The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) has passed the responsibility over the proposed revival of the Panay railway system to the Regional Development Council (RDC6) here, saying the project’s feasibility study has long been submitted to the region’s planning body.
DOTC Undersecretary Guiling Mamondiong said it was the sole responsibility of RDC6, chaired by Antique Gov. Salvacion Perez, to submit the feasibility study (FS) of the proposed project to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) in Manila.
In a recent Ulat ng Bayan here, Mamondiong said that RDC 6 should take action on the proposed revival of the Panay Railway Inc. (PRI) project since no government project plans could be finalized without RDC endorsement of the feasibility study (FS).
However, the DOTC official admitted he was pinning hope on the new administration to take recognition of the project importance and the economic value it would bring to Panay Island.
The railway system was the most important means of transportation in Iloilo and Capiz provinces after World War II. Commuters in two provinces would take the train to bring in their products and services.
The railway system was also expanded to serve the booming sugar industry in central Panay during the time of the late President Ferdinand Marcos. However, it suffered a decline as more concrete highways were built parallel to the railroads that eventually stopped railway operations by the 1980s.
Linkback:
https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=25500.0
