THE GOVERNMENT signed a P483.5-million contract for the purchase of two train sets for the Philippine National Railways (PNR) from Indonesian state-owned company PT Industri Kereta Api (PT INKA).
In a statement, the Department of Transportation (DoTr) said PNR General Manager Junn B. Magno and PT INKA President/Director Budi Noviantoro signed the agreement at the Indonesian Embassy in Makati City on Monday.
The Diesel Electric Multiple Unit (DMU) trains are expected to be delivered within the third quarter of 2019 for commissioning and testing.
The DMU project is funded from the 2015 DOTr General Appropriations Act (GAA) funds which was given to PNR.
The DoTr said the PNR has 21 train sets, and is running with six active sets. The PNR should have 10 sets by the first week of February.
PT INKA was established in 1981 and is an integrated rolling stock manufacturer.
Earlier this month, the DoTr broke ground Friday for Phase 1 of the government’s PNR line linking Metro Manila to Clark Field, with this first segment running from Tutuban station in Manila to Malolos City in Bulacan.
Last year, the DoTr and the PNR signed an agreement with housing agencies to resettle 100,000 families who will be affected by the North-South Railway Project. — Patrizia Paola C. Marcelo
