Bicolanos could expect an operational railway service by 2021, once the P170.7-billion South Line of the North-South Railway Project (NSRP) is completed, according to Transportation and Communications Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya.
Secretary Abaya, who accompanied President Benigno S. Aquino III in Naga City, Camarines Sur province for the 3rd death anniversary of former Interior Secretary Jessie Robredo, said the pre-qualification process will be held this October for those interested to bid for the 600-kilometer South Rail project.
He said he expects the project to be awarded in March next year.
The North-South Railway Project extends from Bicol to Tuguegarao, Cagayan.
“Tingin ko mas importante sa inyo ‘yung southern version,” Abaya said during the Jesse Robredo Day Multi-Sectoral Forum.
“Pero sa inyo pong mga taga-Bicol, ito ay magmumula sa Tutuban at dadaan ng Calamba, bababa ng Legazpi, may extension sa Matnog. May extension din po ito papuntang Batangas.”
Responding to criticisms regarding delays in the approval of major infrastructure projects, Abaya said the railway project is a huge project and will take time to implement.
“These are strategic, very important and inclusive projects. Ang detailed engineering design lang po ay aabutin ng 15 to 18 months,” he explained.
“Kumplikadong proyekto at malaki po ito. But construction will start in 2017. It is a four-year period to construct. So by 2021, we are confident that this railway will be operational.”
The Department of Transportation and Communications has said that the winning bidder will operate, maintain, and upgrade the South Line for 34 years, including the construction period of four years.
The NSRP’s South Line is the ninth transportation Public-Private Partnership (PPP) project offered under the Aquino administration (PND)
