By Vhioly Rosatazo
BULACAN — Senator Joel Villanueva welcomed President Marcos’ report on the progress of the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) and MRT-7, saying the two rail lines will be transformative for a province that has long depended on congested highways to reach Metro Manila.
“From then until now, time has been measured by the journey our fellow Bulakenyos take to Metro Manila to work, study, or do business. We experienced this when we were students, and we still experience it today while serving in government,” said Villanueva, a native of Bocaue, Bulacan. “These modern train lines will greatly benefit our countrymen in Bulacan because they will significantly shorten travel time.”
Villanueva noted that faster, more reliable transportation tends to attract private investment and create jobs along the rail corridor, from retail and logistics hubs near stations to businesses that might otherwise hesitate to invest without predictable travel times to Manila.
But the more immediate benefit, he said, is time. For the ordinary commuter, a shorter trip to work or school means hours regained for family, rest, or even a second source of income instead of being lost to traffic every day.
“A working railway isn’t just about getting home faster. It’s what convinces a business to build a warehouse, a call center, or a housing project along that line instead of somewhere else,” Villanueva said. “We can see that these projects will be key to strengthening and growing the economy of our province.”
In his State of the Nation Address on Monday, President Marcos said NSCR trains are expected to begin operating between Valenzuela and Malolos next year, with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) targeting completion of the line up to Clark before the end of the administration.
The President also announced that 12 MRT-7 stations will open next year, eventually extending service to San Jose del Monte, Bulacan. He said the two projects combined are expected to serve close to one million passengers daily.
Villanueva, a co-author of the Accelerated and Reformed Right-of-Way (ARROW) Act, said the law has been instrumental in addressing the right-of-way acquisition delays that stalled both projects for years.
“In the matter of right-of-way, previous proposals were derailed, but we have removed that obstacle through the ARROW Act. Under the law, the DOTr, PNR, and private proponents have been given sufficient authority and a clearer process for acquiring the necessary right-of-way,” Villanueva said. “We can say that the reform we pushed in Congress has already borne fruit.”
Villanueva said he looks forward to working with the DOTr, local government units in Bulacan, and his colleagues in Congress to keep both projects moving toward completion.
“Our fellow countrymen in Bulacan have long awaited the revival of the railway line that will bring new vitality to the economy of our province. Our government agencies can count on our support to ensure the continued implementation of these important projects in our beloved province,” Villanueva said.
