The national government’s ambitious plan to build a train system from Subic Freeport Zone to Batangas port is now taking shape after more landowners were convinced to have their properties used for the project.
Joshua M. Bingcang, BCDA president and chief executive officer, said at least 43 more landowners decided to share their property for the building of the rail system in Pampanga under the Subic-Clark-Manila-Batangas (SCMB) railway project.
The 43 Pampanga landowners were among the 68 property owners who were given Transfer Certificate of Titles (TCTs) to the landowners affected by the SCMB railway, which is formerly known as the Subic-Clark Railway Project or SCRP.
The right-of-way is one of the major problems in the government’s efforts to fasttrack the SCMB project which is expected to boost the economy of Central Luzon, Metro Manila and Southern Tagalog region due to the fast mobility of goods.
BCDA OIC-Senior Vice President Richard Brian M. Cepe explained that the cooperation of landowners is essential in any government project, citing the BCDA’s experience in the construction of the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx).
He said the cooperation of the project-affected landowners paved the way for the speedy completion of the project.
The SCMB project is part of the national government’s plan to develop the Luzon Economic Corridor to generate more economic opportunities with the assistance of the United States and Japan.