THE three-hour passenger travel time by bus from Metro Manila to the regional growth centers in Central Luzon including Clark Freeport will be reduced to one hour by railway once the Malolos-Clark Railway is completed.
The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) has stated this on its official Facebook page on Friday, October 9, 2020.
"Manila to Clark in one hour. The Malolos Clark Railway will cut travel time from Metro Manila to regional growth centers in Central Luzon from 2 to 3 hours to one hour," the agency said.
Once operational, the railway system is expected to accommodate 350,000 passengers daily and employ 1,400 people.
The railway project is the largest financing package implemented by the Asian Development Bank. It is co-financed by the Japan International Cooperation Agency, according to the BCDA.
Department of Transportation DoTr Secretary Arthur P. Tugade earlier announced the signing of three construction packages for the PNR Clark Phase 2 railway project from Malolos to this freeport.
"Be assured that we are focused on our goal to make the Filipino life comfortable, the Filipino life convenient. This administration shall remain firm and steadfast in turning this railway project into a living reality," Tugade said.
The PNR Clark Phase 2 or the Malolos Clark Railway is a 54-kilometer north segment of the North South Commuter Railway that will feature the country's first Airport Express Service.
Tugade cited the partnership of the private sector and the government to build big-ticket infrastructure projects.
He thanked the entities that supported the projects implemented under the Build Build Build (BBB) program of the national government.
"Today, more than signing the agreements for the NSCR project, this event is a celebration of trust. It is a celebration of trust and confidence that you have given and is giving to the Duterte Administration," Tugade said.
"Without the trust in this administration, I am sure that partnering and investing with us in building transport infrastructure for the comfort and convenience of the Filipino people will be utterly difficult," he added.
He mentioned in particular the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) for supporting the project.
"I would like to thank the Jica and the ADB for partnering with us in this momentous project. This project, by par, is the ADB's largest ever financing package for a single project and indeed this project is the single largest BBB project to date in the history of the Duterte Administration," Tugade said.