The National Economic and Development Authority said Wednesday its Investment Coordination Committee endorsed three major rail projects with a combined cost of over P531 billion.
Neda said in a statement the three projects”•Mindanao Railway Project’s Tagum-Davao-Digos segment, North South Railway Projects-South Line and Malolos-Clark Railway Project”•were approved during a joint ICC-technical board and Cabinet meeting on June 1, 2017. These projects will be elevated to the Neda board headed by the president for final confirmation.
Neda said in approving these projects, the ICC advised the Transportation Department to coordinate with the Neda secretariat to complete the ICC approval requisites. ICC also approved an integrated flood risk management project in Cavite.
“The MRP-TDD [Mindanao Railway Project’s Tagum-Davao-Digos] aims to provide a more efficient, reliable, and affordable transportation to boost tourism, industry, and overall economic development in the area by connecting existing and emerging growth centers in the Davao region,” Neda said.
“It will form the first phase of the proposed 830-kilometer MRP loop, involving a 102.28-kilometer commuter railway that will run from Tagum City, Davao del Norte, to Digos City, Davao del Sur, with seven stations, one terminal in Davao City, and one depot in Tagum City,” it said. The estimated project cost is P35.26 billion and will be locally financed.
If confirmed by the Neda board, project construction is targeted to begin in the first quarter of 2018 and is expected to be finished by the third quarter of 2022.
Meanwhile, the ICC also approved NSRP- South Line, which will revive the Philippine National Railways south railway. It has an estimated project cost of P285 billion and will be financed through official development assistance.
NSRP-South Line will consist of three tracks that will run from Tutuban to Los Baños for the commuter line (72 km), and Los Baños to Sorsogon for the long haul (581 km), terminating at the Port of Manila”•via FTI in Taguig”•through the connecting third track.
Malolos-Clark Railway Project was likewise approved, which will connect with the ongoing Tutuban-Malolos portion of the North South Commuter Railway. MCRP will run from Malolos, Bulacan to Clark International Airport (Phase I), and from Clark International Airport to Clark Green City (Phase II).
The project has an estimated cost of P211.43 billion. Construction will be financed through ODA, while the operations and maintenance will be through public-private partnership. The construction for phase I will begin in the second quarter of 2019 and is expected to be completed by the second quarter of 2022. Phase II will be implemented from 2022 to 2024.
Meanwhile, the ICC approved the Cavite Industrial Area Flood Risk Management Project that will mitigate flooding of 45,000 homes due to the overflowing water from the San Juan River, Ylang-Ylang River and Rio Grande River, and the poor drainage of Maalimango Creek.
The project has an estimated project cost of P9.89 billion. Construction is targeted to begin in October 2019 and is expected to be completed by April 2024.