PNR Calamba to receive funding support from ADB

Image source: Philippine Department of Transportation/Asian Development Bank/Manila Bulletin

Better known as PNR Calamba, the South Commuter Railway Project will receive funding support from the Asian Development Bank or ADB, up for consideration by its board for the fourth quarter of this year, according to an article by the Manila Bulletin.

The publication reported that the regional financial giant is preparing to provide funding support to the construction project by the Philippine National Railways or PNR worth PHP 345 billion.

ADB Philippines country director, Kelly Bird, has said today, “We are pleased to partner with the Philippine government in this transformative project that will have substantial multiplier effects on the economy and regional development”.

PNR Calamba will consist of viaduct structures that span 40.5 kilometres, being a crucial part of the 147-kilometre system of the North-South Commuter Railway or NSCR that seeks to shorten travel by more or less three hours from Clark International Airport in Pampanga to Calamba City in Laguna.

The runners of the project expect the NSCR to handle up to one million passengers every day.

The Philippine Department of Transportation held a series of biddings  from July 14 to 15 for civil work contracts for elevated stations, viaduct structures, and a 22-hectare train depot for the project, attracting 34 bids from 23 engineering and construction companies, with the ADB providing advisory services on the bidding process under its Infrastructure Preparation and Innovation Facility.

The local bidders were DM Consunji, EEI, First Balfour, Megawide Construction, Prime Metro BMD, and Santa Clara International.

The foreign bidders were Sumitomo Mitsui Construction of Japan as well as Hyundai Engineering Construction, DL Engineering and Construction, Dong-Ah Geological Engineering, GS Engineering and Construction, Lotte Engineering and Construction, POSCO Engineering and Construction, and Samsung Construction and Trading of South Korea.

Chun Wo Construction and Leighton Contractors (Asia) of Hong Kong also made bids, as did Acciona of Spain and China Construction First Group.

Joining them were PT Adhi Karya, PT PP, and PT Wijaya Karya of Indonesia, Gülermak Heavy Industry Construction and Contracting of Turkey, and the Italian-Thai Development Public Company of Thailand.

Bird congratulated the department and the PNR on the bidding turnout that reflects interest in the Philippine “Build, Build Build” infrastructure development program, and for a strong post-pandemic economic recovery.

The ADB includes in its business plan for the Philippines PNR Calamba, also linked to the Malolos-Clark Railway, also funded by the ADB, which will feature the first airport express train for the country that runs from Clark International Airport.