Construction works for the $2.5-billion Philippine National Railways (PNR) Clark Phase 2 project will begin before 2020 ends, according to the Department of Transportation (DoTr).

In a briefing on Thursday, Timothy John Batan, Transportation secretary for railways, said “we are starting construction by November [or] December this year with the mobilization of our three contractors, with partial operability scheduled in 2023 and out full completion scheduled [in] 2025.”