Transportation Secretary Vivencio “Vince” Dizon said that the railway between Manila and Clark could be completed three years from now or before the next administration.
“I am cautiously optimistic. I estimate that before President Marcos steps down and completes his term by 2028, we will get to ride the train (from Manila) to Clark,“ Dizon said.
While admitting some delays in the construction of the vital railway that would connect Manila to Clark, he however said that the Manila to Malolos segment will be done by December 2026.
He made the statement in an in-studio interview Thursday on Dos Por Dos hosted by Anthony Taberna and Gerry Baja over dzRH.
Describing it as “world-class”, the station at Clark International Airport (CRK) will be underground. It will be recalled that it was Dizon who spearheaded the new passenger terminal in Clark when he was president of the BCDA. The CRK terminal has been adjudged as one of the world’s most beautiful airports by Prix Versailles World Architecture Award.
He said that trains (cars) are ready for delivery and that “partial operability” test runs will be made between Valenzuela and Malolos by the start of 2027.
The train line is part of the 150-kilometer North South Commuter Railway (NSCR) which will run from Calamba, Laguna to Clark, Pampanga.
Dizon said that President Marcos wants to bring about convenience and comfort to the commuting public. When completed, the Manila to Clark segment will substantially cut travel time to and from the two major urban, travel and tourism centers. It is seen also to decongest the NLEX as well as provide options for motorists to leave vehicles and just take the trains to and from these areas.
For the completion of Manila-Calamba segment, Dizon described it as “more challenging but doable” with the alignment riddled with right-of-way problems. He did not give timelines for the said project.
Aside from the P8-billion CRK terminal, Dizon is widely credited for completing on time big ticket projects like the New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac which served as venue for the 2019 Southeast Asian Games. It was also built to be the next government center of the country.
