MANILA, Philippines – Here is some good news – or some sort of a Christmas gift – to all commuters.

Starting Monday, 16 December 2019, there will be an additional two spanking brand new train coaches that will ply the Malabon and FTI route with each coach perceived to accommodate at least 250 passengers per trip.

The two brand new train units were unveiled Wednesday by the Philippine National Railways (PNR).

These are diesel multiple unit (DMU) trains procured from Indonesian firm PT. Industri Kereta Api (Persero) “PT INKA.”

Each with three coaches, the train units were acquired at P485.31 million and will be fully operational by December 16 said Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, who led the arrival and unveiling ceremony at South Harbor, Manila.

“When we assumed, the administration of President Duterte, there were only 17 routes. As we speak today, there are already 36 operating routes, and that is performance indeed,” said Tugade adding that the government intends to add more trains by next year.

“By January next year, we are expecting to have a total of 40 operating coaches,” Tugade said referring to the expected arrival of the second batch of INKA DMU train, 4 sets with 4 coaches each.

“Ito mas reliable. Trains namin ngayon can just go 6 trips dahil nga maintenance issues. Ito, we’re slating this for between 8-10 trips per day at 800 [passengers] per set. That’s another 8,000 [passengers] per day capacity we’re putting per train, so we’re introducing 16,000 [passengers] per day,” PNR general manager Junn Magno explained.

Th PNR GM also said safeguards are in place to ensure that the trains are reliable for the comfort of communters.

“Isa sa safeguards namin dito sinegurado namin may standards kaming finafollow… puro international railway standards nilagay namin doon sa TOR (terms of reference),” Magno said.

And the best part of it he said is that the PNR is not seeking a fare hike just yet.

Indonesian Ambassador to the Philippines, Dr. Sinyo Harry Sarundajang, who pledged support for the Philippines’ infrastructure thrust, also graced the ceremony.

The government has allotted P3.5-billion from the 2018 budget for more PNR trains.

“For the first time after 14 years, ngayon lang po nakabili ang Pilipinas, through General Appropriations Act… We, the members of Congress, the House of Representatives, support the Executive in bringing back the glory of transportation in the Philippines,” said House Transportation Committee chairman Rep. Edgar Mary Sarmiento.

The transportation department’s other railway projects include a railway system connecting Calamba, Laguna to Legazpi, Albay; and construction of the Malolos terminal station, and Manila subway.

The Bicol railway system will have partially operate in 2021. The Malolos terminal station is also expected to be operational before Pres. Duterte steps down in 2022, while construction of the Manila subway will begin this month. (IAMIGO/CNS)