The long-awaited Mindanao Railway Project is adopting a new, more open strategy for its development, with a multilateral feasibility study paving the way for global participation. This move aims to prevent the project from being tied to a single foreign government and accelerate its implementation.
Multilateral Approach Breaks Dependency
During the recent Kapehan sa Dabaw forum, Priscilla R. Sonido, Regional Director of the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development for Davao Region (DEPDev-Davao), highlighted a key strategic shift. She explained that having the Asian Development Bank (ADB) procure the feasibility study is a major advantage. "The advantage is that it is not hinged on one government like China," Sonido stated.
She contrasted this with a previous arrangement where if China conducted the study, it would also be the sole country eligible to implement the project. That earlier China-backed study was ultimately scrapped following the project's suspension. The ADB's multilateral framework, however, means any interested country can now pursue the project once the study is complete.
Phased Implementation and Timelines
Director Sonido provided updates on the project's phased rollout. For the much-anticipated Tagum–Davao–Digos segment (Phase 1), she clarified that it is "not on the radar for Phase 1" at this immediate moment. However, directives indicate that Phase 1 will be financed by the ADB, with procurement for consultants expected to commence shortly.
Meanwhile, Phase 3, covering areas including Laguindingan, Cagayan de Oro, and Villanueva, is currently undergoing a Project Development and Monitoring Facility (PDMF) review with a French firm. The overall timeline targets the start of the feasibility study in 2026, followed by concession activities from 2026 to 2028. The goal is to begin operations by 2031.
Land Acquisition Fast-Tracked
In a parallel effort to remove obstacles, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) expedited payments to affected landowners in November 2025. By November 26, authorities had served 3,291 Notices of Taking (NOTs), representing 92% of the 3,548 parcels identified across Davao City, Panabo, Tagum, Carmen, Santa Cruz, and Digos.
The progress on land acquisition is significant, with 1,105 landowners having accepted Offers to Buy (OTBs) and 381 having already signed deeds of sale. The DOTr continues to coordinate with local government units to ensure stakeholders are updated on the project's implementation.
A Century-Old Dream Nears Reality
The Mindanao Railway is one of the Philippines' most historic and delayed infrastructure dreams, first proposed in 1936. Despite numerous revival attempts, it never materialized. The current iteration, launched in 2018, envisions a phased network spanning 2,278 kilometers across the island.
Financing issues have been a primary cause of delays, including the cancellation of a China-backed loan in 2023. The government's renewed push in 2024, commissioning the ADB for a fresh study, represents a pivotal step toward finally turning this century-old vision into a tangible reality for Mindanao's economic development.
