Mindanao Railway Gets ZERO Funding, Travellers Left Struggling

Travellers in Mindanao are still waiting for a fast, comfortable railway that could transform how they explore the island. Department of Transportation (DOTr) confirmed that its ₱197 billion proposed budget for 2026 does not include any funds for the Mindanao Railway Project.

For now, the project is stuck in study mode. DOTr officials said the feasibility study is being updated while waiting for potential funders. But this means tourists and locals are still stuck with costly flights and exhausting bus rides between Mindanao’s cities.

Image credit: Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) Website

The Mindanao Railway is planned as a 1,544-kilometre network connecting major cities like:

• Davao

• Cagayan de Oro

• General Santos

• Cotabato

• Iligan

• Zamboanga

• Butuan

• Surigao

• Malaybalay

Phase 1 - the 100-kilometre Tagum-Davao-Digos (TDD) line would include eight stations across Davao del Norte and Davao del Sur. A journey that takes three to four hours by road today could be cut to just one hour by train.

Phase 3 - still under feasibility study, is a ₱100.64-billion line in Metro Cagayan de Oro. It covers 54.8 kilometres and is designed to link Laguindingan International Airport, the Port of Cagayan de Oro, the Mindanao Container Port, and surrounding industrial estates — a huge benefit for both travellers and businesses.

The full railway system would not only ease passenger movement but also move cargo more efficiently, strengthening Mindanao’s tourism and economy.

Also read: Are We Finally Getting Japan-Level Trains? Japan’s Biggest Transport Firms Bid to Run PH’s Mega Railway Project

The Mindanao Railway’s first phase was supposed to break ground in 2019. But funding setbacks and the cancellation of Chinese financing in 2023 left it hanging. Despite repeated announcements and feasibility studies, construction has yet to begin.

The DOTr admitted that only 14 out of 81 provinces in the Philippines have operational or approved inter-regional railways. That is just 17 percent which is far behind Vietnam (41 percent), Thailand (55 percent), and Japan (98 percent).

While other countries are expanding scenic rail routes that attract millions of tourists, Mindanao’s dream train is still just an idea on paper.

Also read: First Direct RoRo Ferry Now Links Mindanao and Luzon

For visitors and locals alike, the absence of the Mindanao Railway is more than just a missed project.

• Longer journeys: Trips that could take one hour by train still take three to five hours by bus.

• Higher costs: Flights between Mindanao cities remain expensive, especially for budget-conscious travellers.

• Missed opportunities: Without a railway, exploring multiple cities in one trip is tiring and impractical.

• Regional inequality: Luzon’s rail projects are moving forward, while Mindanao is left waiting.

Until funding is secured, Mindanao travellers remain stuck with slow roads and pricey flights, while the promise of a modern railway slips further away.

Featured Image credit: Mindanao Railway Watchers Facebook Page