DOTr: Feasibility study for Subic-Clark-Manila-Batangas rail project being prepared

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Friday said the feasibility study for the planned Subic-Clark-Manila-Batangas Railway is being prepared.

In a news release, the DOTr said the proposed railway project would seek to establish a logistics corridor in Luzon.

“Kasalukuyan nating inaayos ang feasibility study para dito sa Subic-Clark-Manila-Batangas Rail (We are currently preparing the feasibility study for the Subic-Clark-Manila-Batangas Rail),” said Transportation Undersecretary Timothy John Batan.

The planned railway project forms part of the proposed Luzon Economic Corridor initiative unveiled during the trilateral leader’s summit with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., US President Joe Biden, and Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida last April.

Batan said the proposed Subic-Clark-Manila-Batangas railway system will be a joint initiative by the Philippines with the US, Sweden, and Japan-led Asian Development Bank.

The DOTr official said the planned railway will connect Subic Port with Clark International Airport (CRK), Port of Manila, and Port of Batangas.

Batan explained that the earlier planned Subic-Clark Railway did not materialize “due to financial acquisition issues,” which led to a new study for a longer Subic-Clark-Manila-Batangas line.

“Ang ating Subic-Clark Railway project na sa kasamaang palad hindi natin nakuha 'yung financing na ating inaasahan at kung kaya't nung pinag-aralan ulit natin ito at inisip na gawing Subic-Clark-Manila Batangas (Our Subic-Clark Railway, unfortunately, we did not secure the necessary financing, thus we reconsidered it and we thought of making it Subic-Clark-Manila Batangas),” the DOTr official said.

The proposed Subic-Clark Railway was supposed to be funded through an official development assistance from China.

The construction of the P51-billion Subic-Clark Railway project was awarded to China Harbour Engineering Co. in December 2020. 

However, China “backed out” of funding the Subic-Clark Railway project along with two other rail projects, namely the Mindanao Railway Project’s Tagum-Davao-Digos segment and the Philippine National Railways Calamba to Bicol line. 

“Ang ating tinatayong logistics corridor ay hindi lang maidugtong ang ating pantalan sa Subic at ating airport sa Clark at ng sa ganon ay umabot tayo sa Port of Manila at Port of Batangas (The logistics corridor we are trying the build will not only connect the Port of Subic to the airport in Clark but also extend it all the way to Port of Manila and Port of Batangas),” Batan said.—AOL, GMA Integrated News