“Mindanao Railway System: Modern Revolution of Davao”

An Argumentative Research Paper

Presented to:
Benedict V. Omblero, Ph.D.

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements in

Purposive Communication
MW 9:20AM – 10:50AM

Presented by:
Colanggo, Eljen
Dagala, Khrys
Lavarias, Lorenz
 According to the Manila Bulletin (2015) one major issue that the
Philippines faces aside from poverty and corruption is traffic congestion. Traffic
congestion is a term utilized when numerous vehicles are obstructed in one spot,
and there is very slow or no movement (Kockelman, 2004). On roads, traffic
congestion can be caused by extreme cars from various bearings, sometimes
even causing deadlock. It is a costly issue, particularly in Davao City. Billions of
pesos are wasted due to traffic congestion, which happens regularly. Not only
money is lost; however, individuals who drive getting down to business lose time
that could have been utilized to earn money, and energy (Essay,UK., 2018)
The leading causes of traffic congestion are overpopulation, absence of
urban street planning, broadly utilizing private vehicles, road capacity, and
insufficient and inadequate public transport. As a result of aforementioned
causes, a negative effect on the environment, human health, and economy. As
an instance of environmental impact, air and sound pollution leading to
individuals suffering from heart disease, asthma, and lung cancer.
In addition to time loss, the vehicle consumes more energy but results to
reduction of productivity as the prevailing economic effect. Numerous alternatives
are considered in order to tackle traffic issues. A few of the most appropriate
alternatives built by some towns are underground metro, using public transport,
expanding the ability of highways, reducing second-hand import cars, and
improving traffic light signals. The city built a solution correctly to reduce or curb
traffic jams.
Schneider (2018) stated that in the United States alone, last year's
congestion cost $305 billion, up to $10 billion from 2016. That's the broad,
unfortunate takeaway from the transportation consulting company INRIX's largest
ever research of worldwide vehicle traffic. With five terabytes of information on
1,360 towns in 38 nations, the study gives a robust empirical understanding of
how much traffic congestion costs individual in cities and drivers
Perhaps unsurprisingly, traffic involves the most important economic toll on the
biggest most economically vibrant cities. These figures are due, among other variables,
to the reduced productivity of employees stuck in the traffic, the enhanced cost of
transportation of products through congested regions, and all that wasted energy.
Even if motorists do not immediately pay the actual vehicle travel expenses, other
tolls are enforced appropriately, both external as air pollution and internal as stress.
Nevertheless, these implications do not seem to be sufficient to prevent any
individual from riding: As petrol rates stay small, traveled car miles continues to
raise- the 3.2 trillion miles in the U.S. last year represent an all-time high.
An article by Rapple (2017), in Metro Manila, commuters and motorists are
more likely to spend more than an hour, on average, in traffic every day, this puts the
Philippines ' capital area 3rd as has the worst traffic in Southeast Asia. This was among
the results of the latest survey undertaken by the worldwide company Boston
Consulting Group (BCG) as part of research entitled "Unlocking Cities." The
research, sponsored by Uber ridesharing platform, looks at Southeast Asia's
effect of ridesharing. The associated study was conducted between September
and October, encompassing about 300 Southeast Asian towns participants. In
comparison, the result it arrives after the worst traffic in Bangkok, Thailand which is 72
minutes and the second-worst traffic in Jakarta, Indonesia which is 68 minutes. Singapore
which is 30 minutes and Hong Kong which is 35 minutes are the highest performances in
terms of transportation. In Metro Manila, in addition to the 66-minute traffic experience,
riders also waste an average of 24 minutes looking for parking each day.
In Davao City, the Davao City Transport and Traffic Management Office
(CTTMO) stated that the growing amount of cars on the highways is one of the factors
for the stronger traffic in the town. According to CTTMO director Dionisio Abude,
several other variables add to the city's deteriorating traffic situation, such as
continuing highway building/repair, bridge repair, road widening, and
undisciplined riders. Due to the continuing subterranean cabling work of Davao
Light and Power Company (DLPC), which seeks to eliminate unsightly electrical
and telecommunications wires on the town roads, heavy traffic is mainly found in
downtown regions. Currently, the project is on its first alongside C.M Recto St.,
where the intersection between San Pedro St. and covered along R. Magsaysay
Avenue. Abude stated they are now draining up plans to mitigate the city’s
congestion and suggest it to the local government (Revita, 2019).
A new house bill was proposed to take an intervention caused by traffic
congestion in the city. House bill No. 123 – an act creating the Mindanao railway
corporation, prescribing its power, function, and duties, and providing for the
necessary funds for its operation. Considering Davao's adverse traffic status, an
alternative train transportation scheme must be enforced as it is an environment-
friendly means of transportation, provides less traffic jam to the main road and lead
to the economic development of the city.

