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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Never say die: DOTr won't give up on Mindanao Railway Project

Never say die: DOTr won't give up on Mindanao Railway Project

Published Feb 6, 2024 05:37 am

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) won’t just easily give up on the dream of Mindanaons to have their own railway system as it has committed to continuously look for a viable financial support system for the long-delayed Mindanao Railway Project (MRP).

DOTr Secretary Jaime J. Bautista said he is now coordinating with various agencies to seek alternative funding sources such as Official Development Assistance (ODA) from other foreign governments and international financial institutions.

“We decided to pursue Phase 1 of the MRP despite withdrawal of prior funding commitment from the government of China. While looking for funding sources, various pre-construction activities show we are not dropping the project,” said Bautista.

With a project cost of P81.6 billion, the Mindanao Railway Project Phase 1 has a length of 100.2 kilometers consisting of eight stations.

Once operational, the rail line is expected to serve 122,000 passengers daily and reduce travel time from Tagum City to Digos City to an hour from the current three hours.

The MRP Phase 1 Tagum-Davao-Digos line will concretize the master rail plan of connecting the entire island of Mindanao, according to the Secretary.

Once the entire Mindanao Railway Project is completed, the 1,544-kilometer rail system will connect key provinces such as Davao, General Santos, Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, Cotabato, Zamboanga, Butuan, Surigao and Malaybalay and pump prime Mindanao’s economic boom.

The Phase 2 of the Mindanao Railway Project will cover the cities of Digos, Koronadal and General Santos while the Phase 3 covers the connection between Cagayan de Oro City and Laguindingan Airport. 

The Mindanao Railway Project got a funding commitment from China but last year, the Philippine government decided to cancel China’s involvement in the construction of Phase 1 of the project.

So far, Bautista said land acquisitions are already ongoing along the target alignment from Tagum to Digos via Davao City. 

He said resettlement sites for displaced residents have also been identified with villages in different stages of construction.

“In fact, the Tagum Train Village is scheduled for turnover to its future residents in the coming months. Livelihood programs are also being prepared for affected families,” said Bautista. 

 

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