Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 3 69

Introduced by Representative Richard I. Gomez, DPA

EXPLANATORY NOTE

According to 2019 data from the World Economic Forum, the Philippine
railway infrastructure is currently ranked 86" out of 100 countries surveyed in terms of
extensiveness and condition of efficiency. Railway has been one of the most
underdeveloped and underestimated forms of transportation in our country. Realizing
this, the government has attempted to revive and redevelop the railway system, albeit
mostly in Luzon, in the last decades. Although the efforts have seen limited success,
this does not change the reality that rail is a vital element in our country’s development.

The Philippines continues to be one of the fast-growing nations in the world
today, and this is even without the full benefit of railway infrastructure. Such
infrastructure, especially if accessible across the entire archipelago, is one that
compensates for the drawbacks of a country geographically disconnected into 7,641
islands. The development of a modem, well-connected railway system and network is
imperative for the Philippines to maximize its economic poteatial. This will not only
be essential within Luzon island but in the Visayas region and Mindanao island, as well.

The role of infrastructure in supporting industries such as manufacturing,
tourism, food production and trade, is vital not just for growth, but to their very survival.
Every study of the country’s economic competitiveness tags infrastructure as one of the
missing links that holds back growth, especially in the countryside.

There are also parallel plans for the establishment of a Mindanao Railway
System. To complement this, the Eastem Visayas Region is well positioned as the
railway bridge that would connect the entire archipelago from Luzon to Mindanao via
rail. Such a vision would, of course, be a decades long undertaking: so therefore, it is
only sensible to begin the construction of the inter-regional railway systems along the
same timeline, so the next stage of connecting the three regional railways systems
would coincide, as well.


With this in mind, this representation secks the immediate approval of the
“Tacloban-Ormoc-Baybay-Pintuyan, Southern Leyte Railway Act,” that would plan,
construct and operate the Easter Visayas Railway System. This system would
commence at Tacloban City, traverse to Ormoc City, and travel southward along the
west coast of the island of Leyte via Baybay City all the way to the tip of Southem
Leyte, in the Municipality of Pintuyan, which is closest to Mindanao. This route would
not only interconnect the major cities of the island of Leyte, but also provide a freight
transport infrastructure for the economic and industrial zones located along the same
major cities.

The creation and establishment of the Tacloban-Ormoc-Baybay-Pintuyan,
Southern Leyte Railway System would provide a transport backbone that would
support tourism and trade across Leyte and Southem Leyte and eventually bridge
Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao via rail. Thus, the immediate approval of this bill is
earnestly requested.

RICHARD L. Gj Z, DPA


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTA‘
Quezon City, Metro Manila

TWENTIETH CONGRESS:
First Regular Session

House BillNo._ 369

Introduced by Representative Richard I. Gomez, DPA

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A RAILWAY SYSTEM IN
THE EASTERN VISAYAS REGION, FROM TACLOBAN CITY, TO ORMOC
CITY, BAYBAY CITY, AND TO THE MUNICIPALITY OF PINTUYAN IN
THE PROVINCE OF SOUTHERN LEYTE, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS
THEREFOR

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines
in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the “Tacloban-Ormoc-
Baybay- Pintuyan, Souther Leyte Railway Act of 2025.”

SEC. 2. Establishment of the Tacloban-Ormoc-Baybay-Pintuyan, Southern
Leyte Railway System. — There shall be established a railway system in the Eastern
Visayas Region under the administration of the Philippine National Railways, from
Tacloban City, Ormoc City, to Baybay City and to the Municipality of Pintuyan in the
Province of Southern Leyte. The Central Station of said railway system shall be located
in Ormoc City.

SEC. 3. Route, Alignment, Safety and Efficiency of the Tacloban-Ormoc-
Baybay-Pintuyan, Southern Leyte Railway System. — The Department of
Transportation (DoTr), in coordination with the Department of Public Works and
Highways (DPWH) and the Philippine National Railways (PNR), shall undertake the
following:

(A) A. comprehensive study of the Tacloban-Ormoc-Baybay-Pintuyan,
Southern Leyte Railway System to determine the most feasible and optimal
route, taking into consideration the agro-industrial, tourism and ecozone
transportation and freight infrastructure needs of Tacloban City, Ormoc
City, Baybay City and other surrounding economic centers.

3


(B) Conduct a study on various moder locomotive technology, including those
utilizing either electricity or diesel, to offer options that produce negative
carbon transportation, as well as high efficiency;

(C)Conduct an immediate technical study on the safety, efficiency, resilience
and disaster preparedness of the railway system; and

(D) Prepare a sound land expropriation plan, including but not limited to land
surveys that provides for fair acquisition prices as well as proper relocation
of displaced families.

SEC. 4. Establishment of Tacloban-Ormoc-Baybay-Pintuyan, Southern
Leyte Railway System Working Group. — The Secretary of Transportation, in
consultation with the DPWH and the PNR, shall establish a working group which shall
include, but not limited to, local chief executives of affected local government units,
and lawmakers of affected districts. This working group shall be consulted on all
matters concerning the Tacloban-Ormoc-Baybay-Pintuyan, Southern Leyte Railway
‘System.

SEC. 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The Secretary of
Transportation, in consultation with the Tacloban-Ormoc-Baybay- Pintuyan, Southern
Leyte Railway System Working Group shall promulgate the necessary rules and
regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.

SEC. 6. Funding. - The amount necessary for the conduct of the necessary
technical studies, shall be sourced from the current budget of the DoTr and the PNR.
Other funding mechanisms, such as public-private partnerships, may be explored as per
recommendation of technical studies and Tacloban-Ormoc-Baybay-Pintuyan, Southem
Leyte Railway System Working Group.

SEC, 7. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication either in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general

circulation.

Approved,