Aquino: Govt developing low-cost rail system

President Benigno Aquino III on Monday announced the development of a monorail system to address the country’s problem on mass transportation. In his second State of the Nation Address (SONA), Aquino said the light railway system being studied by the Department of Science and Technology and University of the Philippines will cost less than P100 million per kilometer. “Sa malikhaing pag-iisip ng kapwa Pilipino, may pag-asa palang magtayo ng light rail system nang hindi hihigit sa 100 million pesos ang gagastusin kada kilometro," he said. He did not say how much the construction of a regular train system would cost, but he said the savings the government could get from it could be used to build more train system that will serve far-flung areas. “Sa matitipid na pondo, mas mahabang kilometro ng riles ang mailalatag at makaka-abot sa mga lugar na malayo sa sentro ng komersyo," Aquino said. He believed that once the plan materializes, it would decongest Metro Manila and other urban areas. “Ang mga dating sumisiksik sa siyudad para maghanap ng trabaho, maaari nang tumira sa malayo, nang hindi pahirapan ang biyahe." Aside from the monorail system, Aquino acknowledged the other innovations developed or being developed by Filipino scientists. He cited the use of low-cost traps that kill mosquito larvae that probably contributed to the nearly 14-percent decrease in dengue cases. He also mentioned coconut coir fibers that he said are normally just disposed of but are now being used as a cost-effective way to strengthen roads; landslide sensors that warn when soil erosion has reached dangerous levels; and early flood warning systems for riverside communities. “All of these are products of Filipino creativity," Aquino said. — KBK, GMA News