some good news for our peeps living up in the northern side of luzon

PNoy to pitch North Rail renegotiation with China
18-Aug-11, 11:43 AM | Lira Dalangin-Fernandez, InterAksyon.com

MANILA, Philippines -- President Benigno Aquino III will make a pitch for the renegotiation of the North Rail project before the Chinese government when he visits the country starting August 30.

Secretary Manuel "Mar" Roxas II of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) bared this Thursday when asked during the committee deliberations of his department's budget in the House of Representatives.

Roxas said that the North Rail issue is one of the matters to be discussed between the two countries as well as other development rights.

"We are seeking for amendments to the existing agreement such that problems can be addressed satisfactorily," he told the panel.

"We want to have an operational working rail that would link to the north rail, for instance, Clark," he added.

Aquino's state visit, which covers Beijing, Shanghai, and Xiamen, has been tentatively scheduled on August 30 to September 3.

Roxas will join the delegation.

The 80-kilometer railroad, a flagship program of the Arroyo administration, will link the northern flank of Metro Manila with the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport at the Clark free port in Pampanga.

From an original budget of $421 million, the North Rail project cost has now gone up to $621 million.

The DOTC earlier suspended the contract for the NorthRail project with
Sinomach (formerly China National Machinery and Equipment Corporation) due to slow progess and cost overruns.
PNoy to pitch North Rail renegotiation with China - Interaksyon.com