RAILWAY systems are important to the economy of a country because they can move more people and goods faster.

Imagine if the Philippines would have lots of trains instead of dilapidated jeepneys, Filipinos can get to their destinations more conveniently and on time to complete their businesses.

Taking the trains could eliminate the problem of the horrendous traffic in Metro Manila which, according to a study, makes the country lose P2.4 billion worth of opportunities a day.

A report saying the Marcos administration is making significant strides in improving the railway sector is a very welcome development.

It’s encouraging to learn from the Department of Transportation that the Philippine National Railways (PNR), Light Railway Transit (LRT) Lines 1 and 2, and Metro Rail Transit (MRT) – Line 3 are “improving significantly.”

DOTr undersecretary Cesar Chavez noted that the DOTr is hoping to produce additional PNR train sets by August. He also cited increased ridership in both the MRT-3 and LRT-2 amid government efforts to improve the railway system.

“The railway projects under the Marcos administration are on the right track,” he said, stressing that the agency is fast-tracking the implementation of projects funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency and Asian Development Bank (ADB), as well as those under public-private partnerships.

The seven stations from Valenzuela City in Metro Manila to the City of Malolos in Bulacan under the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) Project will be operational by 2027.

The 147.26-kilometer NSCR System under the “Build, Better, More” program has a total project cost of PHP873.62 billion. It will connect Clark, Pampanga and Calamba City, Laguna.

The whole system will have 35 stations and three depots composed of the original NSCR projects, the Malolos-Clark Railway Project and the South Commuter Railway Project.

It was also reported noted that about 10 stations of the MRT-7 project will be completed and operational by the third quarter of 2025.

The MRT-7 project will have 14 stations, namely Quezon North Avenue Joint Station, Quezon Memorial Circle, University Avenue, Tandang Sora, Don Antonio; Batasan, Manggahan, Dona Carmen, Regalado, Mindanao Avenue, Quirino, Sacred Heart, and Tala, all in Quezon City; and City of San Jose del Monte in Bulacan province.

It can accommodate 300,000 passengers during the first year of operations.

The project will also feature an intermodal transportation hub catering to other types of public transportation, as well as a 19-kilometer highway from San Jose del Monte to Bocaue.

The MRT-4 project is already in the “advanced stage” and will be funded by the ADB.

“This is the status of our railway system now. Our existing four operating lines are improving. We’re fast-tracking the implementation of the existing rail projects and we have secured funding for the feasibility study of major railway projects for Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao,” the DOTr executive added.

This corner could only hope the Marcos administration remains focused on its agenda particularly on improving the country’s tran’port system.

More power to the government.

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