RAILWAY EXTENSION. Ambassador Koshikawa Kazuhiko speaks during a site inspection at the soon-to-rise Clark International Airport Station in Mabalacat, Pampanga on Sept. 18, 2021. The event marks the start of construction for the North-South Commuter Railway Extension (NSCR-Ex) project. (Photo by Japanese Embassy in Manila)
MANILA – The Japan-funded North-South Commuter Railway Extension (NSCR-Ex) project has began construction, the Japanese Embassy in Manila said Tuesday.
Last September 18, Ambassador Koshikawa Kazuhiko personally joined Transportation Undersecretary Timothy Batan and ADB Director General Ramesh Subramaniam during a joint site inspection at Clark International Airport Station in Pampanga, marking the start of construction for the NSCR Extension project (NSCR-Ex).
Two extension lines will be constructed under NSCR-Ex, the 51-kilometer "North" extension that runs from Malolos in Bulacan to Clark International Airport in Pampanga, and the 55-km "South" extension from Solis, Manila to Calamba, Laguna.
Apart from alleviating traffic congestion, the Embassy said the project aims to mitigate the effects of pollution and climate change by using Japan's energy efficient trains.
Its technical aspects will also complement the ongoing NSCR Malolos to Tutuban Project that adopts Japanese technology on flood-resilient and anti-seismic design to withstand earthquakes.
NSCR-Ex is jointly financed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Japanese government through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
The yen loan will be allocated for the procurement of rolling stock and railway systems as well as consulting services, while the ADB loan funds will be allocated for civil works.
In January 2019, the Philippines signed the JPY167.199 billion loan agreement with JICA for the NSCR-Ex.
It is one of the key infrastructure projects supported by Japan under the Philippine government's Build, Build, Build program. (PNA)
