Philippine National Railways

PNR

On July 31, 1887, the cornerstone of what is known today as the Philippine National Railways was laid at the site of its building at Tutuban, Manila. This ushered in the implementation of the plan for the establishment of a railroad system in the Philippines. The plan granted the sole authority to the British-owned Manila Railroad Company Ltd. of London to build a railroad system in the island of Luzon. Five years later, on 24 November 1892, the first railway line from Manila to Dagupan in the north was opened with the inaugural run of a wood-burning 25- ton steam locomotive over a stretch of 195.39 kilometers, built over a period of 5 ½ years. Between 1898 to 1900 Revolutionary Wars waged by Filipinos against the Spanish and the American colonizers slowed down the development of the railroad until the American colonial government authorized the construction of additional lines from Bulacan to Cabanatuan in 1902. The original Manila Railways Company of London became the Manila Railroad Company of New Jersey, and further concessions were granted to construct more railroad lines in the north and south. On February 14, 1916, the Philippine Legislature passed Act. No. 2574, authorizing the Governor General to purchase all properties of the MRR Company of New Jersey. The transfer of ownership was consummated in January 1917, between the period 1917-1940. The main line extended to the south up to Legaspi City in Albay and further to the north up to San Fernando, La Union. The 2nd World War found the railroad under the control of the Japanese occupation forces, which renamed the company “Rikuun Kanrikyuko”. From February 1945 to January 1946, the U.S. Army operated the MRR Co. under the “775th Railway Grand Division” and partly rehabilitated the lines and equipment until February 1, 1946, when control was returned to the Philippine Government. With the retirement of the British bonds worth P42 million in January 1954 came the age of “dieselization” of railways with the introduction of new diesel-electric locomotives, new air-conditioned coaches, third-class coaches, box cars, and dining cars, all valued at about P30 million. On June 21, 1964, Republic Act. No. 4156 was passed, and the MRRCo became the Philippine National Railways with P250 million authorized capital stock. Things started to become brighter. On August 20, 1971, Republic Act 6366 was enacted, providing for the rehabilitation and selective modernization of the PNR and likewise providing for the necessary funds for its operations with increased capitalization of P650 million. This act was a proverbial shot in the arm, which extended the life of the railroad. Following the declaration of Martial Law (Proclamation 1081) on September 21, 1972, the PNR pursued its rehabilitation program. That same year, on November 30, the first commuter train service was inaugurated. On July 3, 1975, the President issued P.D. 741, which amended some sections of R.A. 6366. The Presidential Decree also raised the capital stock of the company from P650 million to P1.5 billion, which was fully paid-up in 1985. On May 26, 2008, pursuant to Executive Order No. 366 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations and Memorandum Order No. 190, s. In 2005, under President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, the PNR implemented the Rationalization Plan, resulting in the downsizing of the staffing pattern from 3,064 to 234 plantilla positions. This workforce covers the whole stretch of the PNR Operational Line from Tutuban in Manila up to Legazpi in Albay, and the workshop in Caloocan. On June 16, 2014, under Republic Act No. 10638, the corporate life of the Philippine National Railways was extended for another fifty (50) years, further amending for the purpose Republic Act No. 4156, entitled, “An act creating the Philippine National Railways, prescribing its powers, functions and duties, and providing for the necessary funds for its operation”.