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DOTr Files 105 Expropriation Cases to Speed Up NSCR Project
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has filed 105 expropriation cases to resolve right-of-way issues for the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) project, marking the largest number of such cases for a single project in the agency's history. This action aligns with President Marcos Jr.'s directive to expedite infrastructure development.
A total of 105 expropriation cases have been filed by the government to resolve right-of-way issues for the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) project, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said Friday. The cases were filed by the DOTr and the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG). The DOTr said the 105 cases represent the “largest number of expropriation cases filed for a single project in the history of the agency.” Expropriation refers to the process by which the state takes private property for public use, usually with compensation. The DOTr said the filing of the cases was in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to fast-track the construction and completion of the country’s major transport infrastructure projects. The Transportation Department said the cases were addressed during a three-day “Write Workshop on Expropriation Cases” held in Clark, Pampanga, where the two agencies jointly reviewed the status of each case, addressed legal bottlenecks, and mapped out steps to expedite their resolution. Through close coordination, the DOTr and OSG were able to speed up the endorsement and raffling process, ensuring that expropriation cases proceed without delays and that affected infrastructure projects remain on schedule. “We’re very thankful to the Office of the Solicitor General for this partnership,” Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez said. During his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, Marcos announced that operations of the Valenzuela-to-Malolos segment of the NSCR are expected to begin next year. The DOTr said it is continuously working to complete the railway line’s extension to Clark before the end of the President’s term in 2028. The NSCR is a 147-kilometer railway project with 35 stations that aims to connect Metro Manila to Pampanga and Laguna. It is expected to cut travel time across the region from four hours to just two hours and will be fully operational by 2032, serving more than 800,000 passengers daily. –VBL, GMA News
Original source
GMA News Philippines