A massive railway line system linking key cities in Mindanao will be a “top priority” project of the Duterte administration, wherein local investors and groups of foreign firms are taking a closer look to make this huge project possible, regardless of meager points of interest and long delays.
The Malaysia’s MTD Group and the group of businessman Manuel V. Pangilinan including top officials of San Miguel Corporation said they were excited on exploring the project. likewise, an official of Ayala Corporation said they were withholding remark until further points of interest were released.
The Department of Transportation a week ago reported it was open to accepting unsolicited proposals for the Mindanao railway project.
During the Aquino administration, this method of acquisition was avoided because of having a public bias against unsolicited proposals.
This alludes to project proposition offered by the private sector to be in the end is set under a Swiss challenge, where rival groups are permitted to present a superior offer than the proponent for an opportunity to win the deal.
Cherie Mercado, a spokesperson from the Department of Transportation said, the Mindanao railway line was a “high priority” project however she declined to give included points of interest, recommending the project was still in the early phase of planning.
She said the department’s railways group still needed to consult with stakeholders, meaning affected communities, business groups and local government units, “on the best alignment” for the project.
The National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) said a year ago that it was leading the study for the Mindanao railway project, which was envisioned to connect Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, Zamboanga City, Butuan, Surigao, Davao and General Santos.
Prior reports said the railroad project, once completed, would span 2,000 kilometers and would be separated into a few stages.
It will play a major role towards an improvement of Mindanao’s intra-island accessibility, linkages, and seamless multimodal transport networks once the railway line project has been done. – JCE
