Malaysia offers to build railway in Mindanao

A Malaysian government-controlled consortium is eyeing the construction of the long-delayed Mindanao Railway System (MRS) on a build-operate-transfer (BOT) scheme.

It will be recalled that despite the on-going conflict in certain areas in Mindanao, the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) is given top priority to the construction of the railway in Mindanao.

Only recently, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has decisively backed the proposed MRS as a response to the deepening call of foreign investors to improve the Mindanao transportation facilities.

The President has given much thought on the development of Mindanao banking on its huge agricultural production potential.

DOTC Secretary Pantaleon “Bebot” Alvarez said the project will connect the rural and urban centers in Mindanao and is expected to trigger commercial and industrial progress in the region, including the far-flung areas along the rail routes.

“Since the backbone of national transport system has always been railways in Japan, United States and other European countries, the construction of the railway will address the needs of the long distance passengers, as well as cargo and commercial requirements in that area,” Alvarez said.

He also said that the railway is expected to enhance the prime investment in Mindanao as site in the East Asian Growth Area (EAGA), a growth polygon composed of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines.

At the same time, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is also hammering out the plans to build the 1,436 single-track railway system that would connect key cities on the island.

DPWH Secretary Simeon Datumanong has committed to push for the project’s implementation as soon as possible.

Based on the initial projections, the project would cost R100 billion. The project was supposed to begin during the Estrada Administration and projected to end in 2004, but the implementation was snagged when investors wanted only to develop certain routes.

The areas initially under the railway projects were the cities of Iligan, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, Cotabato, Butuan and the Zamboanga Peninsula. Added recently are Koronadal and General Santos.

DOTC Undersecretary for Railways and Maritime Wilfredo Trinidad said that the Australians and Spanish consortia were earlier referred by the government to the Mindanao leaders, for appropriate action so they can start its implementation.

Unfortunately, the two firms had backed out from the negotiation table, explaining that the conflicting interests of the MNLF leaders, political leaders and officials of the DOTC would polarize the plans of implementation. (PNA)

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