NorthRail ProjectB A S E S C O N V E R S I O N A N D D E V E L O P M E N T A U T H O R I T Y I A N N U A L R E P O R T 2 0 0 6Construction of Section I, Phase I (Caloocanto Malolos segment) of the NorthRail Projectbegan in October following the successfulrelocation of almost 20,000 project-affectedfamilies occupying the site of the PhilippineNational Railways (PNR). The launch waswitnessed by the Honorable Vice PresidentNoli de Castro, Ambassador Li Jinjun ofChina, House Speaker Jose de Venecia,China National Machinery IndustryCorporation (SINOMACH) Chairman RenHongbin, <strong>and</strong> local government officials.Site preparatory works, which includedremoval of the old PNR rail tracks fromMeycauayan to Malolos, Bulacan, werefast-tracked to enable its contractor,SINOMACH (formerly CNMEG), tocomplete all ground survey works, aswell as soil <strong>and</strong> geotechnical investigationnecessary for the preparation of the Project’sdetailed engineering design.On March 1, 2006, SINOMACH submittedthe Preliminary Design for Section I, PhaseI of the Project for review <strong>and</strong> approval.Fourteen kilometers of construction fencingwas also installed along the alignmentfrom Valenzuela City to the towns ofMeycauayan, Marilao <strong>and</strong> Malolos inBulacan signaling full implementation ofthe Project’s construction phase.Partnerships with the PNR, National Food<strong>Authority</strong> (NFA) <strong>and</strong> the National Housing<strong>Authority</strong> (NHA) were forged in June tofacilitate smooth implementation of theProject. The signing of a Memor<strong>and</strong>um ofAgreement (MOA) with the PNR assuredthe availability of a location for a depot inCaloocan. Another MOA enabled NLRCto tap NFA’s property in Valenzuela asa temporary site to house facilities of theprime contractor. This resulted to theconstruction of four buildings that willserve as living quarters <strong>and</strong> offices fortechnical personnel of the Project. Anotheragreement forged with the NHA guaranteedprioritization of qualified workers fromthe displaced families for the Project’smanpower requirements.Implemented by the North Luzon RailwaysCorporation (NLRC), the 32.2-kilometerNorthRail Project aims to provide efficienttransport service between Metro Manila,<strong>and</strong> Central <strong>and</strong> Northern Luzon, thus easingthe traffic problems of the metropolis. It isexpected to accelerate development in theregion by interconnecting <strong>and</strong> improvingaccess to major transportation facilities inthe Manila–Clark-Subic economic triangle.The approval of the Feasibility Study ofthe Project, showing the viability of theconstruction of Section 2 (Malolos to Clarksegment) of the NorthRail together withSection 1, was also granted in Octoberby the National Economic <strong>Development</strong><strong>Authority</strong>-Investment Coordinating Council(NEDA-ICC) <strong>and</strong> confirmed by the NEDABoard. This set in motion discussions withthe SINOMACH for the design, supply <strong>and</strong>construction of Section 2. The Departmentof Finance, on the other h<strong>and</strong>, begannegotiations with the China Export-ImportBank to secure funding for the section.Also nearing completion is the TopographicSurvey of Section 2 which enabled theNHA to finalize its data on affectedfamilies occupying the ROW in Section 2.Relocation was expected to be finalized bythe first quarter of 2007. Construction ofSection 2 is scheduled in April 2007.The completion of the NorthRail is seenas an attraction for international investors.With efficient transport services in place,greater economic opportunities for Filipinosare expected to follow suit.The SCADC(Subic-Clark Alliancefor <strong>Development</strong>Council)The Subic-Clark Alliance for <strong>Development</strong>Council (SCADC), formerly known asSubic-Clark Area <strong>Development</strong> (SCAD),was reconstituted from the former Officeof the Adviser on SCAD through ExecutiveOrder 504 issued in February 2006.The SCADC is m<strong>and</strong>ated to developthe Subic–Clark Corridor into a single,contiguous <strong>and</strong> geographical economicgrowth area, linking the Subic seaportwith the Clark airport, <strong>and</strong> likewise,connecting the country to keygrowth areas in Asia <strong>and</strong> the Pacific.Vice President Noli de Castro,Speaker Jose de Venecia, Jr.,Chinese Ambassador Li Jinjun,Northrail President Jose Cortes, Jr,Sec. Rene Diaz, <strong>and</strong> CNMEG ChairmanRen Hongbin during the launch of theNorthRail Project in October.Installation of giant steel girders of the55-meter high Gumain bridge, thehighest bridge of the SCTEx.After setting up its offices at the Clark<strong>Development</strong> Corporation (CDC)Headquarters in March 2006, SCADCChairman, Secretary Edgardo D. Pamintuan,started benchmarking operations of keylogistic hubs in the United States, Singapore<strong>and</strong> Thail<strong>and</strong> as probable models forworld-class logistics hub within the Subic-Clark Corridor. It also conducted a seriesof consultations with local businesssectors involved in logistics operations,embarked on data-gathering activities<strong>and</strong> coordinated with internationalagencies <strong>and</strong> other entities that can
The trumpet-type Dinalupihan interchangeassist in the development of a masterplan <strong>and</strong> a business plan for the Corridor.In partnership with CDC, SCADC lobbiedintensively with Congress for the grantof Freeport status to the Clark SpecialEconomic Zone, as well as the restorationof tax incentives <strong>and</strong> the exemption fromreal property tax of its locators.Clark-Tarlac segment(Package 2)43.27 kmLa PazInterchangeSan MiguelInterchangeCapasEND OF PROJECTCLARK - TARLAC EXPRESSWAYSTA 31+200.0 (OLD ALIGNMENT)The year also saw SCADC focusing on themonitoring <strong>and</strong> support of the developmentefforts for the major infrastructurecomponents of the Subic-Clark LogisticsHub, namely, the Subic-Clark-TarlacExpressway (SCTEx), the NorthRail, theDiosdado Macapagal International Airport(DMIA), <strong>and</strong> the Subic Port <strong>Development</strong>Projects.Overall, 2006 was a fruitful year for SCADCafter Her Excellency President GloriaMacapagal-Arroyo exp<strong>and</strong>ed its m<strong>and</strong>ate,assigning the SCADC Chairman as the“<strong>Development</strong> Champion” of the LuzonUrban Beltway Super Region. SCADC nowoversees <strong>and</strong> spearheads the developmentof identified priority infrastructure projectsin the biggest of the super regions, coveringa large portion of the Central Luzonprovinces, the whole National CapitalRegion, including CALABARZON (Cavite,Laguna, Batangas, Rizal <strong>and</strong> Quezon) <strong>and</strong>the provinces of Mindoro <strong>and</strong> Marinduque.Tipo JunctionOlongapo CitySubicClark NorthInterchangeClark LogisticsInterchangePoracDinalupihanBEGINNING OF PROJECTSUBIC - CLARK EXPRESSWAYSTA 0+000.0BambanFloridablancaDinalupihanInterchangeMabalacatAngelesMagalangSpur/NLEInterchangeSubic-Clark segment(Package 1)50.5 kmConcepcionInterchangeB A S E S C O N V E R S I O N A N D D E V E L O P M E N T A U T H O R I T Y I A N N U A L R E P O R T 2 0 0 6
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