DOTr fast-tracks housing for families displaced by NSCR project
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is pushing for the swift construction of housing facilities for those displaced by the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) project, as part of its efforts to fast-track the railway project.
The DOTr said it is financing the development of these relocation sites to provide shelter for families that need to be relocated to make way for NSCR.
Acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez has ordered the acceleration of construction works on these housing projects, which will be built in Naic, Cavite.
Lopez said the DOTr, through the state-run Social Housing Finance Corp., is overseeing the construction of 82 three-storey buildings.
A total of 12 buildings are expected to be completed before the end of the year, providing shelter for up to 360 families.
The properties will be equipped with essential facilities, including schools, day care centers, rural health centers, and covered courts.
The DOTr has been relocating informal settlers to housing projects to clear the path for the NSCR’s construction, alongside right-of-way (ROW) acquisitions.
As of July, the construction progress of the 147-kilometer railway linking Clark to Calamba has reached 32.4 percent.
Pre-operations of NSCR are scheduled to begin in 2026, with full operations targeted for January 2032.
The DOTr is set to initiate the bidding process for NSCR’s operations and maintenance (O&M) contract this month, with the project expected to be turned over to the private sector by mid-2026.
In a related development, the DOTr has deployed the third tunnel boring machine for the Metro Manila Subway Project (MMSP) to excavate the area between the future stations of Camp Aguinaldo and Anonas.
Lopez said the new machine will expedite the construction of the MMSP, with partial operations of at least two stations set for 2028.
Another tunnel boring machine is already being assembled and is set to be deployed in Camp Aguinaldo. The entire 33-kilometer underground railway now has eight machines for excavation purposes.
Spanning 17 stations, the MMSP will run from Valenzuela City to Paranaque City, with a spur line at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3.