MABALACAT, Pampanga – Vice Pres. Noli de Castro has admitted that the entire length of the already delayed 83-kilometer Caloocan-to- Clark north railway project will likely be finished only up to Malolos, Bulacan by the end of Pres. Arroyo’s term next year.
But De Castro told Punto that the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) which he chairs will push through with relocating settlers along the old Philippine National Railways up to Pampanga regardless of delays in the project.
Earlier, North Luzon Railways Corp. (Northrail) president Edgardo Pamintuan, who was appointed to his post in August last year, said that the President had wanted the entire railway length up to Clark finished before her term ends next year.
Phase 1 of the project, costing about $503 million, extends 32.5 kilometers from Caloocan City to Malolos, Bulacan, while Phase 1, whose cost has not be fully determined, is from Malolos to Clark Freeport extending some 50 kilometers. The railway project was part of plans to fully convert the freeport’s Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) into the country’s premiere international gateway.
De Castro said, however, that the completion of the project from Caloocan to Clark within the term of the President is now unlikely, although HUDCC will continue building resettlements for the thousands of families along the railways project.
“This was the instruction of the President especially now that the Bulacan segment of the project is about to go on full blast,” he said.
He could not immediately say how much the full development of the resettlement projects would cost.
De Castro, who was here to inaugurate the P60-billion low cost project of Xevera Corp., later inspected yesterday three resettlement sites for the affected families in San Fernando, Angeles City and Mabalacat.
The project is being done by the China National Machinery and Equipment Corp. (CNMEC) which initially abandoned the project in February last year amid controversies on additional cost and changes in project design. The Chinese contractor resumed work this month following dialogs with Northrail officials in Beijing and Manila.
In an earlier interview, Pamintuan blamed his predecessors in Northrail for delays in the project which is largely funded by a loan from the Chinese Export-Import Bank.
“The Monetary Board issued its final approval of the terms and conditions of the project loan on March 18, 2004,” he recalled.”
Records indicated that on Feb.17, 2004, a Presidential Special Authority was issued to authorize Philippine officials of the government to negotiate and conclude the loan agreement. From Feb.18 to 25, 2004, the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Justice, and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas reviewed the loan agreement.
On March 18, 2004, the Monetary Board finally approved the terms and conditions of the loan which became effective Sept. 13 in the same year and on Sept. 13 of the same year, the supply contract agreement became effective, records showed.
Pamintuan said that his predecessors in Northrail failed to act on the project.
But De Castro told Punto that the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) which he chairs will push through with relocating settlers along the old Philippine National Railways up to Pampanga regardless of delays in the project.
Earlier, North Luzon Railways Corp. (Northrail) president Edgardo Pamintuan, who was appointed to his post in August last year, said that the President had wanted the entire railway length up to Clark finished before her term ends next year.
Phase 1 of the project, costing about $503 million, extends 32.5 kilometers from Caloocan City to Malolos, Bulacan, while Phase 1, whose cost has not be fully determined, is from Malolos to Clark Freeport extending some 50 kilometers. The railway project was part of plans to fully convert the freeport’s Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) into the country’s premiere international gateway.
De Castro said, however, that the completion of the project from Caloocan to Clark within the term of the President is now unlikely, although HUDCC will continue building resettlements for the thousands of families along the railways project.
“This was the instruction of the President especially now that the Bulacan segment of the project is about to go on full blast,” he said.
He could not immediately say how much the full development of the resettlement projects would cost.
De Castro, who was here to inaugurate the P60-billion low cost project of Xevera Corp., later inspected yesterday three resettlement sites for the affected families in San Fernando, Angeles City and Mabalacat.
The project is being done by the China National Machinery and Equipment Corp. (CNMEC) which initially abandoned the project in February last year amid controversies on additional cost and changes in project design. The Chinese contractor resumed work this month following dialogs with Northrail officials in Beijing and Manila.
In an earlier interview, Pamintuan blamed his predecessors in Northrail for delays in the project which is largely funded by a loan from the Chinese Export-Import Bank.
“The Monetary Board issued its final approval of the terms and conditions of the project loan on March 18, 2004,” he recalled.”
Records indicated that on Feb.17, 2004, a Presidential Special Authority was issued to authorize Philippine officials of the government to negotiate and conclude the loan agreement. From Feb.18 to 25, 2004, the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Justice, and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas reviewed the loan agreement.
On March 18, 2004, the Monetary Board finally approved the terms and conditions of the loan which became effective Sept. 13 in the same year and on Sept. 13 of the same year, the supply contract agreement became effective, records showed.
Pamintuan said that his predecessors in Northrail failed to act on the project.
