NEDA Board approves Mindanao Railway Project – Phase 1

December 6, 2019

The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board has confirmed the earlier approval given by the NEDA Investment Coordination Committee - Cabinet Committee (ICC-CabCom) for the Tagum-Davao-Digos segment or Phase 1 of the Mindanao Railway Project (MRP-TDD).

In its meeting on  November 29, the NEDA Board confirmed the July 10 2019 and September 27 2019 approvals given by the ICC-CabCom.

The P81.686-billion project will be funded by official development assistance (ODA) from China.

The groundbreaking is set in the first quarter of 2020, Assistant Transportation Secretary for Communications Goddess Libiran said in a Viber message.

DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade thanked the decision of the NEDA Board, saying the move brings the Mindanao Railway Project closer to realization.

“This builds on the dream of President Rodrigo Duterte to generate development in Mindanao through an efficient rail system that will not only move people throughout the island of Mindanao, but will also generate needed economic growth,” said Tugade.  

The MRP-TDD is the first phase of the proposed 830-kilometer MRP Loop. It aims to establish a 74-km at-grade and 26-km elevated (viaduct) commuter railway from Tagum City in Davao del Norte to Digos City in Davao del Sur. 

Phase 1 will have eight stations  in Tagum, Carmen, Panabo, Mudiang, Davao, Toril, Sta. Cruz, and Digos.

Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary and Government Infrastructure Cluster head Mark Villar noted the NEDA Board’s decision.

“This project will surely benefit those who call Mindanao their home, and also those doing business in the island. As the first railway to be built outside of Luzon, the MRP will transform the socio-economic landscape of Mindanao,”  Villar said.

Phase 1 of the Mindanao Railway Project is designed to accommodate around 130,000 passengers per day in its first year of full operations. Once fully operational, travel time between Tagum City to Digos City will be reduced from currently 3.5 hours to just 1.3 hours. 

Partial operations are targeted by the second quarter of 2022 for the Tagum-Davao line, while full operations for the Tagum-Davao-Digos line will be in the fourth quarter of 2022. DMS