Marcos creates inter-agency panel on railway projects

FILE PHOTO: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. leads the ceremonial switch-on of the Php 51.3 Billion Mindanao-Visayas Interconnection Project at the Malacaٌang Palace on Friday, January 26, 2024. (KJ ROSALES/PPA POOL)

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. formed an inter-agency committee to streamline the process of implementing Philippine railroad projects.

The Palace said Marcos issued Administrative Order (AO) No. 19, creating the Inter-Agency Committee for Right-of-Way (ROW) Activities for National Railway Projects.

“The Inter-Agency Committee for ROW Activities for National Railway Projects is hereby created to study and devise an efficient and collaborative mechanism to streamline the process of land acquisition necessary for the implementation of all railway projects,” according to a Palace-issued statement Tuesday, quoting the order.

Marcos signed AO No. 19 on March 25, 2024. Copies of the presidential directive were released to media members on April 2.

READ: Government lines up several railway projects nationwide

The Palace said the inter-agency panel’s powers and functions include coordinating the implementation of railway projects and policies and that it could also create project plans about railroads.

“It will also identify effective existing policies, agreements, contracts, and other similar arrangements between and among government agencies, consolidate and mobilize agency resources to streamline budgeting, deliberate and resolve issues, grievance and create technical working groups to implement the order,” the Palace noted.

READ: Marcos abolishes Northrail 4 years after deactivation

Based on the AO, the Department of Transportation Secretary will chair the Inter-Agency Committee for ROW Activities for National Railway Projects while the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development Secretary will be the co-chair.

The panel would have as members the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Finance, Department of Budget and Management, Department of Justice, and Office of the Solicitor General.