PNR, China to set up training schools for Bicol railway project

LEGAZPI CITY, Albay - The Philippine National Railway (PNR) and the Chinese government will establish training schools in Bicol for track workers in preparation for the South Long Haul project that will start in the fourth quarter of this year.

PNR general manager Junn Magno said that two training schools will be put up in Albay and in Naga in Camarines Sur.

"Nung nasa forum po kami two weeks ago, isa sa mga pinag-usapan namin, kundisyon ni Secretary Tugade is yung experts lang ng rail, ay yun lang ang dadalhin dito. Pag nagtrabaho sila dito, unang una, magbabayad sila ng income tax. Pangalawa, gusto namin hundred percent skilled labor na kukunin nila dito sa Pilipinas. Ang number one na tanong ng Chinese side, kung meron bang track workers na libu-libo na kakailanganin sa proyekto. So ang sabi nila, magtayo kami ng training schools," Magno told Manila Bulletin.

Magno was in this city Monday as part of the PNR study in putting up the training schools for rail track workers.

"Ang gagawin po natin, iti-train po natin yung mga kababayan natin kung papano maging track workers na in demand din sa ibang bansa. Target po natin dito na mai-train yung mga displaced farmers, fishermen at iba pa due to climate change," he said.

According to Magno, thousands of skilled workers will be needed for the Bicol railway project.

The project’s design and planning phase has started and the actual construction will start this Octobe, he said.

The railway will be partial operational by the third quarter of 2021.

"Subukan po naming i-operate yung 3 hours design speed pag namiximize po natin yung summer," he added.

The P175-billion project will connect Metro Manila to Matnog, Sorsogon. It will cut travel time by five hours.

The railway will have nine major stations—Manila, Los Baños, Batangas City, Lucena, Gumaca, Naga City, Legazpi City, Sorsogon City, and Matnog.