $3.09 million per rail km.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I didn't think this would come up this soon at all... haha..! great news though, of course... is the Bicol line currently in operation? is it the Bicol Express? this sounds like a huge project, but a lot less costly in comparison to the Northrail. it is single-track though, so...

does the line start in Lucena? ...connected to the Southrail? I'm sure it'll benefit the provinces of Luzon - making them a whole lot more accessible and open for progress. 2006 sounds much too early and unrealistic though. maybe 2007 or so...

The Philippine National Railways (PNR) has already submitted to NEDA a feasibility study on the project which will complement a similar development in the northern portion of Luzon.

I guess that refers to the "W" growth-corrider in North Luzon mentioned in this article (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=2702947&postcount=40) kiretoce posted.

I just WOnder about the steel to be used to rehabilitate the North Raill and South rail ... Is it UIC 50 (50 kg/m - 100 Lb/yard) type fo welded steel rails or better for 3 Feet 6 Inches rail (1.06u7 m gauge - the same as Indonesia and JR Railway networks)? Conclrete Sleeperes with thicket ballasts ?

just a little something new about this thread..

Rail folk on their way to new home

Posted 00:40am (Mla time) Feb 03, 2005
By Edson Tandoc Jr.
Inquirer News Service



Editor's Note: Published on page A18 of the February 3, 2005 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer

SOME of their neighbors are asking the government for more time, but several families in Malabon City about to be displaced by the North Rail Project are ready to move out.

The Kalipunan ng mga Magkakapitbahay sa Daang Riles Malabon (Karisma) submitted to the National Housing Authority (NHA) a list of 174 families who have offered their homes to voluntary demolition, NHA sector manager Maria Theresa Oblipias told the Inquirer Wednesday.

The group has signed a memorandum of agreement with the owner of a private lot in Barangay Panghulo which they plan to buy as a relocation site.

The NHA had rejected the site several times, and instead offered residents a developed government relocation site in Towerville, San Jose Del Monte City, Bulacan.

The group, however, rejected the site, and opted for the "balik probinsiya" compensation scheme. They intend to use the amount as down payment for the construction of their new homes in the Panghulo relocation site.

yeahh.. that is nice... but then... they will squat again in that private land! the money provided to should is supposed to bring them back home to their provinces..... I hate these professional squatters... the government has offered them a new site and they don't want... they'd still squat again! ... grrr!

nice to hear updates to this project, any photos to share?

IMO since they are squatters, they should be removed from any area without the need for compensation.. since the land that they are residing in isnt even theirs.. they have no right to that land..

o well.. as long as the construction of the northrail is pushed thru..

@ stephencua - but the squatters have no where to go, and they are people...they have rights too. Yes, they need to be relocated, but they also need to be taken care of and be given a life (shelter, jobs, education, healthcare). If we just leave them out there, they will settle somewhere else and become poorer. Thus, they opt to do crime. Its not totally their fault to why they are poor.

Stephen, it's actually against present law to remove without compensation. The crazy lina law actually rewards long term squatter by giving them effective property rights so even the government is affected by it! Really poor law designed to pander to populist sentiments.

Squatters are actually a simple problem exacerbated by politics. In china where they actually were poorer a few years back, they never had any problems because the state took precedence over individual rights. So you never had a squater problem. So it's ironic that even many years ago, a communist state where one had no property actually realized that property rights were important specially in management of society and civilization. Of course here it's used as a bulwark for elections where these folk are given their few days in the sun before election before the pol ussually forgets the greater good which serves them over most of their term.

I understand thougth that northrail and southrail have the same problem and that a big chunk of southrails 50m$ budget is for squatter relocation.

sorry if i sounded a bit harsh.. but i was ranting about the stupid lina law.. they should have it repealed or something.. its such a hindrance to progress..

greyx, i know that they have rights but i think that they shouldnt complain that they dont like the place that was set up for them for relocation.. i mean, it is free.. just stating my opinion..

yes LINA LAW sucks... that should be repealed... I know I'd be "anti-poor" on this but I'm for pro-progress too... these squatters are using this stupid law for them too stay longer in private lands... they resettle and resettle and demand the government to take care of them..... and the stupid human rights people back them up... well... the government should move for the benefit of the many and not by these tax evading, professional, government burden minority....

