For Panay island Mabilog seeks DOTC ok for LRT project

ILOILO CITY, Philippines - — Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog had sought the help of the Department of Transportation and Communications in conducting a feasibility study on the proposed Light Railway Transport project in Panay island, as advised by the National Economic and Development Authority-Region 6.

"We aim that Panay island, particularly from Iloilo City to Boracay Island in Kalibo, Aklan, will be accessible to everyone especially to tourists," said the mayor who was optimistic of a favorable action from DOTC.

Mabilog said the LRT system will help boost the tourism industry in Panay and, when materialized, the travel time from Iloilo City to Aklan province will be shortened from the current six hours to only two hours.

"If it is feasible, we will look for a possible investor who could invest for this project. I am sure there will be more investors who will take interest with this," he said.

The proposed LRT project, according to NEDA-6 assistant director Raul Anlocotan, will be different from the proposed rehabilitation of the Panay Railway Incorporated five years ago.

The feasibility study of the PRI rehabilitation project showed that, reviving the 117-kilometer stretch of the Panay Railway System from Iloilo to Roxas City in Capiz would entail a cost of about P32 billion.

Anlocotan said the PRI project was already approved by the Regional Development Council, but was not implemented due to lack of any investor, although PRI-Iloilo director Cesar Capellan said his office was still waiting for feedback from Korean investors on the matter.

The newly proposed LRT project, on the other hand, will have an elevated railway from Iloilo City to the airport and the towns of Sta. Barbara and Cabatuan, passing through the old main railway to Roxas City.

Capellan said there will be five LRT and 17 stop stations that will cater to regular, express and night cargo passengers for neighboring towns of Iloilo and Roxas City.  (FREEMAN)