MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is looking at funding the Sorsogon – Tuguegarao, Cagayan stretch of the Philippine National Railways (PNR) line and will use its savings to build a railway system from Calamba, Laguna to Batangas City.

Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson said the mass transit system will initially carry cargo from   Calabarzon to ports in Manila that the International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) and Asian Terminals Inc. (ATI) operate.

“The DPWH will now be the one to fund and undertake the south rail track that goes all the way from Calamba to Batangas, but for cargo only as of now,” he said.

Singson said ICTSI chairman Enrique Razon was glad to hear the proposal as the company was reeling from the truck ban in the city of Manila and the rest  of Metro Manila.

It is cheaper to build rail tracks than new roads, he added.

The DPWH presented major railway projects in a market sounding forum, including the proposed P135-billion subway rail system to meet the increase in number of urban mass transport commuters to 2.2 million per day by 2016 or 2017 from the current 1.2 million per day.

On top of the list is the P135-billion Mass Transit System including an underground rail system to solve the traffic congestion in Makati, Pasay City and Taguig.

The proposed 20-kilometer loop will consist of a 16-kilometer tunnel and a four-kilometer elevated railway in the reclaimed area in Pasay City.

It will consist of 11 stations – five underground, four interchanges and two elevated.

The DOTC also presented the proposed P284-billion North-South Commuter Rail stretching 89.7 kilometers from Malolos in Bulacan to Calamba in Laguna that could be extended to Clark International Airport.

The P271-billion, 900-kilometer Integrated Luzon Railway project from Sorsogon to Tuguegarao was also presented.

The DOTC is also looking at establishing the 28-kilometer Manila bus rapid transit worth P4.65 billion.

It will run from Manila City Hall to Philcoa in Quezon City, and from Commonwealth Avenue to Fairview, also in Quezon City.

Participants were also briefed about the Metro Rail Transit line 7 (MRT7) worth P66.5 billion stretching 22 kms. from North Avenue in Quezon City to San Jose in Bulacan.

San Miguel Corp. (SMC) will undertake the project.

The DPWH is also set to bid out the operation and maintenance of the LRT2 being extended all the way to Masinag in Antipolo City.

The DPWH is also looking at extending the LRT1 all the way to Dasmariñas in Cavite.

Source: http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2014/05/26/1327349/dpwh-eyes-laguna-batangas-cargo-rail-system