Let’s Get Rail: Updates on the Railway Projects of the Philippines
By Tracy Piamonte
The Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce of the Philippines hosted the second session of Let’s Get Rail: Updates on the Railway Projects of the Philippines on June 24, 2021. The webinar shared an update about the ongoing and planned urban rail projects in Mega Manila such as the Metro Manila Subway, LRT-1 extension, and MRT-7.
The Philippines currently has less than 100 km of operating rail lines, all in Metro Manila. By comparison, Thailand has 4,400 km, without counting Bangkok. Aware that rail is the ideal mode for passenger transport, the DOTr and the private sector — with support from JICA and ADB — are implementing a significant expansion of the rail network in Luzon and building new lines in Metro Manila. The PRC has also promised to finance and to build new and restore old railroads under its BRI. Over US$20 billion worth of projects are now under construction and being bid out, which will double the present network.
Why do we need rail? We need it because this is the most efficient way to move people. Car sales reached 400K in 2017. The photo below will better explain why we need a mass transportation system. Our current infrastructure cannot accommodate so many cars. One (1) 200M-long LRT line train set can displace 816 private vehicles, 139 jeepneys and 39 buses, occupying only a 9M-wide railway track, while the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) system can displace 1,318 (1.7 passengers each) cars, 224 jeepneys (10 passengers each) and 64 buses with 35 passengers each.
According to Waze, Metro Manila traffic congestion may be the world’s worst and the Philippines is incurring Php26.21B worth of losses everyday due to our terrible traffic conditions. Currently, we have 73 stations in Mega Manila compared to the robust railway system of our neighboring countries. The commitment of the “Build Build Build” program is to double the figures by 2025. This is 68% of the total budget, and are all approved projects.
The existing railway footprint is 844,000 sq.m and the future railway footprint is 18,545,000 sq.m. The following projects are:
· MRT 4 — NRC to Region IVA (Rizal)
· MRT 7 — NCR To Region III (Bulacan)
· Metro Manila Subway — to traverse 1. Valenzuela, 2. QC, 3. Pasig, 4. Makati, 5. Taguig, 6. Parañaque, and 7. Pasay
· Common Station (QC, NCR)
· North South Commuter Railway System (NSCR)
· PNR Clark 1 (NCR, Bulacan Region III)
· PNR Clark 2 (Bulacan Region III to Pampanga)
· PNR Calamba (NCR to Region IVA Laguna)
· Subic — Clark Railway (Region IV Pampanga — Zambales)
· PNR Bicol — NCR, Region IVA, Quezon Province, Batangas, Region V Cam. Norte, Cam. Sur, Albay, Sorsogon
· Mindanao Railway (Region XI, Tagum, Carmen, Panabo, Davao, Sta. Cruz, Dagos)
The existing LRT 1 is in the rehabilitation stage. Station improvements include train restoration, replacement of parapets, rail replacement and automation, and other innovations such as app sharing with Angkas and Ikot Manila among others, which is still part of Phase 1. The Cavite extension will be operational by 2022. Phase 2, which will span from 2023 to 2047, is commuting from Cavite to QC.
MRT 7 is expected to benefit 850,000 passengers per day, with completed manufacturing of 108 cars for a 36-train set/3-car configuration. Project status is 54.87% completion.
The projects have been started by previous administrations but for some reason have not been completed. Real estate value will rise in the areas where this mass transport system will be built, and when all the projects are completed, it will spur economic activities in the National Capital Region and the neighboring provinces. But most importantly, it will provide convenience to the commuting public.
There can be economy only where there is efficiency. — Benjamin Disraeli
A developed country is not a place where poor have cars, it’s where the rich ride the public transportation. — Anonymous
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About the author:
Tracy is the Director and Business Unit Head of Staffbuilders Asia, a division of John Clements Consultants, Inc.
