NEWS
South rail project up February

SOUTH RAIL PROJECT- Congressman Luis R. Villafuerte announces in a press conference at Regent hotel, Naga City on September 22 that upgrading and rehabilitation of PNR lines from Calamba to Legaspi City and extension of the railway up to Matnog, Sorsogon will start early next year with the People’s Republic of China funding the $ 1 billion project. The Camarines Sur second District solon who pushed for the prioritization of the project is flanked by Wang Yong (right) of the National Technical Import and Export Corporation and Pang Jian Wien of the China Rail 5th Design Institute who will oversee implementation of the project.

A new dawn will be ushered in for Bicol as upgrading and rehabilitation of the PNR south line starts in February next year paving the way to accelerated growth because of faster, more reliable transport system.

Chinese officials representing the government of the People’s Republic of China confirmed the timetable on Tuesday, September 22 in a press conference at the Regent Hotel in Naga City saying that their government had committed to fund the project that could cost around $ 1 billion. Congressman Luis R. Villafuerte who pushed vigorously and relentlessly for the prioritization of the project said the contract between the Philippine government and the government of the People’s Republic of China will be signed by December this year.

“My role is to navigate through government entities and the bureaucracy so that the project could proceed smoothly”, Villafuerte explained.

On July 5 this year a memorandum of agreement was first signed between the two countries to carry out comprehensive cooperation for the rehabilitation and upgrading of the Main Line South Railway from Calamba, Laguna to Bicol, including a new line up to Matnog, Sorsogon.

The Chinese delegation was led by Wang Yong of the state-owned National Technical Import and Export Corporation, which for more than half a century has been building rail systems, nuclear plants and other industrial installations all over the world.

He was accompanied by Wang Li Hua and Pang Jian Wien of the China Rail 5th Design Institute.

On the Philippine government panel aside from Congressman Villafuerte were Sec. Teodoro Katigbak, Anthony Hwang and Aristotle Mallari, project development officers. Present also during the two-hour dialogue were officers of the Camarines Sur Chamber of Commerce and Industry led by president William Concepcion and vice president William Enrile. Constancio Toledano represented the PNR which will collaborate with the National Development Company in overseeing the project.

A virtual overhaul of the entire south railway would be effected as new tracks would be put in place, curvatures would be minimized, 47 major and 143 minor bridges would be replaced and new rail stations built. The target is to enable the train to run at a minimum of 120 kilometers per hour and thus reduce travel time from Bicol to Manila by about half the present rate.

Nearly half of the huge fund would be funneled to Bicol providing vast income opportunities for business especially suppliers of materials and employment for thousands since massive implementation would be done simultaneously over a six-year time frame.

Congressman Villafuerte said he would push for a shorter implementation period, possibly just three years.