House Speaker Martin Romualdez (left), President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. (Speaker’s office, BBM Media Bureau)

President Marcos' "Build, Better, More" program has just received a big boost thanks to the Philippines' trusty allies the United States (US) and Japan. 

This, as House Speaker Martin Romualdez praised Marcos for securing the two nations' commitment to support the development of a railway project linking Subic, Clark, and Batangas during his historic trilateral summit with US President Joe Biden and Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. 

In a Joint Vision Statement following their historic trilateral meeting, the three leaders announced the launch of the Luzon Economic Corridor, which will support connectivity between Subic Bay, Clark, Manila, and Batangas in the Philippines. 

The statement said that through this corridor--which is part of the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGI)-IPEF Accelerator---the three nations commit to accelerating coordinated investments in high-impact infrastructure projects, including rail; ports modernization; clean energy and semiconductor supply chains and deployments; agribusiness; and civilian port upgrades at Subic Bay. 

“The commitment of the US and Japan to support a railway project linking Subic-Clark-Batangas is a remarkable achievement of President Marcos, Jr. as it holds immense potential for driving economic growth and development across the nation,” said Romualdez, who accompanied Marcos to Washington, DC for the summit. 

The leader of the 300-plus strong House of Representatives says that linking up the strategic ports in the Philippines will significantly enhance the efficiency of cargo transportation, bolster trade activities, and attract investments to the region. 

“Moreover, it promises to create numerous job opportunities, stimulate local industries, and uplift the standard of living for countless Filipinos,” he added. 

As part of the effort to promote the Luzon Corridor, the Joint Vision Statement of the three leaders announced a trilateral event promoting investment in the area on the margins of the Indo-Pacific Business Forum in Manila next month. 

Romualdez said that the railway will offer a faster and more reliable alternative to road transport for cargo movement between Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Clark Freeport Zone, and Batangas, significantly reducing transportation costs and improving supply chain efficiency in these regions. 

“By diverting cargo away from roads, the railway project could help ease traffic congestion in Metro Manila, which is a major bottleneck for logistics,” he noted. 

Likewise, improved logistics could lead to increased investment and expansion of industries in Subic, Clark, and Batangas and likely generate more jobs and stimulate economic growth along the corridor, according to Romualdez. 

As the Subic-Clark-Batangas Railway takes shape, it is poised to become a cornerstone of the country's economic landscape, driving progress, and opening up new possibilities for generations to come, the Speaker noted. 

The Leyte 1st district congressman emphasized that this collaboration between the Philippines, the US, and Japan underscores the importance of fostering strong international partnerships to address the nation's infrastructure needs and propel sustainable development. 

“President Marcos, Jr. can count on the unwavering support of the entire House of Representatives for this transformative initiative and looks forward to witnessing its profound impact on the Philippines' growth trajectory,” Romualdez said.