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BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
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Friday, June 9, 2017
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ILOILO City – A group of investors from China proposed building a monorail system in this city, according to Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog.
The Chinese businessmen claimed discussing the plan with President Rodrigo Duterte in China, said the mayor, because they saw the city with a potential to have such a transport system.
A monorail is a single rail serving as a track for passenger or freight vehicles. In most cases the rail is elevated. Vehicles are either suspended from or straddle a narrow guide way.
Mabilog said he forwarded the Chinese investors’ email to the City Planning and Development Office (CPDO).
“The CPDO will seriously look into this,” he said.
A monorail system can improve mobility in the city, according to Mabilog.
“What is good about the proposal is that it’s a foreign investment. The city government won’t spend a dime,” he said.
Mabilog also said the Chinese proposal meant Iloilo City is attractive to investors.
Just this March, a company based in Beijing, China agreed to conduct a feasibility study on the proposed revival of the Panay railway system – another sign of the warming of relations between the Philippines and China.
Panay Railways, Inc. (PRI) and China Railway International Group Limited (CRIGL) signed a memorandum of understanding and cooperation.
“They will conduct the feasibility study, inspect our road right of way from Iloilo City to Roxas City, validate and further discuss the details of the proposed project,” said Cesar Capillan, PRI director/treasurer.
In the signing, PRI was represented by its president Atty. Juan Catalan. CRIGL was represented by its deputy general manager, Bai Rui.
According to Capillan, CRIGL was asked to come up with the results of the feasibility study within two months. PRI will forward it to Malacañang, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) central office and Department of Transportation.
Capillan said CRIGL will also come up with a financing scheme for the proposed rehabilitation of the railway system from Iloilo City to Roxas City that more or less will cost about P16 billion.
Two schemes are being eyed – built operate and transfer (BOT) and public-private partnership (PPP).
Capillan said PRI was confident that President Duterte, also the chairman of NEDA, would approve the railway system’s revival.
In March, Duterte met with Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang in Davao City and discussed the two country’s strategic and cooperative relationship, particularly for peace and development.
The Panay railway system was constructed in 1906 by the Americans. During World War II, this was damaged by bombings.
If the project pushes through, the revival works may be complete in three years, said Capillan.
The proposed phase one will start from Iloilo, either from the town of Pavia or Santa Barbara going to Roxas City in Capiz.
Capillan said a monorail from Iloilo City going to the Iloilo Airport is also being proposed.
The proposed phase two will be the extension going to Caticlan in Malay, Aklan – the jump-off point to Boracay Island./PN
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