COMPLAINTS PLAGUE RAILWAY PROJECT

A city councilor said they have been receiving reports that the contractor of the project is pressuring residents to sign a document

Davao City Councilor Danilo Dayanghirang said there have been complaints about the Mindanao Railway Project (MRP) from the local homeowners and business owners in Barangay Cabantian.

“We are disturbed by a number of reports from local homeowners and business owners in the areas of alignment of the MRP,” Dayanghirang said last Tuesday, October 23, 2018, during his privilege speech, adding that the alignment as presented by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) will cut through many subdivisions and existing homes.

He further said the contractor of the said project is reportedly pressuring barangay and homeowners to sign a certificate of no objection so the project can proceed.

“We are also not aware of whether the proposed alignment is complementary to the city’s land use plan,” he said, adding that in other districts, the railway traverse several developments, commercial properties, and even school.

The 102-kilometer phase 1 of MRP has three stations in Davao City, in Mudiang, Maa Diversion and Toril.

The MRP’s target acquisition of right of way (ROW) is December this year and target construction will be on February 2019.

“Given the many complaints raised by the residents in Barangay Cabantian and other areas, I recommend a special hearing where DOTr can present the proposed alignment,” Dayanghirang said.

Accordingly, he said it is the city’s responsibility to ensure that any project implemented in the city is done in close coordination.