ANGELES CITY -- A business leader here has lauded the government for implementing the Manila-Clark railway project.
Rene Romero, vice chair of the Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (PamCham), expressed optimism that the project which will connect Clark Freeport to Metro Manila will be realized under the term of President Duterte.
“I am elated about the news that the railway system plan for Clark is now being implemented by government. I have been advocating for this project for its implementation many years now and I believe this present government will now make this project into reality,” Romero said.
“The government should have completed this project many years ago,” he added.
Aside from the Clark-Manila line, the government should also build railways going to North Luzon and other parts of Central Luzon including Aurora province in order to maximize the operation and use of Clark International Airport, according to Romero.
Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade earlier said that he is pushing for the Philippine National Railway Manila-Clark line to be opened in 2020.
The Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) assured the government that the railway system will be completed by the last quarter of 2021.
Tugade asked Japanese officials assisting the government to complete the P255-billion project ahead of time.
He also wants the train line to be partially opened to the public once at least seven of the 17 stations have been built and operational.
“What they want is to finish the entire project. But if you wait for it to be finished, it may take a long time. If we can have an engineering system within which we can partially operate, that would be good,” he said.
The railway project will revive the country’s oldest train system to areas north of the metropolis.
These were the Marilao and Meycauayan stations in Bulacan province, and the Valenzuela, Caloocan and Tutuban stations in Manila.
The 12 other stations include Solis, Bocaue, Balagtas, Guigunto, Malolos, Calumpit, Apalit, San Fernando, Angeles, Clark, Clark International Airport and the proposed New Clark City. (Reynaldo G. Navales)