Marcos assures gov't aid for informal settlers along railway route
Informal settlers who will be affected by the construction of a big-ticket railway project in Luzon will be attended to by the government, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. vowed.
President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. (Photo courtesy of KJ Rosales/PPA Pool)
This, Marcos said, is among the inevitable consequences caused by building big projects like the South Commuter Railway Project (SCRP). During the signing of three contracts of the project on Thursday, July 13, Marcos cited the benefits the project will bring, including the generation of about 3,000 jobs once civil works for the three sections begin. He, however, recognized the consequences that could happen during the construction period, stressing that the government will attend to their needs. "While that is the case, we must also recognize the plight of informal settler families who will be affected by the project as well as the disturbances that the construction of the NSCR system will cause," Marcos said. "So, we are continuously conscious in the national government and of course the local governments to ensure that those needing assistance are attended to," he added. The President also sought the public's continued patience and understanding as they encounter interruptions from the construction. "These are the inevitable consequences of these large projects, but it is something that we have to go through if we are going to complete the projects as they have been designed and we will – to be able to reap the benefits in the longer term." Marcos said. The chief executive witnessed the signing of three packages of the railway project covering around 14.9 kilometers in Blumentritt in Manila,  Pio del Pilar and Magallanes in Makati City, Barangay North Daang Hari in Taguig City, and Barangay San Martin De Porres in Parañaque City. The SCRP is a portion of the North South Commuter Railway (NSCR) that connects the Blumentritt Station to Calamba Station. The NSCR is a 147.26-km railway project from New Clark City to Calamba. It features 35 stations and three depots and will utilize 51 commuter train sets and seven express train sets. It will facilitate a two-hour travel time from Clark to Calamba. [READ MORE: Marcos orders: Complete South railway; 'spare no efforts'](https://mb.com.ph/2023/7/13/marcos-spare-no-effort-to-complete-monumental-railway-project)
President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. (Photo courtesy of KJ Rosales/PPA Pool)
This, Marcos said, is among the inevitable consequences caused by building big projects like the South Commuter Railway Project (SCRP). During the signing of three contracts of the project on Thursday, July 13, Marcos cited the benefits the project will bring, including the generation of about 3,000 jobs once civil works for the three sections begin. He, however, recognized the consequences that could happen during the construction period, stressing that the government will attend to their needs. "While that is the case, we must also recognize the plight of informal settler families who will be affected by the project as well as the disturbances that the construction of the NSCR system will cause," Marcos said. "So, we are continuously conscious in the national government and of course the local governments to ensure that those needing assistance are attended to," he added. The President also sought the public's continued patience and understanding as they encounter interruptions from the construction. "These are the inevitable consequences of these large projects, but it is something that we have to go through if we are going to complete the projects as they have been designed and we will – to be able to reap the benefits in the longer term." Marcos said. The chief executive witnessed the signing of three packages of the railway project covering around 14.9 kilometers in Blumentritt in Manila,  Pio del Pilar and Magallanes in Makati City, Barangay North Daang Hari in Taguig City, and Barangay San Martin De Porres in Parañaque City. The SCRP is a portion of the North South Commuter Railway (NSCR) that connects the Blumentritt Station to Calamba Station. The NSCR is a 147.26-km railway project from New Clark City to Calamba. It features 35 stations and three depots and will utilize 51 commuter train sets and seven express train sets. It will facilitate a two-hour travel time from Clark to Calamba. [READ MORE: Marcos orders: Complete South railway; 'spare no efforts'](https://mb.com.ph/2023/7/13/marcos-spare-no-effort-to-complete-monumental-railway-project)