Study on Mindanao Railway dev’t underway

MANILA, Philippines  —The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is now studying the viability of the Mindanao Railway Project (MRP) Phase 3—a 54.8-kilometer railway in the northern portion of the island group—in line with its goal of improving connectivity in the provinces to spur the economy.

The agency recently inked a consultancy contract for the prefeasibility study of the railway with the joint venture of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu India LLP and ASA Law Firm.

The contract “will involve project preparation services for a preliminary assessment of the viability of MRP Phase 3 in Northern Mindanao,” the DOTr said in a statement. Among the aspects that will potentially be studied are the alignment of the railway, number of stations and economic impact.

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This segment of the Mindanao Railway System railway project will link Cagayan de Oro to Laguindingan and Villanueva, Misamis Oriental.

The entire Mindanao Railway spans 1,544 km, which seeks to support connectivity across major cities such as Davao, General Santos, Cotabato, Zamboanga and Surigao, among others.

“These infrastructure developments will not only improve connectivity but will also stimulate economic growth, create job opportunities and enhance the overall quality of life for Filipinos,” DOTr Assistant Secretary for Railways Jorjette Aquino said.

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Last year, the Public-Private Partnership Center of the Philippines granted the MRP Phase 3 with a P100-million funding for its feasibility study via the agency’s Project Development and Monitoring Facility, a revolving fund that supports infrastructure projects. INQ