Transport officials to mark first 5 stations of Manila-Clark Railway on Monday

Transport officials are set to mark the first five stations of the P255-billion Manila-Clark Railway on Monday.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) said Sunday that the five stations set to be marked are Marilao, Meycauyan, Valenzuela, Caloocan, and Tutuban.

"This project will ease traffic congestion and help thousands of commuters coming from Bulacan and Pampanga who travel daily to their workplaces or schools in Metro Manila," Philippine National Railways General Manager Junn B. Magno said.

According to the DOTr, construction of the project will start in the fourth quarter of the year, and will be completed by 2021. The project will be funded through the Official Development Assistance (ODA) from Japan.

Aside from the five stations, the train system will also have stops in Solis, Bocaue, Balagtas, Guiguinto, Malolos, Calumpit, Apalit, San Fernando, Angeles, Clark, Clark International Airport, and the New Clark City in Pampanga.

The Philippines in 2015 inked a P93-billion commitment with Japan to fund what it then called the North-South Commuter Railway linking Tutuban in Manila to Malolos in Bulacan.

“This project aims to strengthen the transport network and ease serious traffic congestion in Metro Manila by constructing a commuter railway between Malolos and Tutuban (a part of the ‘North-South Commuter Railway Project’) and contribute to a more secure and sustainable economic development through promotion of investments,” the Japanese Embassy said in 2015.

Aside from Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade, other officials scheduled to attend the marking ceremony are Budget and Management Secretary Benjamin M. Diokno, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia, and Public Works Secretary Mark A. Villar. —ALG, GMA News