The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has successfully concluded a critical Write Workshop on Expropriation Cases, securing the invaluable assistance and expertise of the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG). This collaborative effort is a direct response to the Presidential directive to fast-track all flagship infrastructure projects, particularly the multi-billion-peso North-South Commuter Railway Project (NSCR) and the Metro Manila Subway Project (MMSP), ensuring immediate benefits for millions of Filipino commuters.
The workshop, which concluded on Thursday, November 27, in Clark, Pampanga, focused on the mass drafting and strategic streamlining of legal pleadings required for land acquisition.
Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez highlighted the initiative’s urgency, stating that the mass drafting of expropriation pleadings is expected to significantly accelerate the right-of-way (ROW) and site-acquisition process for the two massive rail projects.
“We thank the OSG for working hand-in-hand with us to expedite the acquisition of right-of-way for these transformative projects,” Secretary Lopez said. “The President has ordered the expedited completion of these projects, and the DOTr will execute every necessary measure to follow our timeline and ensure our passengers benefit immediately from these modern rail lines.”
Led by DOTr Assistant Secretary for Right-of-Way and Site Acquisition IC Calaguas, the workshop successfully aimed to expedite the drafting of pleadings for 137 critical expropriation cases. The successful partnership directly addresses legal bottlenecks, positioning the DOTr to rapidly gain access to necessary sites.
According to Asec. Calaguas, the total amount of land acquisition in these cases is approximately ₱1.068 billion. This involves critical parcels of land totaling 40,488 square meters in the NSCR North segment, 25,194 square meters in the NSCR South segment, and 3,177 square meters essential for the Metro Manila Subway Project’s key stations and tunnels.
The efficient resolution of these legal procedures is essential for maintaining the construction timelines of both projects, which are poised to redefine modern transportation in the National Capital Region and surrounding provinces. The NSCR, once complete, will stretch over 147 kilometers, connecting Pampanga to Laguna, while the MMSP will establish the country’s first-ever underground railway system.
