Japan to finance study on PHL monorail system

Japan will fund the pre-feasibility study of a monorail system connecting the Metro Rail Transit to Bonifacio Global City and Nino Aquino International Airport Terminal, project developer Bases Conversion and Development Authority said on Tuesday.

 

The Japan Ministry of Economy, Transportation and Industry or METI told BCDA that the funding was approved for the study, said BCDA president and chief executive Arnel Paciano Casanova.

 

“The   METI   has  issued a Certificate of Acceptance to fund the pre-feasibility study,” Casanova said in a statement. 

 

The July 2012 certificate was received by BCDA only last week.

 

BCDA will stage a six-month assessment starting next September to find out how much the study will cost, said BCDA executive vice president Aileen Zosa.

 

 “We are pleased to inform you that your proposal, Study on the Monorail  Project in Central Manila, the Republic of the  Philippines,  has  been selected for implementation under the ‘Study on Economic Partnership Projects in Development Countries in FY2012’,” the certificate, signed by METI  director  for financial cooperation Masashi Iwanaga, read.

 

“We  welcome  this development as good news and a step forward in realizing the monorail  project  that  would  serve  millions  of commuters in Metro Manila,” Casanova noted.

 

The proposed 12.56-km monorail will start from the MRT-3 Station in Guadalupe, enter Bonifacio Global City, through  the  north  gate and end at NAIA-3 Terminal Building. It is expected to be operational in 2016.

 

BCDA  chairman  Felicito Payumo underscored the need for a monorail in Metro Manila considering the metropolis’ high commuter density.

 

“Metro  Manila  has a commuter traffic of 13 million and the most viable way to transport these commuters in and out of Bonifacio Global City  towards  other  parts of Metro Manila  is through a monorail that connects to the MRT, LRT and NAIA-3," Payumo said.

 

Payumo said the pre-feasibility study will determine if it would be worthwhile to proceed with a “full-blown”  feasibility study of the project.

 

Consultants for the pre-feasibility study will likely come from Japan, the BCDA noted. — VS, GMA News