yeah I'd agree that if NHA gives them a relocation site.. these people shouldn't have a choice but move there or else not be compensated.... sayang ang pinagkakagastusan ng NHA to build houses from the majority's taxes

@ stephencua - but the squatters have no where to go, and they are people...they have rights too. Yes, they need to be relocated, but they also need to be taken care of and be given a life (shelter, jobs, education, healthcare). If we just leave them out there, they will settle somewhere else and become poorer. Thus, they opt to do crime. Its not totally their fault to why they are poor.
it is their fault cause alam na nila mahirap sila tapos di pa sila nag family planning....sex pa nang sex

this will all boil down again to the govt's capacity of implementing its policies...the lina law may have somehow worked if they complemented it w/ countryside devt. they should have focused also in delivering industrial growth in the provinces, so these provincianos would stop migrating to MM, & so that leads to decongestion & shortage of housing wont anymore b that enormous... on the family planning issue naman, i think its not fair to just blame evrythin to the poor...its actually the govt who should share much of the blame coz they failed to come up w/ a clear direction of our family program, these poor failed to manage their family size not bec. theyre poor, but basically they lack the thorough knowledge bout it, kulang sa kaalaman so to speak...& its the job of the govt on how to see to it that all of its programs, laws & policies really has vision thru proper coordination & implementation. but the problem is wala nga eh...

ignorance is not an excuse....what you reap is what you sow...mahilig kasi sila mag sex, kaya pakainin nila yun anak nila

you might want to blame the catholic church too then...................for not supporting birth control Flavier had so popularly started during Ramos's movement.

Government vows to support rail families
By Pia Lee-Brago
The Philippine Star 02/16/2005

Malabon and Valenzuela residents who were affected by the North rail development project and relocated to the government resettlement site in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan were assured of constant support by the government.

Speaking before the community during the "Ugnayan Kabayan" public dialogue at the Towerville Resettlement Site, Vice President Noli De Castro said the residents’ need for electricity, drinking water and other basic services will be promptly addressed.

He also announced that the National Housing Authority (NHA) has allocated a lot for a public market within the resettlement site which will be funded by the local government to provide livelihood opportunities to residents.

"The government will not stop at relocating your families to your new home. We will ensure that you get adequate basic services, livelihood activities and other opportunities," De Castro, concurrent chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC), promised.

As a form of assistance, the Vice President handed livelihood checks worth P25,000 each to 43 beneficiaries from Malabon who qualified for a loan from the NHA.

Towerville is home to some 4,000 families, including 400 settlers who were located from the Malabon segment of North rail.

The transfer of 6,816 families occupying the Malabon and Valenzuela segments of the North rail development project will be completed early next month, De Castro said.

originally posted at http://philstar.com/philstar/NEWS200502166304.htm

Any news on when they'll actually finish moving these guys so the train can start already.

Well, thats good news...delayed, but oh well at least its happening. Hope they can start the actual northrail project very soon.

yea becoz the chinese gov't is getting impatient with the delay, they want to kick off the project asap and has been pressuring the government to act decisively to get rid of all these obtacles

well im getting impatient with all the delays too.. i want to be able to ride the northrail to go to the provinces! :D

stephen , I think the train will originally only run to malolos, unless that's your povince! If the first phase is taking so long the second one to clark may be longer , i suggest you plan for contingencies :)

yeahh.... I'm getting impatient with its delays to... delaying this longer would delay the development of Subic and Clark more.....thus congestion of Manila will be longer....

im not really from the provinces.. i just want to ride the thing to visit other provinces.. hehehehe.. :D

well i just passed the erap bridge in pandacan yesterday and parts of it where the track lay beside PUP was clean of squatters, there were still lots left though

GMA is really serious about making the philippines better; and i can say that it's really getting better... hundreds of projects in line... NEXT!!

I hope they finally will get the Northrail rehab kicked off by the first week of March. and hopefully the relocated squatters will be provided with enough to make a decent living and start off better lives...

the new GMA administration does really seem very determined to put things back in order and get the Philippines up and on its feet again. maybe it's just for the sake of leaving her legacy, but still... the Philippines can and will catch up with the rest of its ASEAN neighbours.

well she should be determined... or she'll just tarnish the name built by his father....

yep, who wouldn't be determined? :D Afterall transportation was one of her main agendas in that ten-point thingy. She knows for Subic and Clark to succeed, all roads that lead there must be functioning (Macarthur, NLEX, Northrail)

Squatters’ relocation under review

Sen. Rodolfo Biazon asked government agencies in charge of the relocation of squatters in Malabon and Valenzuela City to make a detailed report of the expenses incurred by the government in connection with the Northrail project, it was learned Sunday.


