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President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. has established an inter-agency committee for right-of-way activities for national railway projects
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Administrative Order No. 19 aims to streamline the land acquisition process necessary to implement railway projects nationwide
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The President outlined the committee’s mandate to study and develop an efficient and collaborative mechanism for land acquisition
President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. has established an inter-agency committee for right-of-way (ROW) activities for national railway projects.
Administrative Order No. 19, issued on March 25, is designed to streamline the land acquisition process necessary for the implementation of railway projects across the country.
The committee will “study and devise an efficient and collaborative mechanism to streamline the process of land acquisition necessary for the implementation of all railway projects,” the order read.
Its responsibilities include coordinating the implementation of railway policies and projects, formulating and approving project-specific policies and programs, and identifying appropriate services or programs related to land acquisition and other ROW activities such as livelihood, income restoration, and resettlement.
Moreover, the Committee will assess existing policies, agreements, contracts, and similar arrangements among government agencies, pool and mobilize agency resources to streamline budgeting, address issues and grievances, and establish technical working groups to execute the order effectively.
The secretary of the Department of Transportation will serve as chair, with the head of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development as co-chair.
Other members include representatives from the departments of the Interior and Local Government, Social Welfare and Development, Environment and Natural Resources, Finance, Budget and Management, Justice, and the Office of the Solicitor General.
The Philippine National Railways will act as the committee’s secretariat, providing administrative and technical support.
In line with Republic Act No. 10752, or the “Right-of-Way Act,” the government is authorized to acquire real property for national government infrastructure projects through various means such as donation, negotiated sale, or expropriation.
The Marcos administration’s Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028 and its 8-Point Socioeconomic Agenda aim to enhance the Philippine transportation sector by providing sustainable and affordable transportation options linking communities to economic, social, and cultural hubs.
Priority infrastructure projects in the transportation sector include the Metro Manila Subway Project, North-South Commuter Railway System, Mindanao Railway Project, and PNR South Long Haul.
