BY GLENDA TAYONA and IME SORNITO
ILOILO City – This city’s road network has immensely improved so it has no need for a railway system, said Mayor Jerry Treñas.
“Let us build the proposed railway system outside the city. By doing that, we also avoid displacing a lot of people,” he added.
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. wants the Panay railway system, which ceased in 1983 due to mounting losses, revived.
When it was operational in Iloilo City, the Panay railway trains ended at the passenger terminal along the wharf next to the Customs House and near where the current Iloilo City Hall stands. Trains ran across what is now the Drilon Bridge from La Paz district and down the bank of the Iloilo River to Muelle Loney at the Port of Iloilo.
“Ang akon lang, kanami naman sang dalan ta diri sa syudad. Within the city waay na kita kinahanglan railway. Obrahon ta na lang outside the city,” said Treñas.
Panay railway’s original route was 117 kilometers long and included 19 permanent and 10 flag stations. It connected the then towns of La Paz and Jaro (now districts of Iloilo City), Pavia, Santa Barbara, New Lucena, Pototan, Dingle, Dueñas, and Passi in Iloilo, and Dumarao, Dao, Panitan, Cuartero, and Loctugan in Capiz. It reached Roxas City.
In 1980s, a 12-kilometer spur was constructed from Dueñas to Calinog, Iloilo to serve a sugar refinery in Iloilo.
“I believe a railway system will help in the transport of goods and travel of persons. Pero ang worry ko ang panimalay nga ari diri sa syudad. Kadamo na gid sang panimalay (along the railway property),” said Treñas yesterday.
“I will suggest nga kon sigehon gid man ang railway, it should be outside the city,” he added.
Recalling the count of the Iloilo City Urban Poor Affairs Office done years ago, Treñas said around 1,500 houses/structures standing along the railway path would be affected by Panay railways’ revival.
The figure could be higher now, the mayor added.
In an interview with Cesar Capellan, director of the state-owned Panay Railways, Inc. (PRI) that operated the railways, they have 1,336 legal lessees in Iloilo City, broken down as follows:
* Lapuz – 38 houses
* La Paz – 385 houses
* Jaro – 913 houses.
But there could be more when illegal settlers on PRI’s property in the city are factored in.
“Kon i-relocate na sila, kadamo gid sang pangitaan sang relocation. Although the relocation of these people is not the responsibility of the city government but of Panay Railways, Inc. kay indi ‘ni sila informal settlers. Most of them are lessees of Panay Railways, Inc. Still, this is going to be a big problem kay ti mangita ka duta. Pila ang presyo sang duta? Paobrahan mo sila relocation site,” said Treñas.
Capellan said that won’t be a problem. The relocation would be included in the feasibility study that PRI would require interested investors in the Panay railways’ revival, he stressed.
“That is the reason why we need a new feasibility study to include ang mga costing sang relocation, fencing, locomotives and other aspect of the railway construction,” said Capellan.
President Marcos lamented that in recent years the country missed some great opportunities to develop its rail transport system.
“It is clear in my mind that railways offer great potential as it continues to be the cheapest way of transporting goods and passengers,” said Marcos during his July 25 State of the Nation Address.
The Panay railways started operating in 1907.
“We can build upon already existing lines by modernizing these old railway systems,” said Marcos.
The Panay railway system will be integrated as a vital part of the country’s transport and communications systems, he said, also mentioning, the 102-kilometer Mindanao Railway Project and the Cebu railway system.
Marcos described them as “larger-scale railway systems”./PN