Biazon, chairman of the committee on urban planning, housing and resettlement, expressed concern over the losses being incurred by the government because of the delays.


He said the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC), the National Housing Authority (NHA), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP) and the local government units concerned should come up with a breakdown of expenses incurred for the squatters’ relocation, which started last year.


Sen. Aquilino Pimentel, however, raised alarm that the project may violate the rights of people who would be affected by the project. More than 1,000 applicants have been disqualified from the resettlement program, and may face eviction before the end of the month to give way for the construction of the much-delayed project.


During a public hearing at the Valenzuela Convention Center over the weekend, Biazon said the government is losing P400,000 in interest for every day of delay as part of the loan agreement entered into by the government with China for the revival of the PNR’s north line from Sangandaan to Malolos, Bulacan.


The $503.02-million project has been delayed for three months owing to the resettlement problem, which until now continues to bug the interagency committee members composed of representatives from the HUDCC, NHA DSWD, PCUP and the cities of Malabon and Valenzuela.


Biazon conceded that the government lacks financial resources to accommodate slum dwellers who want to avail of financial assistance, but said those who are qualified must receive state assistance.


He received a report from the NHA that professional squatters have built shanties during the census and tagging that started in 1997.


NHA general manager Federico Laxa told Today in an interview that more than 1,000 applicants have been disqualified and would not receive any assistance from the government.


“We conducted a thorough screening and we found out that most of those who applied for financial assistance are professional squatters,” he said.


In Malabon, 4,102 families were included in the census but only 3,214 have applied for the resettlement program.


While most applications have been processed and approved, a member of the interagency committee from the PCUP said more applicants may be disqualified owing to lack of requirement.


The source said the HUDCC and the NHA are allowing the transfer of some families even though their applications have yet to be approved. The PCUP needs to certify whether the applicant is indeed homeless before being granted a housing unit.


“Others have just transferred to relocation sites such as in barangay Bignay, where most of those who have transferred have not undergone NHA processing,” the source said.


The HUDCC headed by Vice President Noli de Castro earlier entered into a deal with residents of Malabon and Valenzuela City that they will be granted a P50,000 financial assistance in the form of material should they voluntarily demolish their houses and transfer to government relocation sites.But those who have availed of the financial assistance complained that the amount is insufficient to build a decent shelter.


Squatters who were relocated to barangay Bignay also complained the lack of potable water, forcing them to drink water sourced from deep wells. A total of 23 deep well pumps were installed in the barangay Bignay and power lines have yet to be installed.


So far, Laxa said that in Malabon, 80 percent of those who applied and were deemed qualified by the interagency committee have been transferred while those in Valenzuela, some 60 percent of the total number of applicants approved by the interagency committee have been relocated.


He said that those whose application were rejected or disapproved will be displaced as the North Luzon Railways Corporation is expected to start construction phase starting next month.


“We can’t do anything about them. They were disqualified it means they must leave and find an- other place to stay. Most of those applicants who were disqualified are single. Some are not really residents but were there because of the government offer. Now, they should start looking for an apartment or room to rent, but not in government land.”

Reading that it's a fair enough deal. It's moving smooth now after some initial delays, next month according to that article construction starts :happy:

But often this is what happens in our government projects:(

1. Proposal. Much fanfare and we all cheer in SSC
2. Some contractor is given the deal. Some cheer and to those who hate the contractor, jeer.
3. Swiss challenge or some delay even before construction starts. Government tries and cuts a couple of bucks in the deal. Or squatters. We all jeer. Or simply funding just runs away e.g. Coastal Road extension
4. Construction begins. We all cheer, but it's 2-3 years away. One of us could have been married or graduated by now
5. Construction delays, or a NAIA-3 like delay. More boos
6. Finally finished when that married person has kid/s and that guy who just graduated just finished uni or college. More booze. :cheers:

what a wide range of emotions that we experience huh? tsk tsk..

well they are a wide range indeed, but a wide range that is similar for a wide range of issues if you know what i mean;)

any photos of this project?

no photos yet because they are just started to relocate the squatters along railway. once all squatters is completely gone the construction will start.

lol @ renell...:D so true.

