President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has created an inter-agency committee tasked to oversee the right-of-way (ROW) activities for the country’s railway projects to expedite the process of land acquisition needed for their implementation.
Under Administrative Order (AO) 19 signed by Mr. Marcos on March 25, the Secretary of the Department of Transportation will serve as the chairperson of the inter-agency committee, with the secretary of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development serving as co-chair.
“The Inter-Agency Committee for ROW Activities for National Railway Projects (Committee) is hereby created to study and devise an efficient and collaborative mechanism to streamline the process of land acquisition necessary for the implementation of all railway projects,” President Marcos said in the AO.
The committee’s responsibilities include coordinating the implementation of railway policies and projects, formulating and endorsing project-specific policies and programs, and identifying appropriate services or programs related to land acquisition and other ROW activities, including livelihood, income restoration, and resettlement.
Additionally, the committee will identify effective existing policies, agreements, contracts, and similar arrangements among government agencies, consolidate and mobilize agency resources to streamline budgeting; deliberate and resolve issues and grievances; and create technical working groups to execute the order.
The administrative order appoints the Secretary of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) as the chairperson, with the head of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development as co-chair.
Committee members include the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Finance (DOF), the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Department of Justice (DOJ), and the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG).
The Philippine National Railway (PNR) will serve as the Secretariat of the Committee, providing administrative and technical assistance.
Republic Act (RA) No. 10752, also known as the “Right-of-Way (ROW) Act,” enables the government to acquire real property required as ROW site or location for any national government infrastructure project through donation, negotiated sale, expropriation, or any other means of acquisition.
In line with the administration’s Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028 and its 8-Point Socioeconomic Agenda, the initiative aims to improve the Philippine transportation sector by offering sustainable and affordable transportation choices that link communities to economic, social, and cultural hubs.
Key infrastructure projects in the administration’s transportation sector agenda include the Metro Manila Subway Project, North-South Commuter Railway System, Mindanao Railway Project, and PNR South Long Haul. These projects are designed to enhance mobility, boost connectivity, and stimulate growth centers beyond the urban-industrial area.