An artist's rendering of PNR Calamba Station. (Photo courtesy of DOTr)
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Thursday broke ground for the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) System’s Banlic Depot in Calamba, Laguna.
During the groundbreaking ceremony, DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista said the Banlic Depot signals the “rapid progress” of the project after its land development and other preparatory works began in 2023.
“We mark the significant progress since June last year in land development and other preparatory works such as geotechnical investigation, fencing, clearing, erecting temporary project site offices and access roads,” he said.
The depot, part of Contract Package (CP) S-07 of the NSCR, covers an area of 24.5 hectares and consists of a control center, stabling yard, maintenance shop, and other ancillary buildings.
CP S-07 is worth PHP16.9 billion and is scheduled to be completed in 2028.
“For residents of Banlic and adjacent communities, the NSCR will not only enhance connectivity but also transform their socio-economic status by providing rapid mobility for people and goods,” Bautista said.
Meanwhile, he also called on project contractors of the NSCR to give special consideration to the safety of their workers.
“I therefore urge our contractors – the joint venture of Hyundai Engineering and Dong-Ah Geological Engineering – as well as other contractors building the various segments of the NSCR, to always focus on safety throughout the construction sites,” he said.
He said a delay with no record of an accident at the workplace is more acceptable than having workplace casualties.
“Of course, on-time completion with no accident is better,” he said.
Co-financed by the Asian Development Bank and the Japan International Cooperation Agency, the 147-kilometer NSCR system will connect Pampanga, Bulacan, Metro Manila and Laguna via railway.
Once operational, the NSCR is seen to reduce travel time from Clark, Pampanga to Calamba, Laguna to less than two hours and accommodate 800,000 passengers daily. PNA