The Transportation Department said Wednesday it is mulling over the construction of a mass rail transport system in Davao region.
“We are looking at the possibility of building a mass rail transport system that could start from Tagum City crossing Davao City towards Digos, which could potentially up to General Santos City,” Transportation undersecretary for planning Rommel Gavieta said during an infrastructure and energy forum in Makati City.
Gavieta said the government was studying the alignment of the proposed mass transit system in Davao.
He said the agency was also expediting the feasibility study for the construction of a railway system in Panay Island.
The Duterte administration is also looking at the Mindanao railway project, which would link two roll-on roll-off routes in Mindanao — the Surigao City or the eastern nautical highway and Cagayan de Oro City.
The Transportation Department in 2011 proposed to build a rail project that would span the whole Mindanao with a total length of 2,000 kilometers.
The railway network will be implemented in phases. Phase 1 includes the construction of a 124-km rail line from Iligan City to Cagayan de Oro City.
It will traverse 10 coastal municipalities in Misamis Oriental including Lugait, Manticao, Naawan, Initao, Liberated, Gitagum, Laguindingan, Alubi-jid, El Salvador and Opol.
Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade earlier said the agency also wanted a railway system connecting Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay City and Clark International Airport in Pampanga.
The agency’s planned rail system would use the right of way of North Luzon Expressway and Philippine National Railways.
Tugade said the department would finalize the proposal for submission to the National Economic and Development Authority within 90 days.
The proposed rail system aims to promote Clark International Airport as an alternative international gateway to Naia which is now congested.