1st phase of Mindanao railway project funding to be released in 2018

14 Aug 1st phase of Mindanao railway project funding to be released in 2018

Source: Skyscrapercity Davao Region Facebook

In an article from Manilastandard.net, the first phase of the Mindanao Railway Project (MRP), covering an area from Davao del Norte to Davao del Sur, will get its needed funding of P6.58 billion next year.

According to Surigao del Sur Representative Johnny Pimentel, the 105-kilometer part of the railway system will get the necessary funding coming from the Rail Infrastructure Program of the Department of Transportation in the proposed national budget for 2018.

Pimentel said that the MRP will require a progress that needs to be undertaken one step a time due to its large scope. Yet, he declared that the assurance of the first phase of the project will now be started is an achievement worth noting.

He added that with the completion of phase 1 of MRP on 2022, long travels between Tagum and Digos which usually takes 3.5 would be cut to only to about 1.3 hours. The part of the rail will cover cities and municipalities such as Tagum, Carmen, Panabo, Mudiang, Davao Terminal, Toril, Santa Cruz, and Digos having a 10-hectare depot to be located at Tagum.

The Congressman said that the completion of the first part of the railway will also pave the way for the alleviation of poverty in Mindanao which shares 40 percent of Filipinos who are living below the poverty line.

Aside from that, he affirmed that the project is also essential in promoting peace and order, economic progress, and exchange of culture and way of life throughout Mindanao.

With the P6.58 Billion budget, the Phase 1 of MRP will stretch through cities of Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, General Santos, Iligan, Surigao, and Zamboanga.