The Philippine government is allocating P27.72 billion of the proposed 2018 budget for the upgrade the country’s rail infrastructure, including the construction of Phase 1 of the Mindanao Railway Project (MRP).
Of the budget, P6.58 billion is to be used to jumpstart the first phase of MRP, an eight-station, 105-kilometer line that will link the cities of Tagum, Davao, and Digos.
Phase 1 has a total cost of P36 billion, with construction to be spearheaded by the Department of Transportation. The agency aims to begin operations of Phase 1 in 2022.
Surigao del Sur representative Johnny Pimentel, a member of the Lower House appropriations and transportation committee, welcomed the budget allocation plan for MRP, describing the undertaking as “an enormous project that will require a lot of incremental funding and take several years to complete by phases.”
“There’s no question the railway will ease considerably the transfer of people and goods, and propel in a big way Mindanao’s overall social and economic development,” Pimentel said.
Aside from the MRP, various projects are also included under the Railway Construction, Rehabilitation and Improvement Sub-Program of the government. The program, including the MRP Ph 1’s P6.58 billion budget, has a total proposed appropriation of P20.21 billion.
These projects include the North-South Railway Project Phase II connecting Tutuban, Calamba City, Batangas, Legazpi City, and Matnog (P7.08 billion in cost); North-South Commuter Railway Project connecting Tutuban to Malolos City (P2.5 billion); Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 1 Cavite Extension (P1.33 billion); LRT Line 1 North Extension Common Station (P1.2 billion); LRT Line 2 East Extension (P895.33 million); and LRT Line 2 West Extension (P608 million).
Another P7.51 billion is set aside for the separate Metro Rail Transit Sub-Program, consisting of the operation and maintenance, and rehabilitation and capacity expansion of the MRT.
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