Environment-friendly means of transportation. Environment-friendly

means of transportation are transports that generate less damaging
environmental effects than free cars. Rail or train transport is the most
environment-friendly way to travel. The greenhouse effect on rail transport of gas
emissions per kilometer is 80 percent lower than that of usual vehicles. It
performs a significant part in addressing the problems of the environment. It can
improve air quality, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and saves energy (FTA,
2016).
Improve air quality. By decreasing overall vehicle emissions and smog-
creating pollutants, rail transport can assist metropolitan areas in fulfilling national
air quality standards. In urban and suburban regions where traffic congestion is
the worst, air quality is often the poorest. This has meant that residents of these
areas, particularly those living close to major roads or highways, face significantly
higher health risks due to poor air quality. Public transportation can decrease the
need for many distinct journeys in populated metropolitan regions by personal
cars, replacing many different emission-producing cars with fewer transit cars
that usually emit less pollution per individual.

Reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Train transportation can reduce

greenhouse gas emissions by moving more people with fewer vehicles. On
average, heavy rail transportation, such as subways and metros, produces 76
percent reduced greenhouse gas emissions per passenger mile than a single-
occupancy average car SOV. Light rail systems yield 62% less, and bus transit
generates 33% less. Transit can also decrease greenhouse gas pollution by
enabling compact growth, preserving property, and reducing the distances that
individuals need to move to locations. Also, transit decreases emissions from
vehicles that are stuck in traffic by reducing congestion. Finally, by using efficient
cars, alternative fuels, and reducing the effect of project building and service
activities, transit can minimize its greenhouse gas pollution.

Saves Energy. Fuel can be saved by sharing trips through rail transport. It
also reduces the need to build more transportation infrastructure, manufacture
brand-new cars, and extract more fossil fuels, which means more energy savings
and less impact on the environment. As cars caught in gridlock waste fuel and
produce emissions, congestion relief from transit also saves gas. The transport
industry is one of the world's primary energy consumers. With many developing
globe countries growing in energy use, demand for scarce assets is increasingly
outstripping the availability accessible. As cars caught in gridlock waste fuel and
produce emissions, congestion relief by using transit also saves gas.
Considering the beneficial impacts of rail transport, railway design and
operation imply modifications in the surrounding landscape that change
microclimate, soil and hydrological dynamics and contribute to the degradation of
natural habitat for many animals. The primary problems induced by railways
during operation are air, land and water pollution, as well as noise and vibration,
which can change the abundance of organisms and animals (e.g., Penone 2012;
Clauzel 2013).
Air Pollution. Traffic gas emissions are a significant cause of
environmental pollution worldwide. These emissions are primarily dependent on
the sort of gas and transport. Potential causes of rail-related contaminants
include diesel exhaust and brake, wheel, and rail abrasion, as well as mineral
transport dust and handled railway linkage (Levengood et al. 2015).
 Soil Pollution. Emissions from transport have become one of the most
significant causes of heavy metal, PAHs and herbicides in the soil with the rise in
human population and cars. Combustion of fuel, abrasion of vehicles and track
materials, and spilled goods emit particles comprising metals stored in the soil,
where they can stay for many years owing to their small biodegradability (Zhang
et al. 2012).
Water Pollution. Railway-related infrastructures (e.g., petroleum product
leakage from fuel storage tanks) add to aquatic ecosystems along with pollutants
In rivers bisected or bound by railways, Levengood (2015) reported elevated
levels of PAHs and heavy metals. They showed that the downstream level of
PAH was higher than that of the railway upstream (Levengood 2015). They also
discovered that concentrations of phenanthrene and dibenzo (a, h) anthracene (a
PAH component) were a danger to aquatic life at some locations, whereas the
values of chromium (Cr) were still below levels of concern for marine life.
Despite the adverse impacts of railways, rail transport has a comparatively
excellent environment record in many ways. So, deciding to travel by train rather
than by vehicle, one makes a personal contribution immediately to minimize the
environmental impact. And every contribution count, however small it may be.

