Gov’t set to approve P285-B rail projects

MANILA, Philippines -  Two big-ticket rail projects collectively valued at P285 billion are slated for approval by the NEDA board in its next meeting, according to the list of flagship projects provided by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).

The projects are the P134-billion Philippine National Railways South Commuter Line (Tutuban-Los Baños) and the P151-billion PNR Long-Haul (Calamba-Bicol), both of which will be funded by official development assistance (ODA) loans.

Both railways are part of the North-South Railway Projects (NSRP) -South Line that will  revive the south railway of the PNR.

The 72-kilometer commuter line will consist of three tracks that will run from Tutuban in Manila to Los Baños, Laguna while the 581-kilometer long-haul railway will run from Laguna to Bicol.

The commuter line is slated for completion by 2022 while the long-haul line is expected to be finished by 2024 if started by December 2017.

Both projects have been approved by NEDA’s Investment Coordination Committee (ICC) in June and will be prioritized during the next board meeting.

The list of 75 flagship projects already include the 18 projects approved recently by the NEDA board.