Experts laud North-South commuter railway project
The Manila Times | September 25, 2021
Photos show the fast development of the North-South Commuter Railway project. CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS
AS construction works for the Philippine National Railways (PNR) Clark Phase 2 Project begin, Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Koshikawa Kazuhiko, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Chief Representative Eigo Azukizawa and Asian Development Bank Country Director Kelly Bird lauded Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade for the visible and rapid progress of the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) Project under the Build, Build, Build program.
Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, transportation projects improving the lives of Filipinos are being launched with Secretary Tugade leading the way, Ambassador Kazuhiko said.
“Despite the challenging pandemic situation, important milestones in our transport project have been launched one after another. This is due in large part to the strong leadership of Secretary Tugade — for which we are truly grateful,” the Japanese ambassador explained during the site inspection of the PNR Clark Phase 2 Project at the Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga.
Kazuhiko said the PNR Clark Phase 2 Project is a “symbol of the Japanese and Filipino collaboration.”
With the NSCR Project in full swing, Kazuhiko said the Japanese government will continue to promote transfer of technology, maintenance knowledge and Filipino human capital for the railway operations of the NSCR.
“Time and again, we commit our continuous support to President Duterte’s Build, Build, Build program. Japan will further commit cooperation such as the procurement of rolling stocks and development of the railroad system through JICA-ODA (official development assistance) support,” he said.
Bird also expressed his gratitude to Tugade for bringing the NSCR Project into fruition while committing the financial institution’s continued support for other government big-ticket projects.
“I would like to thank Secretary Tugade for his amazing leadership in bringing this project to where it is today. I would also like to reiterate that the Asian Development Bank will always remain committed to the Philippines as our host country and we will continue to support the Philippines not only to overcome the current challenges with Covid-19 but also on its journey to becoming an upper-middle income country very soon,” Bird said.
Azukizawa echoed Ambassador Kazuhico’s sentiments, explaining that the NSCR’s progress is “impressive” amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
“It is indeed an impressive achievement for the Department of Transportation and Philippine National Railways. This is the product of our concerted efforts, strong collaboration and leadership under Secretary Tugade, which we remarkably achieved amid the raging spread of Covid-19,” the JICA official said.
The second leg of the NSCR Project, the 53-kilometer PNR Clark Phase 2, will connect cities and municipalities in Central Luzon with Metro Manila, and will link the railway system with the country’s first ever Airport Express Service to the Clark International Airport.
Source: The Manila Times