P214-B south line railway is biggest Duterte admin project

The south line of the North-South Railway Project approved by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board is the biggest infrastructure project of the Duterte administration, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno said Wednesday.

"Pinakamalaking project namin ito so far. Babaguhin po namin, we will create a brand new PNR (Philippine National Railways)," Diokno told reporters in a press conference in Manila.

The railway project will benefit the Bicol region, the Cabinet official noted. "Isang mahirap na rehiyon at nakakalimutan natin is 'yung Bicol region," he said.

The 653-kilometer railway will run from Tutuban in Manila to Matnog, Sorsogon and will cost around P213.99 billion.

"Four years to make po 'yun, pero balak pa namin tataasan pa ng kaunti," Diokno noted, saying the cost will be adjusted due to a shift from narrow gauge tracks to standard gauge to accommodate more passengers.

"We will standardize it. The way I see it, let's say this project will cost P250 billion over the four-year period," the Cabinet official said.

The project will be funded by official development assistance (ODA), either from Japan or China. "With so much liquidity worldwide, I think they will vie and compete for this project," Diokno said.

Once the project is complete the government will bid out the railway maintenance and management to the private sector.

The south line of the North-South Railway project is among the nine projects the NEDA board approved on Monday.

The other projects are the following:

• Second Cordillera Highlands Agricultural Resources Management

• Expanded Philippine Rural Development Project

• Improvement/Widening of Gen. Luis-Kaybiga-Polo-Novaliches Road

• Plaridel Bypass Toll Road

• New Cebu Container Port

• Management and Operations of Airports (Iloilo, Davao, Bacolod, New Bohol, Laguindingan)

• Malitubog-Maridagao Irrigation

• New Nayong Pilipino at Entertainment City

Including the south line railway, the combined cost of the projects was estimated at P374.809 billion, according to the Department of Budget and Management. — VDS, GMA News