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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Dream train in Mindanao is on track

Dream train in Mindanao is on track

Published Jul 23, 2021 01:00 pm

DAVAO CITY – Transportation secretary Art Tugade said on Tuesday that the government aims to award the contract for the project management consultancy services of the Mindanao Railway Project (MRP) to the winning bidder next month.

Tugade said, in an interview over Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR 87.5) on Wednesday, July 21, that the Department of Transportation (DOTr) is currently undertaking activities in preparation for the construction of the railway project, including the conclusion of the procurement of consultancy services.

The transportation chief said he is optimistic about the partial operability of the first 102-kilometer segment of the MRP, which will start from Tagum City, passing through Davao City, and then to Digos City, before the end of term of President Duterte.

The cost of the entire TDD line is pegged at ₱81.7 billion.

Last May, Engr. Neil Gabriel Bonto, Department of Transportation (DOTR) -MRP deputy project manager, said that the DOTr is committed to operating the segment between Tagum City and Carmen, Davao del Norte, a distance of 15 kilometers.

“At present, we are just waiting for the shortlist of bidders for the design and build contract to be provided by China. The process is that China will provide a list of three bidders and there will be a bidding among themselves. As soon as we receive it, procurement and construction will follow,” said Tugade

Tugade added that they are targeting to commence construction before the end of this year as the agency is also undertaking geotagging to locate the position of the railway path and completing the acquisition of the road right of way (RROW).

Lawyer Clipton Solamo, DOTr-MRP project manager, said that the completion of the entire TDD line would take about 17 months. It may be fully operational by June of 2023.

The stations of TDD line will be located in Tagum, Carmen, and Panabo in Davao del Norte; Mudiang, Maa, and Toril in Davao City; and Santa Cruz and Digos City in Davao del Sur.

Bonto said the units to be used for TDD line are diesel-operated but he said it would not cause any environmental problems related to smoke emission, assuring the public that the technology used is modern, similar to the ones used in some countries in Europe.

But he also noted that the project “has a provision for future electrification.”

According to the DOTr, the TDD segment will reduce travel time from 3.5 hours to 1.3 hours between Tagum and Digos Cities and will provide “passengers safe, fast, and reliable transport options on the TDD commuter line.”

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