By Danessa O. Rivera, The Philippine Star
Posted at May 04 2015 07:41 AM | Updated as of May 04 2015 03:41 PM
https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/05/03/15/neda-sets-start-feasibility-study-mindanao-railway
MANILA, Philippines - The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) hopes to start by end-June a feasibility study that would finally kick off the long-proposed light railway transit project deemed crucial for the economic development in Mindanao.
The state planning agency has received eligibility submissions from eight consulting firms interested in taking on the role to conduct the study for the Mindanao Railway Project, Omer Tiblani, a member of the agency’s bids and awards committee, said by phone last week.
< Edited >
The Mindanao Railway Project is among the NEDA’s top priorities for feasibility studies, along with the Nationwide Fish Ports Project and Ilocos Norte Irrigation Project Stage 2, under the Feasibility Studies Fund (FSP).
“All of these studies are expected to start by end-June this year,” Tiblani said.
The Mindanao Railway Project would link major cites including Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, Zamboanga City, Butuan, Surigao, Davao and General Santos.
< Edited >
In 2013, Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez urged the Aquino administration the other day to include the proposed Mindanao railway project in its Public-Private Partnership program.
And in 2014, Rodriguez and Abante Mindanao partylist Rep. Maximo Rodriguez Jr. proposed to create a railway corporation in Mindanao to own and operate railroads, tramways and other kinds of land transportation within the region.