Philippines:China-funded train route to ease travel from Bicol to Manila

By APD writer Melo M. Acuna

MANILA, Nov. 19 (APD) – The long-neglected Manila to Bicol train route will have a significant improvement with the recent signing of the needed Memorandum of Understanding between the Chinese and Philippine governments last Wednesday in fitting ceremonies at Malacanang.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and Chinese Premier Le Kiqiang

The signing was between Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade and Vice Minister of Commerce Fu Ziying and witnessed by President Rodrigo Duterte and Chinese Premier Le Kiqiang.

In an exclusive interview, Transport Undersecretary for Railways Cesar Chavez said the Chinese government committed to finance, design and construct the Philippine National Railways – South Long-Haul project between Manila and Matnog, Sorsogon, Luzon Island’s southern-most town, which will have a length of 653 kilometers amounting to P 175 billion.

The first priority under the agreement would be the famed Bicol Express which will leave Manila and have whistle-stop stations at Paco, this city, Food Terminal Inc. in Taguig, Los Banos in Laguna, Lucena City and Gumaca in Q uezon Province, Pili, Camarines Sur, Camalig in Albay Province, Sorsogon City and Matnog town in Sorsogon Province in six to seven hours.

“Some 2,500 passengers will be accommodated for every trip of the famed Bicol Express,” Mr. Chavez explained. He expressed optimism the project would be accomplished by 2021.

He said the trains will be China-built with European standards and will have a top speed of 120 kilometers per hour.

“The contract will be subject to the detailed engineering, design and appraisal by the Chinese government with the China Railways Design Corporation, consultancy services in the epreparation of the tender documents and help in the construction management,” Undersecretary Chavez said.

He added the Chinese government will integrate the design of four to six companies from China.

“There will definitely be technology transfer because the Chinese government has already offered to train Filipino engineers this early,” he explained. There will also be a facility to produce train spare parts in the Philippines where Filiipinos would also benefit in terms of employment and skills upgrading.

Some P 45 billion will be allocated for the resettlement of some 80 to 100,000 informal settlers along the train route. Another P 8 billion will be spend for land acquistion from private landowners, to serve as relocation sites.

“The local government units in Calamba and Naga cities and Albay Province have been cooperative,” Chavez said as he cited Senator Francis Escudero’s efforts to convince landowners in Sorsogon not to charge the government for the expropriation because with the train stations up for operation, land value will definitely increase.

Undersecretary Chavez said while there will be Chinese professionals and skilled workers he said a substantial number Filipino workers will also be employed.

However, the other project which will serve 36 different stations from Manila to Matnog, Sorsogon will not be finished by the year 2022, the year President Duterte bows out of office.

Undersecretary Chavez said the project for 36 stations, still funded from the P 175 billion ODA facility, will be finished by 2024.

He added other railways projects being offered for possible Chinese funding are Tagum to Butuan cities which will have a length of 250 kilometers and the Butuan – Cagayan de Oro – Iligan Cities with 286 kilometers, both in the southern Philippine island of Mindanao.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)