The Philippines and China are set to sign the PHP 175 billion Philippine National Railways (PNR) South Railways project, a 639 km standard gauge railway line between Manila and Bicol. The project, a component of the PNR Luzon System programme, is among the big-ticket infrastructure projects to be funded under an ODA agreement. Once completed, the project will enhance the connectivity between major airports and seaports in southern Tagalog and the Bicol regions. The PNR South Railway segment is expected to cut the Manila-Legazpi travel time down to less than five hours. Its construction is set to begin in the second quarter of 2019 and will be partially operational by the second quarter of 2022. The project forms part of the Build, Build, Build infrastructure programme of the government.