Equipping the city with a train transportation system also provides less
traffic jam to the main road. It takes up less space than cars, accommodate
more people than the regular transport system we use, and travels faster than
the current transportation system.
Having a train transportation system does not take much space as
highways for cars do. According to ANSA East Asia and Pacific’s Monitoring
Guide for Roads, the standard width of highways in the Philippines for a two-way
traffic is 6.10 meters long. This means an estimated of 3 meters per lane
considering it is a 1 lane road (back and forth). In Davao City, most of its highway
has 4-6 lanes connecting the entire City. Not only that we have to consider the
main road, the cars using it also takes up parking space. The standard space for
a parking lot in the Philippines is 2.4 by 5 meters long. Multiplying this by how
many private and public cars there are surely takes a lot of space. Some even
park on the streets. The standard width of a train track is only 4 ft wide which is
significantly less than of the highway. Since a train is also naturally fast, it would
encourage commuters to use it, making the highways less congested.
A train system can also accommodate more people than the regular
transportations do in the Philippines. According to the Development of
Customized Local Road Vehicle (CLRV) Standards in the Philippines, the
standard width of a jeepney is 11 meters long with a maximum height of 4
meters. That is roughly 23 passengers at most. A Light Rail Transit on the other
hand based on the
General Guidelines for the Design of Light Rail Transit Facilities in Edmonton
being 23 meters long can accommodate 160-200 passengers. This roughly 3-4
times a jeepney can carry. This difference is very significant especially in Davao
where there is a rapid growth in volume of cars and expanding the road is
becoming a problem due to establishments being close to it.
Riding a train is faster than a jeepney. Both can travel at a regulated
speed of around 40-60kph on their respective area, but a train is somehow
better. It might be true that they can travel at the same speed, but with the very
congested highways in the Philippines, it is sometimes impossible to even reach
the standard limit for these 4-wheeled vehicles. A train is systematically
organized to travel smoothly even with the presence of other trains in the track.
In Manila, The Light Rail Transit system or LRT has their trains travelling within
an interval of 4 mins, enough for each to react and reduce speed to avoid
collision may danger might occur.
Having a train with no traffic jams comes with its different downsides.
Train tracks takes time to build, has its stops defined at different terminals, and
you have to secure for your ticket and wait for your turn before riding it.
Since having a train is new to Davao, it would first start with building the
path where the train would be, and other details of the train system itself. Unlike
the current roads, there is already a defined path where the cars can travel and it
is just a matter of maintenance or reinforcing the old ones when engineers are
involved. Building a train system will take a lot of time. According to Philstar
Global the first LRT and MRT construction in Manila took place on 1981 and was
opened to public on 1984. Regardless of how long, it will take almost the same
time considering the terminals and clearing of its path.
A train strictly follows stopping within terminals. Considering there are
other trains using the track, you cannot stop just anytime or anywhere to get or
unload passengers as it might lead to unwanted events. Jeepneys have much
nearer stops that covers a closer gap within each destination. This means that
you can stop directly or near your destination than riding a train.
Riding a train cost more than a jeepney. The train ticket depends on
varying destinations, but train tickets are more expensive than jeepney fare.
According to the department of Transportation for Light Rail Transit Authority in
Manila, the first 4 km ride for the LRT is already 15 pesos. The first 4 km for
jeepney fare is just 8 pesos. These numbers would vary at different distance and
rate but there is an observable difference with the numbers.

The establishment of a train transport system can also lead to the

economic development of the city. It can help the government to easily earn
from the commuter’s fare, speed up communications/ transactions, and enhance
job accessibility.

An example of a train transport system in the Philippines is the Manila’s

Light Rail Transit system where it officially started in the year 1878. In the
present, having two-line rails with 10 trains, each with 1250 capacity, it has a
yearly passenger ridership of 250 million and a daily average ridership of 180
thousand. Given with a fare of 11 to 15 pesos per station, this Train has an
average revenue of 3.3 billion from the train system itself and other businesses it
created. Given this revenue, it has a net income of 1.6 billion pesos (Authority,
2018).
 Given the income of 1.6 billion pesos of income, this shows that a modern
transportation system like the train system can help the government in earning
profit from the fare of the commuters daily.
Increasing the income of the city government and reducing the average
fare of the commuter can be of a great help and a motivation to people to support
and choose the train system compared to other transport system.

