PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has announced next year's rollout of two major public transport systems — the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) and the new 12 stations of the Metro Rail Transit-7.
In his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, the president said the administration is focused on modernizing the country's transportation network through major investments in railways, bus rapid transit systems, airports, seaports and integrated transport terminals.
The NSCR line is a 147-kilometer urban rail project in Luzon connecting Clark, Pampanga, and Calamba, Laguna.
It features 35 to 36 stations to serve 800,000 daily passengers and will cut travel time across the region from four to three hours.
Also, the president announced that the MRT-7 line is expected to begin operations between Valenzuela and Malolos in 2027.
Initially running from North Avenue to Sacred Heart in Quezon City, the MRT-7 line is planned to eventually reach San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, benefiting nearly 1 million passengers daily.
Marcos said the Department of Transportation will try hard to complete the railway line extending to Clark before the end of his term in 2028.
"Bubuksan na rin ang labindalawang istasyon ng MRT-7 matapos ang halos tatlong dekada (The 12 stations of the MRT-7 will also be opened next year, after almost three decades),” the president said.
Marcos credited the Accelerated and Reformed Right of Way Act, which helps resolve issues more quickly by removing one of the biggest obstacles to mass transit projects.
The chief executive also noted that the first phase of the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is already operational, and the Ilocos Norte BRT is scheduled to be inaugurated next year.
The president said that increases in fuel prices force many Filipinos to use public transportation.
ROW acquisitions
For its part, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) has prioritized the "challenging" right-of-way (ROW) acquisitions as the key factor in ensuring an uninterrupted implementation of all major transportation projects.
DOTr Secretary Giovanni Lopez on Tuesday welcomed President Marcos' citation — during his fifth SONA — of the NSCR and the new 12 stations of MRT-7.
Lopez stressed that the progress in land acquisition is part of the government's efforts to ensure that major railway projects remain on track for their target completion dates, adding that ROW acquisition is one of the primary challenges that has historically slowed the implementation of large transport infrastructure projects, particularly railways that traverse densely populated urban areas.
