By John Noel Herrera
Informal settlers at Barangay Railway in Lapaz, Iloilo City fear losing their homes the moment the revival of Integrated Panay Railway System kicks off.
And Railway village is just one of hundreds of barangays located on or along the old railroad that stretches more than 100 kilometers and passes through two provinces, three cities and 11 municipalities in Panay Island
Punong Barangay Reynaldo Guillergan of Railway, Lapaz also expressed his worry for the informal settlers and the residents on the area.
Guillergan said many of his constituents will be affected, especially the informal settlers, if the project pushes through.
On the other hand, he also acknowledged that the project would improve the transportation problems in Panay the moment the railway system is revived.
Earlier, Panay Railways, Inc. (PRI) Chief Operating Officer (COO) Cesar Capellan told Daily Guardian that residents leasing PRI’s land properties would be asked to vacate their premises within 6 months prior to construction if the rehabilitation is realized.
Since the railway’s closure in 1985, PRI has been leasing its properties with a two-year renewal period.
Capellan said Phase I of the Integrated Panay Railway System project will cost US$1.5 billion or around PHP82.5 billion (at US$1=PHP55).
The price tag was for Phase 1 alone, which would entail reviving the old rail line between the cities of Iloilo and Roxas and would likewise include an extension from the original Lapuz station toward the Iloilo International Port in the district’s Brgy. Loboc.
The cost already includes civil works, acquisition of rolling stock, hiring of personnel, maintenance, and relocation costs.
Meanwhile, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said that there is still no allocated budget for the revival of the railway as the project still needs to be studied thoroughly.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. mentioned the Panay railways revival in his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) on June 25, 2022.
