|
Friday, May 06, 2005
North Rail project to displace 19,500 families
By Chris Navarro
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — An official of the North Luzon Railways Corporation (NorthRail) said Thursday some 19,500 families living along the Philippine National Railway (PNR) in Pampanga will most likely be affected once the phase 1 of the mass transport project starts.
During the presentation at the Provincial Board (PB) Session Hall, NorthRail project manager Aldrin Gatus said the affected families living along the PNR will be “relocated and compensated” by the concerned government agency.
National House Authority (NHA) Manager Rico Laxa said “legitimate” beneficiaries could be assured of relocation at identified sites in the province.
Meanwhile, Pampanga Governor Mark T. Lapid, through Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC) Executive Director Andy Austria and Provincial Social Welfare and Development (PSWD) officer Luchie Gutierrez, is set to create a task force which will oversee the relocation and transfer of the affected families.
Gutierrez said the governor will be identifying the members of the task force within the week.
Sto. Tomas Mayor Lucas N. Arceo and Minalin Mayor Edgar Flores also appealed to the NHA and NorthRail to immediately provide housing units and compensation to the affected families in their municipalities.
The NorthRail project aims to provide a fast and reliable mass transport service for passengers and goods between Metro Manila and Central and Northern Luzon, particularly between former military bases, which have been converted and developed into industrial, economic and tourism estates (Fort Bonifacio, Clark Special Economic Zone, Subic SEZ and Poro Point in La Union).
The phase 1 of the project will cover an 80-kilometer line between Caloocan City in Metro Manila Manila to the Disodado Macapagal International Airport (Dmia) at the CSEZ. It is subdivided into two sections — section 1 in Caloocan-Malolos, Bulacan and section 2 Malolos-Dmia, CSEZ in Pampanga.
(May 6, 2005 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
|
