By Raymond Carl Dela Cruz | Philippine News Agency
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) began the acquisition of properties to make way for the Mindanao Railway Project (MRP), with around P148 million allocated for the relocation of 178 families to the “Tagum Train Village.”
In a statement on Monday, DOTr Acting Secretary Giovanni Lopez said the right-of-way (ROW) acquisition is in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s order to expedite the first railway project in Mindanao.
“Matagal nang hinihintay ng mga kababayan natin ito dito sa Mindanao. Kaya naman ito po ay ating minamadali na rin. Kailangan masimulan na natin agad ito dahil maraming pasahero ang tiyak na makikinabang dito,” Lopez said.
To date, DOTr Assistant Secretary for ROW and Site Acquisition (ROWSA) IC Calaguas visited Tagum City to inspect the Tagum Train Village and to coordinate with Tagum City Mayor Rey Uy to speed up the processing of families affected by the project.
The Tagum Train Village is being maintained by the local government through the supervision of DOTr and the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD).
The remaining 82 families will also be relocated upon completion of documentary requirements such as the application form, certificate of marriage/CENOMAR/affidavit of cohabitation, valid ID, family picture, and barangay residency.
It also requires an affidavit of income, certificate of landholding, affidavit of no landholding and affidavit of low income.
The ROW acquisition is part of the Tagum-Davao-Digos segment of the Mindanao Railway.
The segment is 100 kilometers long, has eight stations, and will connect the cities of Tagum in Davao del Norte, Davao City, and Digos City in Davao del Sur. (PNA)