The train transport system can also speed up communications/

transactions. Compared with jeepney it also has a regulated speed of 30-60 kph
yet having its rails above the ground, it doesn’t experience traffic congestions
and unexpected stops due to car accidents on the road (Valdez, 2019). It can
easily transport goods and decrease travel time for commuter’s which are
travelling to their workplaces. Also, the train system can be a solution to the
problem during peak hours as Davao City commuter’s experience overpopulated
jeepneys and buses or being late from school/ work due to fully occupied
jeepneys (Apique, 2017). Speeding up the travel time of people can make them
more efficient at work and also increase rest and work time.

The creation of train system can also help new businesses to emerge thus
increases opportunity for cities to develop. One example of a business that can
emerge is rentals near the train stations and franchises. Like for example, the
Manila Light Rail Transit System earns around 200-300 million yearly from
advertisements and space rentals in the station. These businesses stated can
offer new job opportunities for people. Also, when considering that the train
system can travel to different nearby cities faster, job opportunities will also be
increased. People from Davao City, can work to agricultural lands outside the city
without any hassle and people far away from Davao can find office work and
other types in the city. The train system can also help students which are from
provinces which has less opportunities when it comes to studying for their dream
job and work. They can easily travel from home to school and it can reduce
expenses as students don't need to rent a house or an apartment to stay.
 Yet, the government can earn much from the commuter’s fare, it requires
a great sum of money to be invested in the building of a train system. It takes
years or a decade to reach the return of investment. Also, given a large amount
of revenue from the system, it also leads to a large amount of expenses from
materials, maintenance, overhead and salaries of the people.

Also, speeding up communications/ transaction in the long run caused by

the train system is a good benefit but it can also cause interruptions of some
communication and transaction while the system is under construction and it can
cause some destruction where the train system is being built. According to Pilapil
(2018), some residents of Davao City protest against the Mindanao Railway
Project as the railway will be built along their lands. This report shows that even
in the planning of the alignment of the railway, residents are against the train
system for it can cause an increase of noise in the area and destruction of their
lands which can lead to moving of people to other areas.

Lastly, the train system can also reduce job opportunity most especially
from competing transportation system which are buses, jeepneys and vans.
According to Rappler (2019), the Davao city bus system are going to affect 7,000
jeepney drivers and can cause loss of livelihoods for people. When most people
choose the train system rather than jeepneys, which has the most number in the
Philippines and even in Davao City, some drivers will lose their jobs and find
another job to make a living. Jeepney driver can have a problem in reaching their
daily quota in order to pay for the rental and gasoline expense of their jeepney.

The establishment of a new railway transportation system in Davao City

can address traffic by providing an environment- friendly means of transportation,
less traffic jam to the main road, and a more positive economic development of
the city.

Making use of a railway system consequently have a positive and

negative impact in the condition of the environment. It is an energy efficient
transportation that improves the quality of air while reducing the overall
greenhouse gas emission of the society. It does so by decreasing the need of
people to use personal cars and the usual jeepney transport used in Davao. This
would mean that having a fewer people to use such means of transportation can
lessen its overall emission of greenhouse gas and saving its fuel needed to
travel. Yet, this transportation comes with its negative effects polluting the soil,
water, and air by releasing its own material output like any cars do. Despite
having these negative effects, the amount of people it can accommodate
compared to a great volume of car with few passenger means that it releases
significantly less negative output making it a better transportation.

This alternative transportation also reduce traffic jams by accommodating

huge amount of people in such a smaller width of track compared to the regular
highway yet a much faster mode than the usual jeepney people use. The
downside of this alternative transportation is the construction of the railway itself
that would take time, and finding the right area to build the whole system of rails
across the city. Regardless, having this being constructed would really save
people the time and hassle to go to different places they should be any time.
Regarding the economic growth of the city itself, having a train
transportation system would increase the economic value of the city given its
high amount of paying passengers per run, while increasing the speed of
communication for business transactions, and providing new outlets for other
business to emerge. Despite these given positive results, it would still take time,
just like other businesses, for it to recover its capital. It might also take away jobs
from some jeepney drivers, but would anyway give alternative ones in the
construction and the actual operation of the business itself.
Overall, the positive result outweighs the negative ones. This means that
having an alternative transportation system like the train transportation would
really give benefit to the City of Davao in terms of environment, current state of
traffic, and the economic value. These benefits would not be instantly observed,
but giving it a little time would really result to positive outcomes.
 References
Authority, L. R. (2018, May). 2017 Annual Report. Pasig, Philippines.

