The Department of Transportation (DOTr) said Tuesday it has started acquiring properties for the construction of the Mindanao Railway Project (MRP), with an initial allocation of P148 million for the relocation of 178 families.
DOTr Secretary Giovanni Lopez said the agency is moving quickly on the right-of-way (ROW) acquisition, following a directive from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to expedite the start of the first railway project in Mindanao.
“The president said we need to expedite the acquisition of the right-of-way for the Mindanao Railway Project because our countrymen have been waiting for it here in Mindanao for a long time. That is why we are also rushing it,” Lopez said.
“We need to start it immediately because many passengers will definitely benefit from it,” he said.
The initial phase will see 96 families relocated to the “Tagum Train Village” in the first quarter of 2026. The remaining 82 families will be moved immediately upon completion of all requirements.
DOTr assistant secretary for ROW and Site Acquisition (ROWSA) IC Calaguas visited Tagum City to inspect the relocation site and coordinate with Tagum City Mayor Rey Uy to speed up the processing of affected families.
The local government maintains the Tagum Train Village under the supervision of the DOTr and the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD).
Phase 1 of the Mindanao Railway Project, costing P81.6 billion, will span 100.2 kilometers with eight stations.
Once operational, the line is expected to serve 122,000 passengers daily and cut travel time from Tagum City to Digos City from three hours to one hour.
The entire 1,544-kilometer rail system, once completed, will connect key provinces including Davao, General Santos, Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, Cotabato, Zamboanga, Butuan, Surigao and Malaybalay to stimulate Mindanao’s economy.
