Source: PDI
MANILA, Philippines—The expansion of the Philippine National Railways’ (PNR) capacity is now in question following likely delays in the delivery of trains donated from Japan, which is still reeling from the recent earthquake and tsunami that killed thousands of people and caused billions of dollars in damage.
But PNR general manager Junio Ragragio said the restoration of the commuter train service to Bicol province would push through as scheduled.
Japan East Railway Co. (JReast) earlier agreed to donate some 50 trains, which it would have otherwise discarded as junk, to the PNR. While the trains were already obsolete for Japan’s standards, these could still be used in the Philippines to meet its needs.
The government has approved the disbursement of around P250 million to cover the shipping costs of the donated trains from Japan to Manila.
“It is very understandable. PNR has immediately expressed its deep concern to its friends at JReast for the events in Japan particularly since the earthquake and tsunami impacted the northeast area, which is a major area of its train operations,” Ragragio said.
He said he had contacted JReast officials, who apologized for the likely delay in the delivery of the donated trains.
“In the face of such magnanimity under the most stressful circumstances, PNR management could only humbly say that JReast must not worry about its donations,” Ragragio said.
He said JReast should instead “focus all its efforts at coping with the terrible tragedy and devastation in the Sendai area.”
JReast, one of the three train operators in Japan, serves the country’s eastern coast, which is the area worst-hit by the tsunami caused by the recent 9.0-magnitude earthquake.
For now, Ragragio said the PNR would focus on the restoration of the train service to Bicol using 10 refurbished sleeper trains that were also donated by Japan.
The PNR has said it plans to spend P1.5 billion for the rehabilitation of train tracks to Bicol to facilitate the faster movement of goods into Manila from key provinces in southern Luzon.
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MANILA, Philippines—The expansion of the Philippine National Railways’ (PNR) capacity is now in question following likely delays in the delivery of trains donated from Japan, which is still reeling from the recent earthquake and tsunami that killed thousands of people and caused billions of dollars in damage.
But PNR general manager Junio Ragragio said the restoration of the commuter train service to Bicol province would push through as scheduled.
Japan East Railway Co. (JReast) earlier agreed to donate some 50 trains, which it would have otherwise discarded as junk, to the PNR. While the trains were already obsolete for Japan’s standards, these could still be used in the Philippines to meet its needs.
The government has approved the disbursement of around P250 million to cover the shipping costs of the donated trains from Japan to Manila.
“It is very understandable. PNR has immediately expressed its deep concern to its friends at JReast for the events in Japan particularly since the earthquake and tsunami impacted the northeast area, which is a major area of its train operations,” Ragragio said.
He said he had contacted JReast officials, who apologized for the likely delay in the delivery of the donated trains.
“In the face of such magnanimity under the most stressful circumstances, PNR management could only humbly say that JReast must not worry about its donations,” Ragragio said.
He said JReast should instead “focus all its efforts at coping with the terrible tragedy and devastation in the Sendai area.”
JReast, one of the three train operators in Japan, serves the country’s eastern coast, which is the area worst-hit by the tsunami caused by the recent 9.0-magnitude earthquake.
For now, Ragragio said the PNR would focus on the restoration of the train service to Bicol using 10 refurbished sleeper trains that were also donated by Japan.
The PNR has said it plans to spend P1.5 billion for the rehabilitation of train tracks to Bicol to facilitate the faster movement of goods into Manila from key provinces in southern Luzon.