Valdez, D. (2019, May 2). Gov’t sees boost in MRT-3 speed, trains after turnover. Retrieved from
Business World: https://www.bworldonline.com/govt-sees-boost-in-mrt-3-speed-trains-
after-turnover/

Apique, C. (2017, October 8). Commuters speak up on transpo, traffic. Sunstar Davao.

Pilapil, V. (2018, December 15). Davao City residents protest proposed Mindanao Railway
project. Retrieved from ABS-CBN NEWS: https://news.abs-
cbn.com/news/12/15/18/davao-city-residents-protest-proposed-mindanao-railway-
project

Rappler. (2019, June 07). PHILIPPINES Davao city bus system to affect 7,000 jeepney drivers.
Retrieved from Rappler: https://www.rappler.com/nation/232490-davao-city-bus-
system-effect-jeepney-drivers

CityLab. (2019). Retrieved from The High Cost of Global Traffic Jams:
https://www.citylab.com/transportation/2018/02/traffics-mind-boggling-economic-
toll/552488/ [Accessed 1 Sep. 2019].

Clauzel, C. (2013). Impact assessment of a high-speed railway line on species distribution:

Application to the European tree frog (Hyla arborea) in Franche-Comté. Journal of
Environmental Management. Retrieved from
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301479713002624

Administration., F. T. (2016). Retrieved from Transit’s Role in Environmental Sustainability:

https://www.transit.dot.gov/regulations-and-guidance/environmental-
programs/transit-environmental-sustainability/transit-role

(2019). Retrieved from Exit Essay: Traffic Congestion in Metro Manila:

ttps://a58akreyes.wordpress.com/201504/16/exit-essay-traffic-congestion-in-metro-
manila/

Kockelman, K. (2004). Traffic congestion, in K. Myer (ed.), Handbook of transportation

engineering, New York: McGraw-Hill.

Levengood, J. (2015). Retrieved from Polyaromatic hydrocarbons and elements in sediments

associated with a suburban railway. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 187, 1–
12.: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10661-015-4757-2
Manila Bulletin . (2015). Retrieved from The Philippine’s Latest News and Current
Events. Editorial: Metro Manila’s Traffic Problem: http://www.mb.com.ph/editorial-
metro-manilas-traffic-problem/

Penone, C. (2012). Retrieved from Urbanisation effect on orthoptera: Which scale

matters? Insect Conservation and Diversity, 6, 319–327:
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1752-4598.2012.00217.x

(2019). Retrieved from Ecofriendly means of transport: https://prezi.com/-

skv30birxvh/ecofriendly-means-of-transport

Rappler. (2017). Retrieved from Metro Manila has 3rd worst traffic in Southeast Asia – study:
https://www.rappler.com/business/190016-metro-manila-traffic-southeast-asia-study-
bcg-uber

Revita, J. (2019). Sunstar. Retrieved from Worsening traffic in Davao noted:

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1807583

Save A Train. (2019). Retrieved from Why Traveling By Train Is Environmentally Friendly:
https://www.saveatrain.com/blog/why-choosing-to-travel-by-train-is-environmentally-
friendly/

UKEssays. (2018). Retrieved from Causes And Effects Of Traffic Congestion Tourism Essay:
https://www.ukessays.com/essays/tourism/causes-and-effects-of-traffic-congestion-
tourism-essay.php

H. Zhang, Z. F. (2012). The effects of the Qinghai–Tibet railway on heavy metals enrichment in
soils. Science of the Total Environment . Retrieved from
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969712012181

Villarete, N. (2018, September 17). Retrieved from Understanding Rapid Transit capacities: The
Freeman: https://www.philstar.com/the-
freeman/opinion/2018/09/18/1852510/understanding-rapid-transit-capacities

Clark, R. (2009). General Guidelines for the Design of Light Rail Transit Facilities in Edmonton.
Retrieved from http://www.trolleycoalition.org/pdf/lrtreport.pdf

Orosa, R. (2013, July 19). Retrieved from Timeline: LRT, MRT construction:
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2013/07/19/987621/timeline-lrt-mrt-construction

LRTA. (2015). Retrieved from Distance Between Stations:

http://www.lrta.gov.ph/index.php/distance-between-stations

(n.d.). Retrieved from Development of Customized Local Road Vehicle (CLRV) Standards:
http://pcieerd.dost.gov.ph/images/downloads/presentation_materials/clrv_03052013/
2_CLRV_Survey_Results_Part_2_Dimensions.pdf