PANAY RAILWAYS: Connecting People, One Rail at a Time

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PANAY RAILWAYS: Connecting People, One Rail at a Time

words by: MDPN. JOHN EUCLID P. PARREÑO &

Historically, the invention of railway systems eased the moving of goods in terms of land transportation around the world. With low fuel consumption and less driver costs compared to road transport, it became a greener and more practicable choice of shipping on land. Cruz (2015) considered it to be the most economical and efficient means of transportation worldwide.

In the Philippines, rail transportation mainly serves commuters within Metro Manila and the provinces of Laguna and Quezon as well as the Bicol region. Freight transport also once operated but was halted.

Somewhere south of Luzon back in 1907, a 117-kilometer railway that sliced Panay island into two equal parts existed and operated for more or less 76 years. This line served both passengers and freight from Capiz town (now Roxas City) to Iloilo town (now Iloilo City). Unfortunately, because of the declining sugar industry in Western Visayas, the railway stopped operating sometime in the mid-1980s (Salvilla, 2006).

The Revival

Talks about the revival of the Panay railway have been heard as early as 2006 but remained that way for almost 20 years. Hope about it becoming a reality was almost lost until President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. mentioned in his first SONA that the resurgence of the Panay Railway project is a “vital part of our transport and communication systems.”

According to Panay Railways Inc. (PRI) Chief Operating Officer, Cesar Capellan, the whole revival of the project will be a four-phase plan and the rail connecting Iloilo City and Roxas City is only the first phase. Other phases will connect Roxas City to Malay, Aklan, then from Aklan to Antique, and finally connecting Antique back to Iloilo City.

Benefactors

Raw materials, tourist spots, and products unique to specific places flourish in Panay. These have been essential for the overall economic growth of the island and its people. Moving people and goods within Panay by land has been mainly through bus or jeepney transport.

Introducing a greener and faster mode of transportation will hasten intra-island economic circulation and can cause economic growth to go through the roof.

Transporting raw materials such as sugarcane, corn, and flour to factories across provincial borders would become faster without the presence of traffic in railroads. This also benefits those companies who rely on perishable goods for production and other cargoes that are needed to be moved quickly.

Railroads would also be a new experience for the people of Panay. For years, buses were the only ones that could transport loads of passengers from one province to another. After the reconstruction of railroads and the reintroduction of trains, people would be glad to experience new things for a change.

On top of these, railways that pass through known destinations within the island of Panay provide the most convenient one-way ride. For example, when the rail that connects Roxas City to Malay, Aklan is finished, tourists can directly go to Boracay Island in only one ride.

Although it looks and sounds promising, the Panay Railway Project needs to undergo lots of processes before it can be materialized. Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Jamie Garcia said that funds are not yet available for the proposed project and its revival is not a priority of the agency.

Moreover, DOTr Undersecretary Cesar Chavez added that the directive from the secretary was to just study the railways. On top of that, Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas suggested that, should the railways be pushed through, it would be best if it is done outside Iloilo City as it would displace a large number of families living in around 1,000-1,500 houses.

Challenges

Lastly, PRI’s reliance on foreign investors for funding was the one that chained the whole project into words for the past 20 years. A lot of proponents vie for the responsibility but none has gotten past the feasibility study stage. Luckily, the main challenges involve budget constraints. Capellan stressed that the project is still achievable through Public-Private Partnership (PPP). The $1.5 million needed for the first phase of the project could easily be secured through a loan or will be provided by the proponent himself.

The most recent proponents who were interested are China Railway International Group Ltd. (CRIG), Londonbased Global Wealth Centres, and the Philippine-based Philtrak consortium - all of which are yet to undergo feasibility studies.

The Panay Railway System promises better transportation and economy for the people of Panay.

Despite the funding challenges in phase one, the ever-growing interest of both foreign and local proponents suggests that no matter the cost, finishing the project is so worth it.

Railway systems eased the moving of goods in terms of land transportation around the world. In Panay, it will not only improve the locals’ quality of life but also connect people one rail at a time. Panay Railways: A Brief Timeline

March 5, 1906

Panay Railways started as Philippine Railway Company Incorporated at Hardford, Connecticut, thru the initiative of Governor Raymundo Melliza.

June 8, 1906

Work started with one team starting from Capiz town (now Roxas City) and another from Iloilo town (now city).

1970s

The two teams met halfway somewhere along the 117-kilometer line. Operations began immediately with 19 permanent and 10 other flag stations.

1970s

Modern deluxe passenger cars were introduced, becoming a threat to the railways’ purpose.

1980s

A 12-kilometer spur line was erected from Dueñas to Calinog to serve the sugar refinery in Calinog.

1983 Panay Railways ceased operations due to declining sugar industry in Western Visayas.

source: https://www.thenewstoday. info/2006/07/28/panay.railways.html