Gov’t urged to fund Mindanao railway project

MANILA, Philippines - Two Mindanao lawmakers have urged the government to provide funds for the proposed Mindanao railway project.

Rep. Rufus Rodriguez of Cagayan de Oro City and his brother Maximo of the party-list group Abante Mindanao, suggested that the government sell the old Cagayan de Oro airport and allocate the proceeds for the project.

They have filed Bill 4059 authorizing the sale of the old Lumbia airport.

“With the opening of the Laguindingan International Airport in Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental in June last year, the old Lumbia airport is not being used anymore. It can be sold under the government’s privatization program,” the lawmakers said.

They said investors would be interested in the Lumbia area, since it is not far from the city and is not flood-prone.

High-end development projects are being constructed in the area, and there is a golf course and a country club there, the lawmakers said.

They said the sale could fetch hundreds of millions of pesos.

The initial phase of the Mindanao railway project will run from Cagayan de Oro to Iligan City, passing through the modern Laguindingan International Airport.

The Rodriguez brothers said the railway system would facilitate the transport of goods and people between the two cities, and between Northern Mindanao and other parts of the country.

They said the system would eventually link other cities in Mindanao.

They said proceeds from the sale of the old Cagayan de Oro airport could be augmented from appropriations in the annual national budget.