Duterte’s trip to Japan hopes to set PH railway modernization to motion

High hopes are pinned on Japan to help modernize the Philippine railway system as President Duterte sits down with top Japanese officials during his visit there this weekend, Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito said.

Joining the Philippine delegation to Japan, Ejercito said one of the aims of Duterte’s visit to Japan is securing financial and technical assistance for the modernization of the railway and subway system in the Philippines, particularly in Metro Manila.

“Let us hope for the best. I am more confident if Japan will do it (railway modernization),” said Ejercito, who is the vice chairman of the Senate Public Service Committee.

Earlier, Ejercito told The Manila Bulletin that the railway program of the Duterte administration “is a go” since one half of the R51 billion right of way (ROW) expenditure under the proposed 2018 R3.76 trillion national budget would be for the railway system.

Ironically, Congress is taking its time in acting on the proposed emergency powers to be given to the President as a tool in accelerating its bold infrastructure program.

Ejercito conceded that the Philippines is “decades” behind developed countries in developing its mass transit program.

Having been invited by Duterte to join the Japan trip, the senator said he has high hopes that a bilateral agreement would be signed for the improvement and modernization of Philippine railway system.

He said it would be of “historic importance” and an answer to the traffic crisis in Metro Manila.