P9-B allotted for Mindanao Railway

A total of P9 billion will be allotted for the first phase development of the Mindanao Railway Project (MRP), said a National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) official.

During the Davao-Singapore Business Forum held yesterday, August 2, Neda Davao Regional Director Maria Lourdes Lim said the Department of Transportation was approved of the initial budget of P9 billion for the first phase of MRP to which Transportation secretary Arthur Tugade may request for a supplemental budget of around P2 billion to P3 billion.

“The P9 billion will be used for the engineering works like the acquisition of road right of way. According to secretary Tugade, he will propose for a supplemental budget and that will be towards the end of 2017,” Lim said.

The first phase TagumDigos-Davao railway system will consist of 105-kilometer railway which covers eight stations including Tagum, Carmen, Panabo, Mudiang, Davao, Toril, Sta. Cruz, and Digos.

The Mindanao Express Railway had already been approved by Neda board and is now ready for feasibility study, detailed engineering, and after that bidding,” said Tugade in an earlier statement.

Currently, the feasibility study for the second phase of MRP is already ongoing and is targeted

to finish by December 2017 for approval of the Neda board.

It was earlier reported that the entire railway project will cost around P35.26 billion and is expected to connect other major cities in the island including Cotabato, Marawi, Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, Butuan, and Panabo.

Tugade said this is part of their goal of increasing the current railway system in the country from 77 kilometers to a total of 1,900 kilometers before the end of President Rodrigo Duterte’s term. JPA of Branch 17 already submitted her comment to the SC. KVC(For full story visit www. sunstar.com.ph/davao/)