China sidetracked as funding source for PNR Bicol

The government is taking another funding route for the Philippine National Railways South Long Haul, also called the PNR Bicol instead of China.

- LOUISE MAUREEN SIMEON

It is seeking the assistance of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) instead to pursue the long-delayed rail project.

During a hearing of the Congressional Oversight Committee on the official development assistance (ODA) yesterday, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said there has been a “slight holding back” in terms of Chinese loan for PNR Bicol.

NEDA Assistant Secretary Jonathan Uy said the PNR and the Department of Transportation (DOTr) were ordered to expedite the detailed engineering design for the project in order to move forward to the civil works and right-of way procurement stages.

“Right now, we at NEDA and DOF (Department of Finance) are informally discussing with the ADB whether they would be able to glide into the project in order to ensure continuing effort here,” Uy said.