THE Department of Transportation (DOTr) recently lauded the contribution of local government units and private sector partners to the speedy completion of the North South Commuter Railway system, saying their respective roles are “indispensable” to the success of the mammoth infrastructure project.

Speaking at the inauguration of the project site office in Santa Rosa, Laguna, DOTr Undersecretary for Rail Transportation Jeremy Regino said LGUs “are the primary beneficiaries of the NSCR project and are the principal actors in our effort to speed up its completion”. He pointed out that the rail system will have a major impact on the economy of the Southern Tagalog region, adding that, once the project is completed, “the region will never be the same again”.

He cited in particular the support of local government units in the DOTr’s bid to speed up the right-of-way (ROW) acquisition for the project.

“Without the necessary rights-of-way and without LGU support, this project cannot move ahead,” Regino said. He called for the further speeding up of the ROW acquisition, adding that the earlier the ROWs are obtained and handed over to partners, the faster the project will be completed.

“This is the time for all of us to move quickly and efficiently, with precision and zeal” Regino said, noting that the “whole of government approach” has been adopted to ensure the speedy completion of the NSCR.

Regino also lauded the participation of Hyundai Engineering and Construction of Korea in the project, saying the firm “is creating history” and “is setting a fine example”. Hyundai is undertaking three sections of the southern portion of the NSCR which will connect Calamba, Laguna to Metro Manila. It formed a joint venture with Dong-Ah Geological Engineering Company for the P74 billion project awarded in September 2022.

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