CROWN ASIA RIDES ON INFRA PLAY
Crown Asia Chemicals Corp. has disclosed deals to supply premium pipes to major railway projects, namely the North-South Commuter Railway Phase 1 (NSCR) and Metro Rail Transit (MRT) 7.
NSCR is a P149-billion flagship infrastructure project that will run from the New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac, to Calamba, Laguna, through two stretches, namely: Philippine National Railway (PNR) Calamba, which runs from Tondo, Manila, to Laguna; and PNR Clark, under which phase 1 will run from Tutuban to Malolos.
NSCR, which will connect northern and southern parts of Central Luzon, is touted to be the country’s first Airport Railway Express System that will cut travel between Makati and Clark International Airport down to less than an hour.
The railway is expected to be partially operational in 2022 with daily movement of about 340,000 riders. This is projected to increase to around 550,000 passengers daily once fully operational in 2028.
MRT 7, with a budget of P75 billion, will be a 22.8-kilometer railway when completed with 14 destination points from Quezon Memorial Circle passing through Commonwealth, Fairview, Novaliches up to San Jose del Monte, Bulacan. It is expected to cut travel time from North Triangle Quezon City to San Jose del Monte Bulacan down to 35 minutes from the two to three hours at present.
Connectivity of rail infrastructures is expected to boost economic progress through efficient movements of goods, services and population, while reducing fuel costs and significantly cutting down unproductive time when stuck in monstrous traffic.
Growth catalysts
These projects are seen to increase business revenues and individual incomes in the covered regions, improve supply chain, lower costs through economies of scale as well as generate higher revenues and savings for the government.
“As moving people and goods are vital to economic growth, Crown Pipes are being supplied likewise to the Wawa Bulk Water Supply Project,” the company said, referring to a flagship water supply project intended to address the wational ter crisis in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.
This project intends to augment water supply from Angat Dam and add 500 million liters per day of bulk water by year 2025. This is seen to mitigate the declining water supply from Angat Dam in order to meet increasing demand and avoid water interruptions for the growing population.
“Through the years, Crown has been the preferred choice for roads, expressways and transit projects including the ongoing Skyway 3 and the NLEx (North Luzon Expressway)-SLEx (South Luzon Expressway) Connector Road, which involves the construction of 8-km four-lane elevated expressway which cruises over the PNR right of way,” the company said.