The Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Philippine National Railway (PNR) will undertake advance construction mobilization for the PNR Clark Phase 1 to fast-track the construction of the railway project that will connect Tutuban, Manila and Malolos, Bulacan.
The undertaking includes pre-construction activities such as site clearing, grading of unleveled surfaces, and demolition of obstructing structures in the PNR alignment.
To realize early completion of infrastructure projects under the government’s Build Build Build infrastructure program, DOTr said it continuously explores and pursues acceleration measures, such as conducting parallel activities that were previously done sequentially. This was what was done for the PNR Clark Phase 1 project that commenced on January 5.
“Compared to previous practice, site clearing works had to wait for the general contractor, but, since DOTr understands the need to complete this project faster, DOTr pursues these works in parallel with the procurement of the general contractor, which is scheduled to be selected by the 2nd quarter of 2018 for PNR Clark Phase 1,” the agency said in a statement.
Phase 1 of the PNR Clark Project, also called the North-South Commuter Railway project, entails construction of the rail systems along the 38-kilometer segment from Tutuban, Manila to Malolos, Bulacan. With 10 stations, it is expected to service around 340,000 passengers daily during its opening. PNR Clark Phase 1 was approved by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board in February 2015.
Once complete, commuters from Tutuban will reach Malolos in 35 minutes.
Last year, the NEDA Board approved Phase 2 of the project, which involves constructing a commuter line and an airport express railway between Malolos and Clark Green City through Clark International Airport.
The PNR Clark project takes the place of the defunct Northrail project.
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