CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)--The Cagayan de Oro City Segment for the Mindanao Railway Project receives a P100-million feasibility study fund after the Department of Transportation (DOTr) approved the funding during the Public-Private Partnership Center Project Development and Monitoring Facility (PDMF) Committee meeting, February 17.

The move aims to evaluate the proposed project of a 54.8-kilometer segment of the Phase 2 program of the Northern Mindanao Railway, which spans across Cagayan de Oro City, connecting two municipalities: Laguindingan and Villanueva in Misamis Oriental.

The feasibility study will figure out where the railways will go, including the Light Rail/Elevated Railway from Bugo to Iponan and from Paseo Rotonda to Macabalan Port, passing through A. Velez St. to Pacana St. to Puntod and Macabalan. It will also figure out how many stations will be built and what other services will be needed to make sure the future railway system is safe, reliable, and comfortable.

"It will connect the metropolitan areas of Cagayan de Oro up to Laguindingan Airport and, in time, link with the rest of the Mindanao Railway System," DOTr Assistant Secretary for Planning and Project Development Leonel De Velez said.

In July 2022, Cagayan de Oro City 2nd District Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez requested the said funds through a letter addressed to DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista, which was then followed by a meeting with Secretary Bautista and Undersecretary for Railways Cesar Chaves, where they discussed the two (2) important railway projects: the Cagayan de Oro City Skyway/Light Rail System and Northern Mindanao Railway Project.

"We are very much thankful to DOTr, headed by Secretary Jaime Bautista, and Usec. Cesar Chaves for their support for these projects. As a highly urbanized city and soon to be a metropolitan city, Cagayan de Oro needs to prepare for efficient public transportation to ease traffic and pollution," Rodriguez said.

The railway project is in line with President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s order to "Build Better More" and the approved Philippine Development Plan 2023–2028, which stresses the importance of public transportation systems all over the country.

Rodriguez expressed his gratitude to the President for the support he had given to the railway projects in Mindanao through the "Build Better, More" program. (Office of 2nd District Rep. Rodriguez/PIA-10)