Group asks Senate, LGUs help on Subic-Clark railway issues

ANGELES CITY – The Pinoy Gumising Ka Movement (PGKM) has sought the help of local government units of Porac town and Angeles City in a bid to resolve the several issues regarding the alignment of the Subic-Clark Railway Project (SCRP).

Aside from the LGUs, PGKM leader Ruperto Cruz said they will also ask the intercession of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee to resolve the issues.

Cruz said earlier that hundreds of Kapampangan businessmen, farmers and residents will be affected by the proposed project.

The group recently sent letters to Angeles Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin, Jr. and Porac Mayor Jing Capil.

PGKM is calling for an immediate public consultation on the SCRP alignment citing concerns on the socio-economic dislocation and devastation of the vast agricultural areas as well as the built-up commercial and housing developments that the railway will hit in this city and Clark Freeport.

“We write to you to seek your assistance in raising to the proper agencies our grave concerns over the SubicClark Railway Project which poses a clear and present danger to the socio-economic development of areas along the Subic-Clark corridor, our beloved city included, as well as its environmental impact therein,” stated the PGKM.

In a separate letter to Senator Richard Gordon, head of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, the PGKM reiterated its opposition to the SCRP alignment echoing the Save Subic Mangrove Coalition on the environmental impact of the project that is threatening protected areas inside the Subic Freeport.

Some 42 hectares of mangroves in the Subic freeport, classified as protected areas, will be affected by the project’s train depot “that your honor yourself nurtured as its very first chairman. “

Cruz said farmers, landowners, housing developers, and business groups had coordinated with their group to organize a coalition to oppose the SCRP alignment .

“We add our voices in opposition to the environmental degradation the SCRP will cause, whether by tunneling

MAGALANG --- An 88-year old man residing in this municipality.has recently died from COVID-19, the local government disclosed in its July 29, 2021 bulletin.

The Municipal Health Office (MHO) said the latest fatality is from Barangay Santo Rosario.

The MHO at the same time confirmed that four patients recently recovered from the virus.

The total number of active COVID-19 cases in the town reached 45 as of July 29.

Among the nine new cases the local health unit recorded is a 83-year old man from Barangay San I si dr o.

The local government is appealing to the public to always follow the minimum health standard set by the DOH to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Some 347 families are currently housed in 30 evacuation centers in six local government units. The flooding had affected some 48, 768 families or 211, 359 individuals all over Pampanga.