Tuesday, October 14, 2008 Joint venture for Northrail proposed
ANGELES CITY -- First District Representative Carmelo Lazatin has asked President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to consider a joint venture for the Caloocan-Clark railway project to save the government from raising or borrowing additional funds for the project.
The lawmaker said the government would no longer borrow additional funds for the project to raise the additional fund being sought by the Chinese contractor if a joint venture scheme is implemented.
Lazatin explained that the Philippine National Railway (PNR) can be tapped as one of the project supporters since it is technically the franchise holder of the railway project.
He added that the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) could invite interested investors through appropriate bidding.
"The government can replicate the undertaking of the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport, which has resorted to entering into joint venture scheme for the development of its new terminal to save government's money," Lazatin said.
The Caloocan-Clark railway will use the old PNR railway as the rail-right-of way. (RGN)
