CLARK FREEPORT ZONE, Pampanga — Department of Transportation (DOTr) is keen on finishing on time railway projects that will contribute in making Central Luzon a Logistics Hub.
Speaking before Central Luzon stakeholders during the Sulong Pilipinas 2018 Philippine Development Forum in Clark, DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade said the pre-construction of the Phase I of PNR Clark Railway started last January 2018 with actual construction scheduled by January 2019 and completion targeted by 2022.
“Phase I is a 38km segment spanning from Tutuban (in Metro Manila) to Malolos City in Bulacan. It will have 10 stations and can accommodate up to 340,000 passengers per day,” Tugade emphasized.
Phase II, on the other hand, is a 53km stretch from Malolos City to Clark.
“The project is on detailed design stage and we will start the construction on May 2019 and completion targeted by 2022. It will have six stations and can accommodate 340,000 passengers per day as well,” Tugade said.
“We are now in the bidding process for this project, we will make sure that in two and a half or three years that railway from Tutuban to Clark will be accomplished,” he furthered.
Moreover, construction of Subic-Clark Cargo Railway begins in 2019 and will be completed by 2022.
This is a 70km railway that will connect Subic Port with Clark International Airport and other economic hubs in Luzon.
“When all of these projects will be accomplished, you can just imagine the logistics hub which we are trying to create in Central Luzon,” Tugade said.
“I feel that creating a logistics hub here can be a reality as it will be ideal because then, you will have an airport, a highway, a seaport and a railway,” Tugade added.