Clearing ops pave way for North-South Commuter Railway construction

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has intensified clearing operations as the long-delayed construction of a segment of the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) Project began on Tuesday, with 17 more stores left to be dismantled to make way for the railway.

According to a Balitanghali report by Joseph Morong, Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon and Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno led the inspection, emphasizing the need to speed up construction of the mass transport project.

The NSCR stations’ construction has been stalled for nearly two years due to right-of-way payment issues and site obstructions.

Dizon said only 17 more stores remain to be dismantled, with each owner set to receive P100,000 as compensation. He also stressed the project design was revised to avoid demolishing nearby houses, while widening a creek in the area to help mitigate flooding.

“Kapag nagtulungan ang national government at local government, umaandar ang mga proyekto. Kampante tayo ngayon na finally aandar, bibilis na ’yung proyekto,” Dizon said during the start of clearing works along Old Antipolo Road.

(When national government and LGUs work together, projects move. We are confident that finally we could proceed, the project will move faster.)

Dizon noted that the earlier delays, caused by right-of-way disputes, led to a P100 billion budget cut for the railway. He called on lawmakers to prioritize funding for major public infrastructure such as train systems to avoid further setbacks.\

Meanwhile, the DOTr assured commuters that the supply shortage of beep cards is being addressed in coordination with the private company producing them.

Moreno, for his part, assured full support from the Manila City Government for projects that benefit commuters.

“On behalf of the people of Manila, we are grateful to the President na ma-implement na ang project, at natutuwa kami na may bagong DOTr Secretary na mabilis ding kumilos kaya lahat ng proyekto na makabubuti sa ating mga kababayan, the City Government will support it 101 percent,” he said.

(“On behalf of the people of Manila, we are grateful to the President the project will be implemented, and we are happy that we have a new DOTr Secretary who moves fast so for projects that would benefit the public, the City Government will support it 101 percent.)

The NSCR Project is part of the government’s flagship infrastructure program aimed at improving mass transit connectivity across Metro Manila and nearby provinces. It was originally targeted to operate in 2021. Once it partially operates by 2028, the MMSP will cut the travel time from Valenzuela City to Ninoy Aquino International Airport to only 41 minutes. 

Likewise, the 147-kilometer NSCR is also encountering right-of-way issues, particularly in the area of San Fernando, Pampanga. — Sherylin Untalan/RF, GMA Integrated News