RAILWAY RENAISSANCE. Department of Transportation (DOTr) Assistant Secretary for Railways Jorjette Aquino delivers a speech at the PhilRailway Tech Conference at the Mariott Hotel in Pasay City on Wednesday (June 26, 2024). Aquino said the railway projects being built and will be built will spur a railway renaissance in the country, boosting the economy and regional cooperation. (Photo courtesy of MRT-3)
MANILA – The country is about to enter a “railway renaissance” period after the completion of a unified network of railways that would bolster the economy and regional cooperation, an official of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said.
In her speech at the PhilRailway Tech Conference at the Mariott Hotel in Pasay City on Wednesday, DOTr Assistant Secretary for Railways Jorjette Aquino said 23 out of the 69 infrastructure projects of the DOTr would improve and expand the country’s railway network.
“The significant share of railways in the list of infrastructure flagship projects showcases the Marcos administration's thrust and commitment to the revival of the Philippine railway network, through its Build Better More campaign,” Aquino said.
Five big-ticket railways projects are currently under construction--the North-South Commuter Railway System (NSCR), Metro Manila Subway Project (Phase 1), LRT Line 1 Cavite Extension Project, MRT Line 7, and the MRT Line 3 Rehabilitation and Maintenance.
To date, five more railway projects are in the pre-construction stage while 13 are in the development stage.
By 2030, she said the country’s railways would add up to a total length of 1,233.08 kilometers (km), a 356.43 percent increase from the existing 270.16 km of railways in the country today.
“We will connect key growth centers with emerging communities to equitably spur economic opportunities. These new railway lines are poised to play a pivotal role in the country's development agenda,” she said.
Once completed, she said the country’s “comprehensive and interconnected rail network” would allow for improved accessibility, faster travel times, and increased economic opportunities for Filipinos. (PNA)
