PNR

Joey Sarasola, a former PNR general manager, sent me further clarification on the role of Japanese assistance to PNR during his watch.

We have received periodic donations of second hand coaches from the East Japan Railway Company, since 2000. During my time I was able to obtain a donation of 20 coaches from them and we only paid the Ocean Freight and other ancillary expenses for delivery up to Tutuban. The air conditioning systems of these coaches worked perfectly.

While the seating configuration of these were actually intended for use on long distance trips, we actually utilized them for both our Bicol runs to Naga and Legaspi City as well as to augment our super obsolete and dwindling fleet of commuter cars in the Metro Manila service from Tutuban to Calamba. As a result we were able to increase quite a bit our ridership for both services.

Ultimately lack of funding support unfortunately prevented us from sustaining a contiguous maintenance program. Consequently after my time and at the present there were other donations of the same type of rolling stock from the same Japanese Company and only the freight and ancillary charges were paid by the PNR.

The ODA type funding tapped by PNR during my watch is a $50.42-million loan secured from the Export-Import Bank of Korea. This was utilized to purchase 18 units of Diesel Multiple Units of commuter cars similar to he LRT and MRT coaches.

Also funded by the Korean loan are: rehabilitation of PNR stations from Caloocan to Alabang; repair of major and minor bridges along the same section including the critical railway bridge across the Pasig River; provision of level crossing protective barrier devices and repair and rehabilitation of the tracks along the section. –Boo Chanco (The Philippine Star)