Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Z. Duterte is calling for an investigation to the Department of Transportation’s (DoTr) property identification as well as acquisition of right-of-way (ROW) and expropriation of properties that will be affected by the proposed Mindanao Railway Project (MRP).
The project is one of the major footprints of the “Build, Build, Build” program of his father, former President Rodrigo Duterte.
In House Resolution No. 286 he introduced together with Benguet lone district Rep. Eric Yap, Duterte stated that he sought an investigation after he received several complaints and accusations of anomalies by some Davao City residents who will be affected by the proposed railway line, which would pass through densely populated areas in Davao City “without the appropriate geological surveys or proper public consultations with the affected communities”.
Duterte added that the complaints must also be given weight especially on the report that “there are variations in the offers for the acquisition of right-of-way or expropriation of the private properties by the DOTr and/or its contractors, sub-contractors, or other service providers.”
Duterte also cited reports that some politicians bought a vast parcel of land where the rail line will be constructed at a cheap price and are now selling it to the government 10 times or more than the original price.
It was also learned that the Barangay Catalunan Grande in Davao City has already passed a resolution opposing the MRP as it would affect several residences in their barangay and would “result to undue safety and health hazard, as well as noise pollution, to name a few.”
“There is a need to properly determine the correct and appropriate manner of identifying the areas where the MRP will traverse to ensure public safety and welfare while still being able to pursue the MRP for sustained growth and development in the region,” the resolution said.
Duterte clarified that he is not opposing the continuance of the MRP but wants it to be done in the right way to “ensure transparency and accountability on the use of public funds while always keeping in mind the safety and welfare of the general populace in the delivery of public services”.
It can be recalled that Duterte and Yap filed a resolution calling for a committee investigation on alleged “variations in the offers for the acquisition of road right-of-way or expropriation of the private properties by the DoTr and/or its contractors, sub-contractors, or other service providers” in October last year.
The inquiry aims to revisit existing laws and rules on ROW acquisition and expropriation of private properties affected by government projects.
The three-phase MRP covers 1,530 kilometers of circumferential and spurs rail lines that will connect several areas in Mindanao like the Davao provinces, Iligan City, Cagayan de Oro City, General Santos City, and Zamboanga.
Phase 1 of the MRP (Tagum-Davao-Digos segment) is a 105-km line that is expected to reduce travel time from Davao del Norte to Davao del Sur from 3.5 hours to just 1.3 hours. It will have eight stations: Tagum, Carmen, Panabo, Mudiang, Davao Terminal, Toril, Sta. Cruz, and Digos. A 10-hectare depot will be built in Tagum City.
The first phase of the project, with a P35.91-billion budget, will be financed by the People’s Republic of China.
