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The Department of Transportation is seeking a consultant to conduct the feasibility study for the proposed Samar-Leyte Railway and Panay Railway projects
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DOTr will spend P157.208 million for the consultancy services, which will assist the government in project preparation of railway investments in the Western and Eastern Visayas regions
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The consultant will be required to carry out the feasibility study for the Samar-Leyte Railway Project and updating the feasibility study for the Panay Railway Project
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is seeking a consultant to conduct a feasibility study for the proposed Samar-Leyte Railway and Panay Railway projects.
In a request for interest, DOTr said it will spend P157.208 million for the consultancy services, which will assist the government in project preparation of railway investments in the Western and Eastern Visayas regions. The consultant will be required to carry out the feasibility study for the Samar-Leyte Railway Project and updating the feasibility study for the Panay Railway Project.
DOTr last year tried to bid out the consultancy services for the two projects separately, but both were declared failed.
READ: DOTr looking for railway project consultants
According to the project’s terms of reference (TOR), the Visayas Region, particularly Western Visayas (Region VI) and Eastern Visayas (Region VIII), lacks an operational rail transport system. At present, the movement of people and goods between cities relies primarily on road-based modes of transportation, including trucks, buses, jeepneys, tricycles, and private vehicles.
“However, this setup offers limited connectivity between production areas and markets. Relying solely on road transport within these cities is not as efficient as integrating a railway network, particularly freight.
“Implementing railway projects like the Panay Railway and Samar-Leyte Railway would significantly enhance mobility, reduce travel time, lower transportation costs, and support economic growth in these regions,” the TOR added.
The proposed Panay Railway and Samar-Leyte Railway projects aim to transform regional mobility projects and are in line with the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023–2028, which emphasizes the enhancement of physical connectivity and the development of resilient, inclusive, and sustainable infrastructure.
The proposed projects also support the objectives of the Visayas Spatial Development Framework (VSDF) 2015-2045, which envisions a more integrated and balanced spatial development across the Visayas sub-regions.
The VSDF identifies the need to strengthen connectivity among growth centers, logistics hubs, and rural areas to promote regional complementation and reduce geographic and economic disparities.
“By connecting major urban centers, agricultural production zones, and ports in Panay, Samar, and Leyte, the railway systems will serve as a backbone for integrated regional development, supporting the VSDF’s thrust toward spatial equity, resilience, and economic convergence,” according to the TOR.
Moreover, it said the establishment of the railway systems will not only significantly shorten travel time and lower logistics expenses but will also unlock economic opportunities by linking key agricultural, industrial, and urban areas.
The DOTr, in coordination with the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev), the Regional Development Council (RDC) VI, and key stakeholders, will serve as both the implementing and executing agency for the development of the Panay Railway Project.
Similarly, the DOTr, DEPDev, and the RDC VIII will assume the roles of implementing and executing agency for the development of the Samar-Leyte Railway Project.
Submission of eligibility documents by interested consultants will be until September 8, 2025.
A short list of consultants will be drawn from those who have submitted their expression of interest, including the eligibility documents, and have been determined as eligible.
Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, cooperatives, and partnerships or organizations with at least 60% interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines.
The biddings will be conducted through an open competitive bidding procedure under Republic Act No. 9184 or the Government Reform Procurement Act.
