DOTr allots P6.5 B for first phase of Mindanao railway
Updated July 5, 2017 – 12:00am
http://www.philstar.com/
MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has earmarked P6.5 billion for land acquisition and engineering works for the first phase of the Mindanao Railway Project (MRP).
Cesar Chavez, DOTr undersecretary for rails told reporters on the sidelines of the Asian Development Bank’s Philippines Transport Forum 2017 the government has secured the budget to be used for the land acquisition and engineering works for the first phase of the MRP.
The first phase of the MRP covers a 103-kilometer (km) commuter railway from Tagum City in Davao del Norte to Digos City in Davao del Sur, amounting to P35.26 billion.
It will have eight stations such as Tagum, Carmen, Panabo, Mudiang, Davao Terminal, Toril, Sta. Cruz and Digos.
Funding for the construction of the project will be sourced from the government’s national budget.
“By first quarter to second quarter of 2018, we will start [land acquisition]. But as early as now, we are working on land acquisition because we need to acquire 340 hectares of property to cover the 103 kilometers,” Chavez said.
He said most of the properties to be acquired are agricultural lands.
