THE PNR Clark Phase 1 from Tutuban Metro Manila to Malolos, Bulacan is almost 50 percent complete.
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) said the project is already 45.82 percent complete despite the Covid-19 pandemic.
"Walang patid sa pag-arangkada ang konstruksyon ng 38-kilometer PNR Clark Phase 1, na bahagi ng massive North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) Project, sa kabila ng pandemiya," the agency stated.
The DOTr said the PNR project was conceptualized in the 1990s but was never completed because of several issues.
"Alam niyo ba na 1990s pa na-conceptualize ang NSCR project? Ngunit, sa kasawiang palad, hindi ito umusad dahil sa kabi-kabilang disagreements at samu't saring mga isyu," the agency added.
With the commitment of DOTr, under the leadership of Secretary Arthur Tugade, the implementation project was prioritized.
"Ngayon, dahil sa pagpupursige ng Department of Transportation, sa pamumuno ni Secretary Arthur P. Tugade, at ng Philippine National Railways, sa panumuno ni GM Junn Magno, nabigyang prayoridad ang proyekto, at unti-unti na ngang naisasakatuparan," it said.
Once completed, travel time from Malolos in Bulacan to Tutuban in Metro Manila will be reduced from one and a half hours to 35 minutes.
"Oras na maging operational na ang PNR Clark Phase 1, na ko-konekta sa Malolos, Bulacan, at Tutuban, Manila, magiging 35 minuto na lamang ang biyahe ng ating mga kababayan, mula sa kasalukuyang isang (1) oras at 30 minuto," the DOTr stated.
The agency said the railway is expected to accommodate 300,000 passengers. "Inaasahan din na nasa 300,000 pasahero ang mase-serbisyuhan ng PNR Clark Phase 1."
The project will also generate employment, it added.
"Sa katunayan, tinatayang nasa kabuuang bilang na 7,500 katao ang estimate na mabibigyan ng trabaho habang isinasagawa ang konstruksyon ng proyekto. 2,000 trabaho naman pa ang naghihintay oras na matapos at maging operational ang kabuuan nito," the agency said.