Manila: The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is expediting efforts to finalize 16,575 housing units for families displaced by the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) System by the end of 2026. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has instructed the DOTr to ensure the timely availability of these homes to accommodate affected families in line with the NSCR's operational timeline.
According to Philippines News Agency, Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez emphasized the collaboration between the DOTr and other relevant agencies to hasten the housing project for the affected families. Lopez highlighted the President's directive to prioritize the swift completion of these housing units, ensuring immediate relocation opportunities for those impacted by the NSCR project.
In the southern segment of the NSCR, the DOTr is collaborating with the Social Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC) to establish housing developments in Laguna, specifically in San Pedro, Bi±an, Santa Rosa, Calamba, and Naic, Cavite. These developments include Sining Residence II with 1,920 units, Sining Residence I with 528 units, The Meadows with 2,030 units, Rizal Ville with 2,130 units, and a project in Naic, Cavite with 5,452 units.
In the northern segment, the DOTr is partnering with the National Housing Authority to provide relocation solutions for 4,515 informal settler families in Pampanga and Bulacan. These families will be relocated to Angeles City, City of San Fernando, and Calumpit in Bulacan.
Transportation Assistant Secretary for Right of Way and Site Acquisition IC Calaguas, along with SHFC Engineer Renalyn Nacpil, have been conducting site inspections to ensure the projects' timely completion.
The 147-kilometer NSCR System is set to run from Clark International Airport (CRK) in Pampanga to Calamba in Laguna, significantly reducing travel time from CRK to Calamba to less than 2.5 hours, compared to the current four-hour land travel duration. The rail system will feature the country's first Airport Express Service, connecting CRK to Makati in under an hour and CRK to Alabang in less than one hour and 15 minutes. Additionally, it will introduce the country's first Through Train Interoperations with the Metro Manila Subway.
The 35-station rail network is projected to create 350,000 jobs during its construction and operational phases, ultimately serving nearly 1 million passengers daily at full capacity.
