Philippine National Railways and Light Rail Transit Authority To Be Dissolved

Three separate bills were filed calling for the creation of the National Railway Authority and the abolition of the Philippine National Railways and Light Rail Transit Authority during the first regular session of the of the 14th Congress of the Republic of the Philippines last July, 2007.

Senator Ramon Revilla Jr. introduced Senate Bill No. 816 last July 3, 2007 entitled AN ACT ACCELERATING THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NATIONAL RAILWAY SYSTEM, CREATING FOR THE PURPOSE THE NATIONAL RAILWAY AUTHORITY, PRESCRIBING ITS POWERS, FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES.

Senator Loren Legarda introduced Senate Bill No. 1389 last July 26, 2007 entitled AN ACT ACCELERATING THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NATIONAL RAILWAY SYSTEM, CREATING FOR THE PURPOSE THE NATIONAL RAILWAY AUTHORITY, PRESCRIBING ITS POWERS, FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

Senator Richard Gordon introduced Senate Bill No. 1410 last July 31, 2007 entitled AN ACT CONSOLIDATING THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL RAILWAYS AND THE LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT AUTHORITY INTO THE NATIONAL RAILWAY AUTHORITY TO INTEGRATE AND REVITALIZE RAILWAY TRANSPORTATION IN THE PHILIPPINES, AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF BONDS THEREFOR TO BUILD AN ADEQUATE AND EFFICIENT NATIONAL RAILWAY TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

The three bills call for the consolidation of the Philippine National Railways and Light Rail Transit Authority into the National Railway Authority. If the one of the bills will become a law this year, Philippine National Railways will cease to exist ending its long history starting in 1964 when Republic Act No. 4156 creating the Philippine National Railways was approved. Light Rail Transit Authority, which was approved in 1980 when Executive Order No. 603 took effect, will also be folded into the new authority.