Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas is delighted that the revival of the railway system on Panay Island is among the priority infrastructure projects of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
Marcos mentioned the Panay Railway project during his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, July 25.
“Beyond the NCR (National Capital Region), larger-scale railway systems like the 102-kilometer Mindanao Railways Project, the Panay Railway project, and the Cebu railway system will be integrated as a vital part of our transport and communications systems,” he said.
In a statement, Treñas said: “I am elated that he wants to revive the Panay railways, and continue all effective infrastructure projects in the Visayas Region.”
According to Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr., the revival of the railway system “will be a game changer project and a backbone transport system that is truly aligned with the direction we are pursuing for Iloilo and Region VI.”
The railway, operated by the state-owned Panay Railways Inc. (PRI), was built during the American colonial period.
Its original route was 117 kilometers (73 mi) long, connecting Iloilo City and Roxas City in Capiz. Operations stopped since 1985.IMT
