In a major push to modernize agriculture and logistics in Western Visayas, Panay Railways, Inc. (PRI), Philtrak Inc., and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) recently launched a proposal to transform the long-decommissioned Panay railway into a Farm-to-Market Digital Logistics Integrated Backbone (FM-DLIB).
Outlined in a signed five-year interim implementation plan, the project envisions converting the defunct rail corridor into a high-tech, self-sustaining transport and logistics hub that will serve both commuters and the agriculture sector. The initiative is designed to eliminate layers of costly middlemen in the supply chain, thus increasing farmer incomes, lowering food prices, and improving food security across the region.
The proposal envisions:
- Digital Trackways replacing traditional rails with Euro 4-compliant road trains using smart sensor technology to move goods and passengers.
- Mini electric buses and shuttle systems providing last-mile connectivity.
- Digital train stations that serve as secure logistics hubs with surveillance, contraband screening, and commercial amenities.
- The corridor includes eco-smart infrastructure, such as climate-resilient drainage and vertical farming systems, and will support community development zones with essential services and manufacturing hubs.
- The system will operate 24/7 without requiring government subsidies, relying entirely on private capital and innovation.
According to PRI chief operating officer Cesar Capellan and Philtrak Inc. chairman Francis R. Yuseco, who both signed the plan, the FM-DLIB is aligned with broader national infrastructure goals and will function as a “digital logistics backbone” for Western Visayas. The plan supports domestic technological innovation under the “Proudly Filipino Act” (RA 11981) and the Intellectual Property Code (RA 8293).
The plan will run for five years as an interim program, pending full endorsement by the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center. Once approved, a permanent PPP framework will replace the interim phase. Oversight will include stakeholders such as the Federation of Free Farmers and WWII Veterans’ descendants, who currently oversee PRI’s operations.
When realized, FM-DLIB will serve as a model for nationwide agricultural and transport modernization—turning a dormant rail corridor into a dynamic engine for growth, mobility, and innovation.
