LRT HISTORY

From 1976 to 1977, a fourteen-month study funded by the World Bank was conducted by Freeman Fox and Associates, and this suggested a street-level light railway. The then newly created Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) reviewed and revised the recommendations, introducing an elevated version because of the many intersections. This raised the cost from P1.5 billion to P2 billion. Another foreign firm was commissioned by MOTC for supplementary study which was completed within three months. On July 12, 1980, the country's president, Ferdinand E. Marcos, created the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) as a government agency. The Chairman was the then First Lady and Governor of Metro Manila, Imelda Romualdez Marcos. This LRTA confined its activities to determining policies, to the regulation and fixing of fares, and to the planning of extensions to the system. The project was called Metrorail and was operated by a sister company of the former tramway company Meralco, called Metro, Inc Construction of the line started in October 1981, and was the responsibility of CDCP (Construction and Development Corporation of the Philippines), with assistance from the Swiss firm of Losinger and the American company Dravo, the latter, through its Philippine subsidiary. The government appointed Electrowatt Engineering Services of Zurich (Switzerland) to manage and supervise the project. Electrowatt set up offices in Manila and became responsible for extension studies of the system which eventually comprised 150 km of routes along all major corridors in about 20 years time.

MRT HISTORY
Opened in 1999, the MRT-3 is operated by the Metro Rail Transit Corporation (MRTC), a private company operating in partnership with the Department of Transportation and Communications(DOTC) under a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) agreement. Although it has characteristics of light rail, such as the type ofrolling stock used, it is more akin to a rapid transit system. On December 15, 1999, the initial section, from North Avenue to Buendia, opened, followed on July 20, 2000 by the remainder, from Buendia to Taft Avenue. By 2004 MRT-3 had the highest ridership of the three lines, with 400,000 passengers daily. Mrt General Manager: Reynaldo Berroya

PNR HISTORY
June 25, 1875 - King ALFONSO XII of Spain promulgates the Royal Decree directing

the Office of the Inspector of Public Works of the Philippines to submit a general plan of railroad in Luzon

February 5, 1876 - Don Eduardo Lopez Navarro of Public Works submits his MemoriaSobre el Plan General de Ferro-Carilles en Isla de Luzon, a very comprehensive and detailed study of railroad exploitation November 1, 1883 the study of the first railroad project between Manila and Dagupandone by Antonio delaCamara isappoved January 1, 1887 Royal Decree grants Mr. Edmund Syker the concession to the original plan as approved July 8, 1887 the concession is transferred to Don Carlos E. Bertodano representing the Manila Railroad Company (MRRCo) July 31, 1887 construction of the Manila-Dagupan railroad is started March 24, 1891 the first section of the railroad from Manila to Bagbag (about 45 kms) is completed and put to commercial operations November 24, 1892 the entire line from Manila to Dagupan, with a total length of 195.4 kms, is completed and put into commercial operations November 1896 the Philippine revolution against the Spanish Government breaks out, interrupting railroad traffic at various points August 13, 1898 the railway operations is resumed only to be interrupted again one year after when the Philippine-American War breaks out April 20, 1900 the US military authorities returned the railroad to its owner July 1, 1902 the US Congress authorizes the Philippine Government to grant franchise and concession for the construction of public utilities and services December 8, 1902 the first Railroad Legislation Act (Philippine Commission Act No. 554) is passed granting the MRRCo the right to construct branch lines July 7, 1906 Philippine Commission Act No. 1510 is enacted giving the concession of the railway to Speyer and Co. with Mr. Horace Higgins as General Manager February 4,1916 By authority of Philippine Legislature Act No. 2574, former Governor General Harrison negotiates the acquisition of the MRRCo by the Philippine Government

January 1917 the acquisition of the MRRCoby the Philippine Government is consummated and the final transfer of ownership effected January 31, 1938 the first Bicol train is put into operation May 8, 1938 the unified system of railroad from San Fernando, La Union in the North to Legazpi in the South is formally inaugurated 1942 1945 the railway comes under the control of the Imperial Japanese Army February 1, 1946 the US Army restores the control of the railway to the Commonwealth Government 1954 1956 Dieselization period of the railroad June 20, 1964 Republic Act No. 4156 is enacted. It changes the corporate name of MRRCo to Philippine National Railways (PNR) August 20, 1971 Republic Act No. 6366 is passed amending the PNR Charter January 26, 1973 PNR is placed under the Civil Service Commission by virtue of PD No. 110 July 3, 1975 PD 741 is issued, providing for the strengthening of the financial structure of the PNR and expanding its role and participation in the total economic and social development of the country July 23, 1979 by Executive Order No. 546, PNR becomes one of the attached agencies of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, now DOTC August 23, 1989 the Tutuban Station and part of the railroad yard is leased out for shopping mall development. PNR Management Center transfers to its Training Center site in Caloocan City and PNR Operations Center transfers to its railway station in Paco, Manila. February 2, 1992 PNR inaugurates its first modern maintenance workshop in Caloocan. The workshop can accommodate 88 diesel rail car units at any given time February 22, 1992 PNR acquires six (6) new DEL units from Japan thru the OECF loan June 1992 the rehabilitation of the Main Line South Project funded by the OECF of Japan starts

June 26, 1992 PNR acquires an additional ten (10) new DEL units from Japan thru the OECF loan February 21, 1994 President Fidel Ramos lays the cornerstone for the new Tutuban Terminal Building November 30, 1995 Super typhoon Rosing heavily damages the tracks and bridges between Lucena and Naga, suspending train operations. The line is restored after one year. September 28, 2006 Typhoon Milenyo damages San Cristobal Bridge and other PNR infrastructure in Quezon and Camarines Sur, resulting in the closure of line to long distance train operations November 30, 2006 Typhoon Reming further damages the railroad infrastructure, particularly Travesia Bridge in the Ligao-Guinobatan section, and most of the station buildings and communication facilities December 22, 2008 efforts start in the Reopening of the Bicol Line Project June 15, 2010 President Gloria Macapagal - Arroyo launches the opening of San Cristobal Bridge June 29, 2010 Train coming from Manila reaches Naga Station Pnr General Manager: Joseph Allan C. Dilay