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| Proposed Mindanao Railway Project (sample photo only). |
DAVAO CITY, Davao
— The Regional Development Council - Davao Region (RDC) 11 is pushing for the implementation of the Mindanao railway project, which will connect major cities on the island.
Mario Realista, National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) officer-in-charge for Project Monitoring and Evaluation Division, said that early this year they were informed that the Department of Transportation and Communication had already conducted a pre-feasibility study for the possibility of the railway project in Mindanao last year.
The result of the study identified the Cagayan-Iligan corridor where the railway project has to start.
He said primary industries within the economic corridor will first benefit if the plan will be actualized.
Realista said the main objective of the railway project is to hasten movement and lesser the transport cost of cargoes.
He said the possible major cities eyed to be connected by the railway are the cities of Cagayan de Oro, Butuan, General Santos, Iligan, and Davao City.
The Mindanao railway is among those recommended during the consistency-checking and integration workshop for Updated Regional Development Plan (RDP) 2014-2016, Result Matrices (RMs), and Regional Development Investment Program (RDIP) last May 29 at SMX Convention Center in Davao City.
Other major projects recommended are the urgent reconstruction of Typhoon Pablo affected rural economies, development of potential renewable energy sources, farm mechanization and conduct feasibility studies on Davao City-Samal bridge, establishment of ecozones, upgrading of aircraft guidance system and alignment of education curriculum to industry requirements, among others.
A draft plan will be presented to the RDC-11 Advisory Committee composed of congressmen and officers of its Executive Committee on June 14, this year and finally to the RDC XI Full Council on June 27, for approval. It is said that the RDP, RDIP and RM's are expected to be completed by end of September 2013.
Originally published in Sunstar Davao on April 6, 2015
by: Cheneen Capon
