KAGAYANon.net, Cagayan de Oro City Forum

[goma]

I am glad that jollibeefan was able to mention about the proposed railroad system between CDO and Iligan, however, I did find some article dated last month regarding the proposal.

Please take time to read the news quoted below.

AFTER DOTC, NEDA FAIL TO GIVE DATA
Gordon suspends Senate hearings on Mindanao rail system bill
First Posted 01:41pm (Mla time) 04/22/2008

‘You should be prepared,’ senator tells execs

MANILA, Philippines -- Discussions on proposed legislation to create a railway system connecting several provinces in Mindanao were suspended Tuesday after government officials failed to provide sufficient information about the project’s viability.

Senator Richard Gordon, chairman of the committee on government corporations and public enterprises, suspended Tuesday’s public hearing after representatives of the Department of Transportation and Communication (DoTC) and National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) failed to answer his questions about the project’s feasibility.

Gordon asked for actual figures on how the proposed railroad system, which seeks to connect the cities of Cagayan De Oro, Iligan, Zamboanga, General Santos, and Davao, would affect residents in the area, and proof that the project’s advantages would outweigh any disadvantages.

However, DoTC Undersecretary for Mindanao Railways Guiling Mamondiong admitted that he could provide the figures Gordon sought at present because the feasibility study on the railway system conducted by the agency is being revised and will not be out until June.

Gordon said he was "disappointed" at the officials’ failure to provide the statistics he sought and told them they should have prepared the data attending the Senate hearing.

"Dapat handa kayo pagpunta ninyo rito [You should be prepared when you come here]. You are not our enemy. We want you to help us craft the bill," Gordon said to the NEDA and DoTC officials at the hearing.

"You are the experts; act like the experts," he admonished.

Aside from suspending the hearing, Gordon also requested that officials from the Department of Trade and Industry be invited to the next hearing to answer questions on whether or not a railway system will help enhance trade in the target area.

Five measures providing for the creation of a corporation to own and operate a railroad and transportation system in Mindanao have been filed in the Senate. One of these bills, Senate Bill 2097, was filed by Gordon.

- Andreo Calonzo, Contributor
source: INQUIRER.net

Please share your thoughts..

[error]

I voted yes! I always wanted a railroad system in Mindanao. Love traveling by train.

Thanks for the article!

[dtng]

Yes for me. If implemented correctly this would be very nice for Mindanao. Been waiting for this.

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Agree. Unta di siya masagulan ug corruption... Grrr. I hate it.

[ner0]

It's a great idea to unite Mindanao with a railway project such as this one. It would be more economical to use a railway system to transport large amounts of people and cargo instead of via ship/air freight. There are several aspects that we have to take note though. One is the budget for this, and second one is the route planning, and thirdly, the technology. I wouldn't want to ride a train that isn't speedy enough to significantly cut down travel time. But this would mean that everything wouldn't be cheap, though it is more likely that there would be significant savings for companies such as those that ship cargo to deliver their goods via train.

This project really is a good idea; I just hope that the government will take this seriously, as it will totally help in developing Mindanao.