By Sam Ramos
The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) assured the public on Wednesday that the Mindanao Railway Project (MRP) will continue as planned, addressing rumors of its cancellation.
During a press briefing, MinDA Secretary Leo Tereso Magno confirmed that private sector interest in collaborating with the government on the project remains strong. He mentioned that several companies and individuals are actively engaging with the government to help realize the MRP master plan.
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) and MinDA are in the process of finalizing the project’s terms of reference, which is expected to be released by December.
The first phase of the MRP will cover a 100.2 km stretch connecting Davao, Tagum, and Digos. It includes land acquisition for eight stations and is projected to cost PHP 81.6 billion. This phase of the railway is expected to reduce travel time between Tagum City and Digos City from three hours to just one hour and serve up to 122, 000 passengers daily.
Once completed, the full MRP will span 1, 544 km, connecting key Mindanao cities such as Davao, General Santos, Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, Cotabato, Zamboanga, Butuan, Surigao, and Malaybalay.
Magno also noted the necessity of updating the project design, as parts of the original plan have become outdated. However, he emphasized that the direction of the project remains unchanged, according to the DOTr. The MRP is seen as a flagship project that will improve Mindanao’s connectivity and boost regional economic growth.