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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill NO. _________ 
Introduced by Representative Richard I. Gomez 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
According to 2019 data from the World Economic Forum, the Philippine 
railway infrastructure is currently ranked 86th out of 100 countries surveyed in terms of 
extensiveness and condition of efficiency. The railways have been one of the most 
underdeveloped and underestimated forms of transportation in the 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.  
As we approach the edge of the post-pandemic world, this challenge cannot be 
over emphasized. If the Philippines has to achieve economic recovery and beyond, the 
development of a modern, well-connected and pervasive railway system and network 
is imperative. 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 is holding back growth, especially in the countryside.  
In the previous administration, President Duterte already expressed support for 
the establishment of a Mindanao Railway System. To complement this, the Eastern 
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 seeks the immediate approval of the 
Ormoc-Southern Leyte Railway Act, that would plan, construct and operate the Eastern 
Visayas Railway System. This system would commence at Ormoc City, travelling 
southward along the west coast of the island of Leyte via Baybay City and Maasin City. 
This route would not only interconnect the major cities of the island of Leyte, but also 
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provide a freight transport infrastructure for the economic and industrial zones located 
along the same major cities.  
 
The creation and establishment of the Ormoc-Southern Leyte Railway System 
would provide a transport backbone that would support tourism and trade across Leyte 
and Southern Leyte and eventually bridge Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao via rail. Thus, 
the immediate approval of this bill is earnestly requested. 
 
 
 
RICHARD I. GOMEZ 


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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill NO. _________ 
Introduced by Representative Richard I. Gomez 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A RAILWAY SYSTEM IN 
THE EASTERN VISAYAS REGION, FROM ORMOC CITY, TO BAYBAY 
CITY, MAASIN CITY AND TO THE MUNICIPALITY OF SAN RICARDO 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 “Ormoc-Southern 
Leyte Railway Act of 2022.” 
SEC. 2. Establishment of the Ormoc-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  Ormoc City, to Baybay City, 
to Maasin City, and to the Municipality of San Ricardo 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  Ormoc-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 Ormoc-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 Ormoc City, Isabel and Baybay City.
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(B) Conduct a study on various modern 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, resiliency 
and disaster preparedness of the railway system; and 
(D) Prepare an 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 Ormoc-Southern Leyte Railway 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 Ormoc-Southern Leyte Railway 
System.  
 
SEC. 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – The Secretary of 
Transportation, in consultation with the Ormoc-Southern Leyte Railway 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, maybe be explored as 
per recommendation of technical studies and Ormoc-Southern Leyte Railway 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. 
 


 
 
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Approved,