Gov’t starts clearing ops on Malolos-Tutuban PNR route

The Duterte administration has revived the project that would see the construction of a railway from Manila to Bulacan with the start of the pre-construction clearing on the proposed route.

According to Maki Pulido's report on "24 Oras", the clearing started even while the government has yet to pick the contractor that would undertake the Malolos to Tutuban project.

The project is expected to be completed in 2021.

"Ang gagawan ho natin ngayon hanggang Abril... Linisin ang kapaligiran... para pagdating ng general construction, banat na lang," Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said.

The Aquino administration stopped the railway project in 2012 after the Commission on Audit found that the North Luzon Railways Corporation overpaid the contractor China National Machinery and Engineering Group by over P5 billion.

The government was found to have spent a total of P10 billion for the project, which only saw the construction of several posts.

The whole railway project is expected to connect Manila and Clark, Pampanga. Once completed, the project is seen to benefit more than 500,000 commuters. —NB, GMA News