DAVAO del Norte Governor Edwin Jubahib, Regional Development Council (RDC) chairperson, is pushing for funds in the 2027 national budget to resume the long-stalled Mindanao Railway Project and expressed support for possible Japanese funding.
Jubahib said the RDC chairs of Mindanao are lobbying the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to include the feasibility study for all four project segments in the 2027 General Appropriations Act (GAA).
In an interview during the sidelines of the Mindanao Development Forum on Tuesday, Oct. 27, at Dusit Thani Hotel, he said the push follows previous delays that stalled the project, prompting a renewed focus on completing comprehensive feasibility studies across all project segments.
“Kailangan lang itong ma-continue,” the official said, noting both the feasibility study and the land acquisition were started earlier but were interrupted.
The official said funding that the national government can release for now is limited to the feasibility study and land acquisition.
The council hopes to have the proper project budget implemented by 2028.
The first segments to be prioritized are Phase 1, covering Tagum City to Davao City to Digos City, and Phase 3, covering Cagayan de Oro City to Misamis Occidental, in order to “balance” development between southern and northern Mindanao.
“Kami lahat mga RDC chair nagkaintindihan na hindi lang Phase 1 lang, so kailangan din magsimula na rin yung sa counterpart from the north,” he said.
Asked about foreign interest in the project, the official said Japan has so far been mentioned as an interested country.
On the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the official said Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte is the one who has been in contact with the agency.
The official said the council respects that and would welcome any country that pledges to fund the project.
It can be noted that during the Japan-Philippines Friendship Kadayawan Matsuri Night in Davao City, Japanese Consul General to Davao Ono Hirotaka said Japan is open to funding the MRP if the Philippine government requests it.
“If ang Japan ay mag-offer na gawin nila lahat, bakit hindi tayo susuporta? Lahat tayo payag kasi para sa atin ito sa Mindanao,” Jubahib said.
Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Secretary Leo Magno said the agency continues to explore private-sector investment for the Mindanao Railway Project (MRP).
MRP is divided into 13 segments, and feasibility studies for Segments 1 and 3 are nearing completion, while some remain open to unsolicited proposals from private investors.
He added that Phase 1 amounts to more or less P81 billion, while Phase 3 is around P100 billion.
The 1,544 kilometer Mindanao-wide Railway System will connect cities like Davao, General Santos, Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, Cotabato, Zamboanga, Butuan, Surigao, and Malaybalay.
