DAVAO CITY (September 22) — Japan is open to studying possible financing support for the long-delayed Mindanao Railway Project if the Philippine government formally asks for assistance, Japanese Consul General in Davao Ono Hirotaka said.
Ono made the statement during the Japan-Philippines Friendship Kadayawan Matsuri Night on Sept. 18 at the Dusit Thani Davao.
“Of course, we will study if the Philippine government asks for assistance. We are ready to study,” Ono said when asked about Japan’s possible role in financing the railway.
He clarified that there are no discussions at his level, adding that any formal negotiations would be handled through the Japanese Embassy in Manila.
Railway still awaits funding
The railway lost its original prospective funding arrangement with China, leaving the Philippine government looking for alternative financing. The Department of Transportation continues to list the project among its infrastructure priorities, but implementation timelines remain uncertain.
The proposed 2027 national budget reportedly has no dedicated allocation for the project, although Congress may still amend the spending plan.
The railway is envisioned to connect key areas of Mindanao, beginning with the Tagum-Davao-Digos corridor, to improve passenger and freight movement and strengthen economic links across the island.
Families moved, railway still waiting
For some families along the proposed route, the railway is no longer just a plan on paper.
At least 159 families in Davao Region have already been relocated to make way for the project, even though construction has yet to move forward under a firm timetable.
Their relocation underscores a difficult reality surrounding the long-delayed project: communities have already absorbed the social cost of preparing for a railway whose construction remains uncertain.
For families who have left their homes, the question is no longer simply when the railway will be funded. It is what happens to the communities asked to make way for it if delays continue.
The government faces the challenge of ensuring that relocation and right-of-way efforts are matched by clear project timelines, adequate support for affected families and meaningful progress toward construction.
Japan’s possible role
Japan has a long record of supporting Philippine infrastructure, including projects in Mindanao involving transport, flood control and urban planning.
Japanese assistance has included the Davao City Bypass Road, flood-control projects in Matina and Metro Davao planning support, alongside longstanding peace and development initiatives.
The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has previously indicated that further studies and clearer project details would be needed before financing the Mindanao Railway could be considered.
Ono’s statement opens another avenue for the Philippine government as it searches for a financing partner.
For Mindanao, however, the railway’s progress will be measured not only by financing agreements but also by what happens to the families and communities already affected by its proposed route.
They have already moved. The railway is still waiting.
