Filipino First: JV Ejercito says PH can build its own railway industry
August 27, 2024
Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito on
Saturday said the Philippines is capable of building its own railway industry.
In an interview with Senator Francis
Tolentino, Science and Technology Secretary Renato Solidum Jr., and Transport
Undersecretary for Railways Cesar Chavez, Ejercito said the Department of
Science and Technology (DOST) can lead efforts to launch the country’s railway
industry.
“Ako ay naniniwala na kayang kaya po natin
dito ‘yon. Diyan sa DOST compound, mayroon kayong monorail na umiikot diyan.
So, palagay ko, baka magandang by now, dahil sinabi na ni President BBM na ang
infrastructure at railway ay kanyang priority, kailangan talagang isama niyo na
sa programa ninyo ang development ng ating railway industry,” he said.
Solidum said the country’s engineers have
already produced its own railway technologies, such as the Automated Guideway
Transit System (AGTS) and Hybrid Electric Train (HET).
The DOST’s AGTS prototypes can be found at the
University of the Philippines Diliman and the agency’s compound in Taguig.
Meanwhile, its HET prototype was turned over
to the Philippine National Railways in 2019 and is currently located in Laguna.
“Yung teknolohiya ay available. At kung
titignan natin yung economic development ng bawat bansa, kung gusto nating
mapababa ang transport cost at magkaroon tayo ng industriya na magpapalago ang
railway industry plus steel industry, ay dapat magkaroon po tayo ng local
strategic plan for rail systems na gagamitin ang teknolohiya na ginawa ng ating
mga inhinyero,” he said.
“Ready na po ‘yan. Kailangan lang po natin
mag-invest, na maimbita ang private sector, at maging strategic na plano ito ng
gobyerno,” he added.
Solidum said developing the country’s railway
and steel industries can reduce transport costs and generate jobs.
He added that the national government needs to
formulate a long-term strategic plan and secure key investments for such an
initiative to prosper.
In July, Ejercito filed Senate Bill No. 158,
which seeks to create and institutionalize a comprehensive infrastructure
development master plan.
The plan would cover several areas of
priority, such as transportation and logistics, energy, water resources,
information and communications technology, social infrastructure,
agri-fisheries modernization and food logistics, and asset preservation and maintenance
strategies.
