The City Government of San Fernando is making true the promise of ensuring the realization of the Malolos-Clark Railway Project (MCRP) in the City of San Fernando within the given period of time.
Mayor Edwin “EdSa” Santiago hosted another coordination meeting with the officials of Department of Transportation (DOTr) on February 24, 2021 at Heroes Hall to discuss his proposals that are in line with the railway project.
Speaking right beside Atty. Timothy John Batan, DOTr Undersecretary for Railways, the City Mayor cited two proposals to the agency.
The proposals include the construction of an additional station in the city at Barangay Sindalan (apart from the first station at the town proper) and a linkage from the town proper station going to Capital Town in Barangay Sto. Niño.
“Nilatag natin yung proposals na ito para ma-maximize natin yung potential ng MCRP. At itong mga lugar na napili natin na pagtatayuan ng karagdagang istasyon at linkage, malaki ang potential din na makapagbigay ng progreso sa Siyudad,” Santiago said.
In his presentation, Santiago explained that they selected Sindalan to host the second station for it is strategically located at the center of San Fernando and houses more than 230,000 individuals during daytime that account for at least 21 percent of the city’s total population.
The said barangay is also home to several commercial and residential developments, including banks, restaurants, and high-end residential areas and it provides fast access to other key areas such as private and public centers and major highways.
Meanwhile, if a straight linkage from town proper to Capital Town will be developed, walking and mass transport will be promoted. Capital Town is a 35.6-hectare development in Sto. Niño for commercial/residential establishments and Business Process Outsourcing companies. It is expected to house thousands of stakeholders.
For his part, Usec. Batan said they support the City Government’s proposal. “Parte ng objective natin sa lahat ng istasyon ng MCRP ay yung ma-konekta natin sila sa mga lugar kung saan papunta at nanggagaling yung mga tao. Kung maganda ang bilang ng mga taong titira o magtatrabaho sa mga lugar na iyon ay idudugtong natin ng maayos ang mga istasyon,” he said.
“The partnership between the national and local government is really a key to maximize the potential benefits of the project,” Batan said. “Tunay nga na mama-maximize natin yung benepisyo ng development na ito [MCRP] kung ang national government at local government units ay magkasama doon sa pagpaplano at implementasyon ng proyekto,” he said.
Following the presentation of proposals, the DOTr presented to the City Government the options in realizing the two projects that include planning, budgeting, and actual construction phases.
The two parties have also agreed to create a technical working group that will further review the proposals.
It can be recalled that on January 8, 2021, Santiago also called a meeting with the railway project’s contractors where the details of the exact railway project locations, the projects’ lengths, and the civil works descriptions were discussed.
The whole stretch of the 53.1-kilometer railway project which connects Malolos, Bulacan with Clark Freeport Zone and Clark International Airport is to be completed by 2024.