Oh come on...i thought they were almost done relocating the affected squatters? They really need to start this project soon, it has been delayed long enough. It is also a important project to achieving higher levels of growth in Clark and Subic which is one of the ten point agenda.

Reading that it's a fair enough deal. It's moving smooth now after some initial delays, next month according to that article construction starts :happy:

But often this is what happens in our government projects:(

1. Proposal. Much fanfare and we all cheer in SSC
2. Some contractor is given the deal. Some cheer and to those who hate the contractor, jeer.
3. Swiss challenge or some delay even before construction starts. Government tries and cuts a couple of bucks in the deal. Or squatters. We all jeer. Or simply funding just runs away e.g. Coastal Road extension
4. Construction begins. We all cheer, but it's 2-3 years away. One of us could have been married or graduated by now
5. Construction delays, or a NAIA-3 like delay. More boos
6. Finally finished when that married person has kid/s and that guy who just graduated just finished uni or college. More booze. :cheers:


okay... now I'm going to ask: was there ANY major infra project that was discussed in SSC when it started AND ended?

lol @ renell...:D so true.

Oh come on...i thought they were almost done relocating the affected squatters? They really need to start this project soon, it has been delayed long enough. It is also a important project to achieving higher levels of growth in Clark and Subic which is one of the ten point agenda.

The squatters from caloocan to bulacan already started while the squatters along the rail of manila, makati, taguig, muntinlupa to laguna is not yet relocated. Part of the North rail project covers the existing tracks of the entire MM.

Projects progress soooooo slow in the Philippines they start out grand and big and end up low budget and crappy, EXAMPLE: MRT 3, Why didn't they build all the way to Caloocan from the start, now 7 years later the extention has not even started.

North rail was supposed to be high speed rail connecting Fort Bonifacio to Clark, and now its a disel train from Calaoocan to Malolos. So that means it could take 20 years before it actually reaches Clark and 50 years to reach Ilocos.

Here is a picture of the North Rail Train
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid160/p4f735295b1d1888fa4c5d8cb91be4dc2/f4e70407.jpg
I wonder what the stations will look like???

those are the actual trains? where'd you get the picture...?? nice find!! they don't look very new from there, but I guess it's still better than the PNR trains right now. too bad that they had scrapped (or deffered for now) the plans for high speed trains. where are the trains stored right now?

I got the picture from the BCDA, so it must be the actual train, and it has the logo for NORTH RAIL.

Here is what the MRT 3 should have looked like. I don't know if this photo was posted before.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid160/p42d21326b1ec25c4d91492afac20205c/f4e6859a.jpg

WOW, imagine NORTH RAIL having this design for its station, that would be great!!! But then again this is the Philippines, expect the worse.

The government should of followed Fidel Ramos' PHILIPPINES 2000 plan, I'm starting to believe the conspiracy that Miram Defensor Santiago did everything in her power to ruin Ramos' plans. She still hates him to this date because he cheated her out of victory in the 1992 elections. Do you think the Philippines would be a better country if she won??

ohh.... I remember that design of the MRT station.... that was what the MRT Stations should have looked like but I don't know what happened and they built stations that are way too far from that design......

ooooooh, that kind of mrt station would be so cool, but it looks kind of big, doesnt it? that would be great for northrail.

That's one of the first mrt station designs, the stations before the filestat consortium took over were supposed to be huge grand affairs up to six stories high each with it's own mall etc. That's how it was supposed to make money, Eli Levin (LRT7 investor) the proponent looked at it as a Real Estate Play in the primer properties of the Metro region. That's why it was blocked by the different groups which controlled the key areas like the Ayalas.

The picture of the northrail is a picture of the present train that they mocked up for the launch. Observe the chicken wires and the like put in to protect the passengers as they pass the squatter areas!

The government should of followed Fidel Ramos' PHILIPPINES 2000 plan, I'm starting to believe the conspiracy that Miram Defensor Santiago did everything in her power to ruin Ramos' plans. She still hates him to this date because he cheated her out of victory in the 1992 elections. Do you think the Philippines would be a better country if she won??

