Manila: More than 31,000 jobs in the Philippines have so far been created by two of the Department of Transportation's (DOTr) major projects - the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) and the Metro Manila Subway Project (MMSP).
According to Philippines News Agency, acting DOTr Secretary Giovanni Lopez stated that foreign project contractors associated with these significant projects are encouraged to hire Filipinos, aligning with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s directive to provide more local job opportunities. The project management offices and consultant companies are employing Filipino engineers, architects, and other employees. Additionally, local workers are being hired by contractors and subcontractors to work on construction sites.
Lopez emphasized the importance of prioritizing Filipino workers, especially local laborers, in these projects. He noted the competence, talent, and skills of the local workforce, urging foreign project contractors to consider them for employment.
Currently, the partnership between DOTr and foreign project contractors has resulted in 10,122 Filipinos working on the MMSP, while 21,031 Filipino workers are engaged in the NSCR project. Lopez highlighted the capability of Filipino workers and the job opportunities such large-scale projects should generate.
The NSCR, once operational, will feature 35 stations spanning 147 kilometers, reducing travel time between Clark, Pampanga, and Calamba, Laguna to two hours from the current four. The railway is expected to serve around 800,000 passengers daily. Meanwhile, the 17-station, 33-kilometer MMSP will connect Valenzuela City to Para±aque City, ending at Bicutan Station in Taguig City with a spur line at NAIA Terminal 3 in Pasay City. The subway aims to decrease travel time to 45 minutes from one hour and 38 minutes, with an anticipated daily ridership of approximately 519,000 passengers once fully operational in 2032.
