Lawmakers ask DOTr to ensure timely completion of JICA supported railways

By Charissa Luci-Atienza

Lawmakers on Wednesday asked the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to ensure that the railway projects supported by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will be implemented on time.

At Wednesday’s House Committee on Transportation briefing on the JICA-supported railway projects, Cebu Rep. Raul del Mar sought assurance from DOTr Undersecretary for Railways Timothy John R. Batan that the timelines for the implementation of the projects will be complied with.

“The updates sound very good. Have you given progress reports and timelines in the past you did not comply with? How can you assure that you can keep these timelines?,” he asked after Batan presented to the panel the status of the JICA-supported railway projects.

Batan noted that the ongoing projects that have direct JICA support include MRT-3 rehabilitation and maintenance, North South Commuter Railway, Metro Manila Subway, Light Railway Transit 1, Light Railway Transit 2, and Philippine Railway Institute.

The DOTr official explained that the National Economic Development Authority ((NEDA) has put in place project monitoring facility to make sure that the “timelines committed are the timelines realized.”

“You might come around, and you might say that it (delay) is (the) fault of the implementing agencies. Make sure that you will be on top of these projects and make sure that the timelines given to us are complied with,” Del Mar said.

“If there are excusable delays that could be avoided, please give us a notice in advance to prevent the delays, excusable or not,” he said.

San Jose Del Monte Rep. Florida Robes and Antipolo Rep. Romeo Acop also counted on the DOTr to ensure that the implementation of the projects will not be delayed.

At the start of the briefing, Catanduanes Rep. Cesar Sarmiento, chairman of the House Committee on Transportation, said, “We want to be briefed about the projects so that the Congress can support you in the efficient implementation thereof.”

Batan said the MRT 3 rehabilitation project is expected to be completed in March 2021. The P16.390-billion rehabilitation, which involves Sumitomo Corporation with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries as technical partner, includes the overhaul of 72 trains, track replacement and upgrade of signaling, power system and communication system.

Batan also apprised the panel that the P149.30-billion North South Commuter Railway Project, which is 37.6 kilometers spanning from Tutuban to Malolos, Bulacan with 10 stations will start by the first quarter of 2019 and will be completed by fourth quarter of 2021.

He also noted that the partial operations of the 72-kilometer North South Commuter Railway Project Los Banos Extension is expected by the second quarter of 2022 and will be fully operated by second quarter of 2023. It is designed to accommodate around 340,000 passengers per day on opening year.

While, the North South Commuter Railway Project Clark Extension will begin in the second quarter of 2019 and will be fully operated by second quarter of 2023, he said.

Batan said the P356-billion Metro Manila Subway Project will start by the first quarter of this year and will be fully completed by third quarter of 2025.

He also disclosed that the P9.5-billion LRT 2 East Extension (Santolan-Antipolo), which started in 2016, will be finished by first quarter of 2020 and the Philippine Railway Institute will be opened by 2022.

https://news.mb.com.ph/2019/01/16/lawmakers-ask-dotr-to-ensure-timely-completion-of-jica-supported-railways/