DMCI, Japanese partner bag P54-B contract for North-South Commuter Railway project

Construction giant D.M. Consunji Inc. (DMCI)  and its Japanese partner Taisei Corp. have bagged the P54-billion contract to build the first phase of the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) project.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange on Tuesday, the company said the NCSR Phase 1 was recently awarded by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to the joint venture.

NSCR Phase 1 has a total contract value of ¥114 billion or approximately P54 billion, based on prevailing exchange rates.

The project involves the construction of around 22 kilometers of elevated viaduct structures, six stations and a depot, which will be located in Valenzuela.

DMCI said it will employ up to 5,000 direct and indirect workers within the next 30 months to meet the manpower requirements of the project.

To support its railway construction activities, the company said it is also earmarking P2 billion in capital expenditures for the next two years, the bulk of which will be used to acquire construction equipment.

“Building mass transport systems and high-impact infrastructure is part of our DNA. We are very excited and grateful to be part of this game-changing project for our country,” DMCI president and CEO Jorge Consunji said.

Designed to be completed in 42 months, NSCR Phase 1 will use the existing alignment of the Philippine National Railway (PNR), which runs from Malolos, Bulacan to Tutuban in Manila.

The trains will have the maximum operating speed of 120 kilometers per hour.

Once completed, the railway will shorten travel time between Malolos and Tutuban from one hour and 30 minutes to just 35 minutes.

This rail line is expected to serve 300,000 passengers daily.

NSCR Phase 1 is the DMCI's fifth railway project.

DMCI was also involved in the construction of LRT Line 1 North Extension, LRT Line 2 East Extension, two PNR projects and the Dubai Monorail in the United Arab Emirates.

Taisei Corp., meanwhile, is the contractor behind the Iloilo International Airport, which was named the 12th best airport in Asia in 2017 by travel website “The Guide to Sleeping in Airports.” — BM, GMA News