The government is exploring the possibility of using an electric train for the Mindanao Railway, as reported by the Department of Transportation (DOTr). DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista revealed this during the recent Asia Infrastructure Forum, stating that a revised feasibility study is needed for the first phase of the Mindanao Railway. The initial approval for the project was based on a diesel-powered train, but with the advancements in electric vehicles, Bautista suggested that an electric train may be more suitable for the railway system.
Funding sources for various railway projects, including the Mindanao Railway Phase 1, Subic-Clark Railway, and the Philippine National Railways (PNR) South Long Haul Railway, are being reevaluated. Following a setback in securing official development assistance from China, the government is seeking new avenues for financing these projects. Bautista also mentioned the extension of the Subic-Clark Railway to Manila and Batangas, requiring a new study to be conducted for the proposed expansion.
The Luzon economic corridor development, with projects like the Subic to Batangas railway, aims to boost economic growth by improving logistics and connectivity. This initiative was announced during the Trilateral Leaders’ Summit involving the US, Philippines, and Japan. Enhancing food security and supporting the semiconductor industry are key objectives of the corridor development.
Furthermore, Bautista highlighted the need to review the existing feasibility study for the PNR South Long Haul Railway to ensure the project’s alignment with current goals and priorities.
