LOOK: PH, Japan officials take part in ceremonial lowering of capsule, shoveling to start construction of PNR North-South Commuter Phase 1 (Tutuban-Malolos) pic.twitter.com/mJGVxKAn7s

— Bruce T. Rodriguez (@BruceTRodriguez) February 15, 2019

MANILA – Philippine transport officials and representatives of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on Friday led groundbreaking ceremonies for the first phase of the North-South Commuter Railway project, which will connect Central Luzon, Metro Manila and Calabarzon.

A total of P149 billion was allocated for phase 1 (Tutuban to Malolos) of the project, the Department of Transportation said.

Construction of the “most ambitious expansion" of the country's railway network will begin less than a month after the loan agreement between Philippines, Japan and partner Sumitomo Mitsui Construction Corp. was signed last Jan. 23, Transportation Undersecretary Timothy John Batan said during the ceremonies in Bulacan.

This was made possible by the strategy of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to clear right of way issues in advance, he said.

As of Feb. 15, 91 percent of the 38-kilometer project “is already free and clear” for the construction, he said.

"Today we start realizing a dream for decades and that is to provide Filipinos with a new way of life that would free millions from the oppression of traffic congestion and 4-hour commutes," Batan said.

Transportation Usec for Railways, Timothy John Batan gives a briefer on the railway project pic.twitter.com/El9VrtW9Sd

— Bruce T. Rodriguez (@BruceTRodriguez) February 15, 2019

The project is expected to be completed by 2021, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said.

The project solidifies “strong bilateral relations” between the Philippines and Japan, Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Koji Haneda said during the ground breaking ceremony.

Japan Ambassador to PH, Haneda Koji says this project solidifies strong bilateral relations of two countries pic.twitter.com/OrcGc9vgE6

— Bruce T. Rodriguez (@BruceTRodriguez) February 15, 2019

“Japan takes pride in our close partnership with the Philippines in keeping the Build, Build, Build program in motion and at the same time realizing an efficient transportation network that the Filipinos can rely on,” Haneda said.

Japan’s expertise in railway construction will revive the traditional railway in the Philippines while paving the way for the development of a “state-of-the-art railway system that is at par with global standards,” he said.

The project aims to connect all 26 towns and cities from Clark International Airport in Central Luzon to Calamba, Laguna in Southern Luzon, passing through a 147-kilometer “seamless” commuter railway system with 37 stations, a fleet of 58 8-car trains or a total of 464 train cars, Batan said.

The government's infrastructure spending is expected to rise as construction for big ticket projects under President Rodrigo Duterte's P8-trillion Build, Build, Build program continues.