MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) is set to conduct a roadshow tomorrow to drum up interest for five major rail projects including the country’s first subway.
Cosette Canilao, head of the Public Private Partnership (PPP) Center, said in an interview with reporters on the sidelines of the Philippine Economic Briefing yesterday that the conference titled “Invest Transpo PH†would feature business opportunities in both the railways and airports sector.
“The DOTC will conduct a market sounding for the rest of the airports and some of the rail projects that they are doing right now,†Canilao said.
She said the forum targets infrastructure and construction companies, airport operators, rail operators, and financing companies and would highlight the investment opportunities under the PPP program of the Aquino administration.
Canilao said the DOTC would present the master plan for the proposed 900-kilometer Integrated Luzon Railway (ILR) worth $5 billion and the 90-km North-South commuter rail link connecting Cagayan in the north all the way to Bicol in the south.
CPCS Transcom Ltd. of Canada is set to complete the feasibility study for the ILR that would run from Cagayan in Isabela down to Sorsogon in Bicol. It would cover the entire north and south networks of the state-run Philippine National Railway (PNR) from Manila to La Union as well as a branch line from Tarlac to San Jose, Nueva Ecija, and a possible extension to Cagayan while the south network traverses from Manila to Legaspi City , including the branch line from Calamba to Batangas City .
Another option being considered for the ILR is to put up a connecting rail to Clark international airport as the international gateway in Pampanga is being developed under a twin airport system.
For the North-South Commuter Rail, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) was tapped to help the government complete the feasibility study for the commuter rail that would run from Malolos in Bulacan all the way down to Calamba in Laguna.
On the other hand, Canilao said the proposed Mass Transit System Loop would connect the fast-developing Bonifacio Global City , Makati Central Business District, and the Mall of Asia area in Pasay City .
With Metro Manila’s rapidly urbanizing cities, the DOTC plans to implement the project to improve inter-city linkage by providing a higher capacity public transportation system that would facilitate fast and convenient mobility of goods and services.
Given Metro Manila’s current infrastructure, it was also determined that the rail line of approximately 12 km would need to run mostly underground, making this the first subway in the country.
Furthermore, Canilao said the government would also present the proposed extension of Light Rail Transit line 1 (LRT1) all the way to Dasmarinas, Cavite on top of the proposed P65 billion LRT1 Cavite extension project from Baclaran in Paranaque to Niog in Bacoor, Cavite.
Likewise, the DOTC would also present the proposed operation and maintenance of the LRT line 2 that is being extended all the way to Pasig City from Santolan for a total cost of over P9 billion.
“We want to get the feedback of the investors,†she said in an interview.
The much needed railway and mass transport projects would help address the worsening traffic situation in the country particularly in mega Manila .
A study by the JICA stressed the need to put up at least 200 kilometers or railroad and over 100,000 kilometers in road network to address the congested metropolis.