Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade reiterated that job opportunities are available for locals as the construction of the Philippine National Railways’ Lucena station is underway, which expected to provide 3,749 direct jobs and 25,000 indirect jobs.
LUCENA CITY, Quezon – Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said the planned rehabilitation of the Philippine National Railways (PNR) will generate more employment for Quezonins.
Tugade made the statement during his recent inspection of the PNR Lucena station, one of the 35 stations to be rehabilitated under the P151-billion PNR Bicol project of the DOTr.
Tugade reiterated that job opportunities are available for locals as the construction of the Lucena station is underway, which expected to provide 3,749 direct jobs and 25,000 indirect jobs.
“Ang instruksyon ko sa kanila, kung meron proyekto na gaganapin sa isang lugar, kailangan na ‘yung labor workers na gagamitin diyan sa proyekto na ‘yan, at least 60 percent manggagaling sa lugar kung saan nandodoon ‘yung proyekto,” the secretary added.
The DOTr is hoping the San Pablo, Candelaria, Lucena and Pagbilao stations of PNR Bicol will be partly operational before President Rodrigo Duterte's term ends in 2022.
“Noon ‘ho, ‘pag nagkaroon ng proyekto, hindi mae-experience at mae-enjoy ng tao at sambayanan ang proyekto, kung hindi matatapos sa panimula at pagtatapos. Ang sabi natin, hindi ko aantayin na matapos ‘yung buong proyekto na maramdaman at ma-enjoy ng sambayanan ang proyekto,” Tugade stated.
“Kaya nga ba’t kung sinasabi namin kung matatapos ng 2025 ang buong proyekto na tinatawag na Bicol Express, dapat at dapat lang, na kung matatapos sa Abril 2022 ‘yung bahagi dito sa Quezon, dapat lang ‘yung mga taga Quezon, ‘yung mga biyahero, at sambayanan, ay ma-enjoy at ma-experience,” he added.
Once operational, the 14 to 18 hours of travel time from Metro Manila to Bicol will be reduced to six hours by regular trains and 4.5 hours by express train.
Tugade assured no road intersection will be delayed by the project.
“Ang vision niya Sec. Tugade, kagaya ng nabanggit, kaya po ako’y natutuwa, once na ang ating PNR ay maging operational on the 2nd quarter next year, napakalaking development nito para po sa lungsod ng Lucena,” Lucena City Mayor Roderick Alcala said.
Tags: #OpinYonQuezon, #LucenaCity, #DepartmentOfTransportation, #ArthurTugade, #PhilippineNationalRailways, #PNRBicol