MANILA, Philippines – Nagpaabot ng financial grant ang pamahalaan ng Sweden para sa pag-aaral ng planong Subic-Clark-Manila-Batangas (SCMB) Freight Railway project.
Sa kalatas nitong Martes, Oktubre 21, sinabi ng Office of the Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs (OSAPIEA) na ang Sweden, sa pamamagitan ng development finance institution nitong Swedfund International, Swedfund International ay pumirma ng grant agreement kasama ang Department of Transportation (DOTr).
Ang grant ay nagkakahalaga ng Swedish krona (SEK) 12 million o nasa $1.3 milyon o P76 milyon na popondo sa feasibility study sa signaling system at operational models para sa SCMB Railway.
Itinuturing na key infrastructure project ang naturang railway project sa ilalim ng Luzon Economic Corridor initiative, isang partnership kasama ang Estados Unidos at Japan na inanunsyo sa Trilateral Leaders’ Summit sa Washington DC noong Abril 2024.
Ikokonekta ng SCBM, isang 250-kilometer railway, ang Port of Subic, Clark International Airport, Port of Manila, at Port of Batangas na hahawak sa 80% ng Philippine port traffic.
“This partnership between the Philippines and Sweden advances the President’s vision of developing globally competitive logistics infrastructure that will drive investment and inclusive growth,” ayon kay SAPIEA Frederick Go.
Ipinresenta ni OSAPIEA Go ang pirmadong grant agreement sa Malakanyang.
Kasama ni Go ang Ministry of Foreign Affairs Department Head for Asia, Pacific and Latin America Daniel Wolvén, Swedish Ambassador to the Philippines Anna Ferry, Trade Commissioner to the Philippines Johan Lennefalk, mula sa Sweden, at sina DOTr officials Acting Secretary Giovanni Lopez, kasama ang representative mula sa Department of Finance at Department of Foreign Affairs sa hanay ng Pilipinas.
“This additional agreement with the Department of Transportation is a remarkable example of synergies and cooperation between public and private efforts. We are proud to support the Philippines’ development goals with Swedish technology and expertise in transportation and provide a boost for sustainable growth and opportunities,” ani Ferry.
Iginiit din ni Lopez ang kahalagahan ng suporta ng Sweden para sa isasakatuparan ng SCMB Railway Project.
“On behalf of the Department of Transportation, we express our gratitude to the Swedish government for this valuable assistance to the Subic–Clark–Manila–Batangas Freight Railway Project,” ani Lopez.
“This project will strengthen the country’s logistics and supply chain by providing a dedicated freight transport system connecting major ports with industrial and economic zones. Once realized, it will reduce logistics costs, improve trade efficiency, and advance the administration’s goal of building a more competitive and connected economy,” dagdag pa niya.
Ang Swedish grant ay susuporta sa pondo mula sa US Trade and Development Agency na nagkakahalaga ng P3.8 milyon para sa parallel studies sa transport modeling, port–rail integration, at institutional planning.
Layong pagdugtungin ng SCMB Railway ang major ports sa Luzon at mabawasan ang traffic sa Port of Manila. RNT/JGC
