Japan to fund $2.4b railway in Philippines

AFP,MANILA: Japan yesterday  announced it is pouring a massive $2.4 billion into a new railway in the Philippines aimed at easing Manila’s notorious gridlock. Japan, the Philippines’ top trading partner and source of aid, said the 38-kilometre (24-mile) elevated commuter line would connect Manila to nearby Bulacan province to decongest the capital and help spur economic activity. “This is one of the biggest projects Japan has ever embarked upon using the yen loan,” Masato Ohtaka, deputy press secretary for Japan’s foreign ministry, told reporters in Manila. “Railways are one of our fortes ... We sympathise with the Filipinos that this is a project that needs to be done very, very quickly.” Ohtaka said Japan was also open to building a railway in the southern region of Mindanao, a project Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte had previously said China offered to fund.

Japan to fund $2.4b railway in Philippines

AFP,MANILA: Japan yesterday announced it is pouring a massive $2.4 billion into a new railway in the Philippines aimed at easing Manilas notorious gridlock. Japan, the Philippines top trading partner and source of aid, said the 38-kilometre (24-mile) elevated commuter line would connect Manila to nearby Bulacan province to decongest the capital and help spur economic activity. This is one of the biggest projects Japan has ever embarked upon using the yen loan, Masato Ohtaka, deputy press secretary for Japans foreign ministry, told reporters in Manila. Railways are one of our fortes ... We sympathise with the Filipinos that this is a project that needs to be done very, very quickly. Ohtaka said Japan was also open to building a railway in the southern region of Mindanao, a project Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte had previously said China offered to fund.