MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) signed yesterday the first two contract packages for PNR Clark Phase 2, marking the start of construction works for the 53-kilometer extension that will connect Makati City and the Clark International Airport to cut travel time to less than an hour.
The contract for Package 4 was signed with Acciona Construction Philippines and EEI Corp. while that for Package 5 was inked with POSCO Engineering and Construction Co. Ltd.
Contract Package 4 of the PNR Clark Phase 2 covers the civil engineering and building works for approximately 6.3 kilometers of the main line and 1.6 km of the depot’s access line, with one underground station serving Clark International Airport.
Contract Package 5, on the other hand, covers the civil engineering and building works for the Clark Railway Depot, covering an overall area of approximately 33 hectares, including the construction of operations control center, stabling yard, workshops, training center and other ancillary buildings at Mabalacat in Pampanga.
The PNR Clark Phase 2 is one of the flagship infrastructure projects of the DOTr in the railways sector, which will pave the way for the generation of tens of thousands of jobs for the Filipino people.
Once partially operable by 2022, the 53-km rail line segment, which will connect Malolos, Bulacan to Clark International Airport, will cut down travel time to 30 to 35 minutes, from the original one hour and 30 minutes.
It will also feature the country’s first airport rail express.
PNR Clark Phase 2 forms part of the P777.55-billion North-South Commuter Railway, a mega railway network spanning 148 kilometers with 37 stations co-financed by the Asian Development Bank and the Japan International Cooperation Agency.