The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has begun acquiring properties for the Mindanao Railway Project (MRP), marking a major step toward the long-delayed construction of the region’s first railway system.
Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez said the agency has set aside P148 million to relocate 178 families to the upcoming Tagum Train Village, with 96 families scheduled for transfer in the first quarter of 2026.
Lopez noted that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the DOTr to fast-track right-of-way (ROW) acquisition. “The President said we need to expedite the acquisition of the right-of-way for the Mindanao Railway Project because our countrymen have been waiting for it here in Mindanao for a long time. That is why we are also rushing it,” he said. “We need to start it immediately because many passengers will definitely benefit from it.”
DOTr Assistant Secretary for ROW and Site Acquisition IC Calaguas visited Tagum City to inspect the Tagum Train Village and coordinate with Mayor Rey Uy to speed up the processing of affected families. The village is maintained by the local government under DOTr and DHSUD supervision.
The remaining 82 families will be relocated once they complete required documents, including IDs, residency certificates, employment or income proofs, and landholding affidavits.
The P81.6-billion Phase 1 of the MRP spans 100.2 kilometers with eight stations. Once operational, it is expected to serve 122,000 passengers daily and cut travel time between Tagum City and Digos City from three hours to one hour.
When completed, the 1,544-kilometer Mindanao Railway will link major areas including Davao, General Santos, Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, Cotabato, Zamboanga, Butuan, Surigao and Malaybalay, supporting Mindanao’s economic growth.