I don't think changing Presidents would have made a lot of difference. Maybe Estrada, but given the situation I don't think Miriam or whoever would have done it any better.

Btw, I find it really funny how people used to make fun of her, and her fluent english then we see our own public school children struggling to speaking our second language.

Those MRT3 plans are cool, though with its size I don't know if it would be able to fit in EDSA. But certainly a derivation of that is better than what we have now.

Observe the chicken wires and the like put in to protect the passengers as they pass the squatter areas!

so thats what they were for.. hahaha.. akala ko parang kulambo.. :P

ooooooh, that kind of mrt station would be so cool, but it looks kind of big, doesnt it? that would be great for northrail.

well.. EDSA is a wide road of at least 6 lanes, that's why they previously planned to have them that big.... plus it should have had parking areas for car riding passengers..... but then... sayang di sya natuloy.... MRT could have been a world-class rail system... :D

if PNR takes that design to maybe make the Northrail look classy...

Cool...is that really the Northrail train? They havent even started on the project, but how come they already have the trains? So are they just idle...waiting for the project to finish?

well.. EDSA is a wide road of at least 6 lanes, that's why they previously planned to have them that big.... plus it should have had parking areas for car riding passengers..... but then... sayang di sya natuloy.... MRT could have been a world-class rail system... :D

if PNR takes that design to maybe make the Northrail look classy...

yeah about mrt, they should have pursue with having parking because it makes more sense and it would have been maximize it's potential

Chinese firm eyeing South Rail project

By Niel V. Mugas, Reporter

A Chinese firm is interested in participating in the construction of the approximately $126.76-million South Rail Project which extends the line of the Philippine National Railways (PNR) from Manila to Calamba, a Chinese Embassy official told The Manila Times Tuesday.

The China National Machinery and Equipment Corp. (CNMEG), the North Rail project’s lead construction firm, expressed its interest to take part in the South Rail project, despite an earlier agreement of the Philippine government with a Korean contractor, after the government needed another firm to finance and build the remaining 70 kilometers. The Korean firm is already set to construct the first 50 kilometers of the 123-kilometer alignment for the South Rail.

The project, which is estimated to cost $200 million, will connect Manila to Bicol. Its first phase involves the rehabilitation of the South Rail network covering Magallanes in Makati City to Legaspi, Albay. Work is expected to commence this year and is targeted for completion by 2009. The second phase of the project, meanwhile, involves the construction of the Sorsogon Railroad extension, which is expected to be completed by 2011. The project is being reviewed by the National Economic Development Authority.

But the official disclosed that CNMEG might participate in the project after being asked for assistance by the Philippine government.

The official said the CNMEG firm intends to seek a loan from a Chinese bank to finance its part of the South Rail project if a deal with the Philippine government is reached.

The amount of the loan, however, is yet to be determined since the negotiations for the possible involvement of the company in the project is still in the preliminary stages.

This early the official said the Chinese company has expressed intentions in pushing ahead with its involvement in the South Rail.

“It has signified that it is serious in taking part in the project,” the official said.

The Chinese company has already conducted an inspection tour at the possible alignment site of the South Rail in February.

For his part, the official believes that the government stands to benefit from the involvement of the Chinese firm.

“This company has the technical resources, the technology and the experience to undertake this kind of project,” he said.

so this means that the chinese would be involved in the northrail AND the southrail? cool.. i hope that they could be able to duplicate the speed and quality of construction in china.. 24/7 workdays.. :D

hope that no more red tape bull$#!# happens.. hehehe..

well.. I hope they do start this year.... anyways... I just noticed 2 weeks ago that the PNR line here in Makati from the Magallanes station to upto Don Bosco area... they have cleared up the side of the tracks.... though there are still some squatters yet its very much cleaner than before with a lot of plants too...

^Nice...Keep us updated. I really hope all squatters would get relocated soon to make the tracks' surroundings Clean and Green.

diesel trains sounds cool, but upgrading them to electric-powered or whatsoever trains would be nice. travelling from the north/south to the metro would be very quick. you could live at the south/north and work at the metro. crowd might leave the metro if that happens SOON or if possible.

hahaha.. the operative word there is :soon:.. how long will it take for everything to get passed and for the actual construction begin?

as for me, i cant wait to see and ride these trains going to the north and south..