DOTr seeks revision of ROW Law

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has proposed a further revision of the country's Right-of-Way (ROW) Law, particularly to lower the limit of the government in accessing land at 25 meters below ground of privately owned properties from the current 50 meters.

- MARIANNE GO

This was revealed by Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista, citing as an example that in Japan, the Japanese government can access government land as low as 10 meters below private property, thus allowing for the development of an extensive underground subway system that has provided increased mobility for the public and helped in the development of urban areas and increased economic activities.

Bautista reiterated that the ROW problem continues to delay the two vital railway projects of the DOTr, particularly the P870-billion, 147-kilometer North-South Commuter Railway Project funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Asian Development Bank, as well as the Metro Manila Subway Project which, likewise, has secured funding from the Japanese government.

The 33-kilometer Metro Manila Subway Project is already underway. It will start in Valenzuela near the boundary of Quezon City, with a total of 17 stations from Valenzuela up to Bicutan, with another square line planned to connect to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3.

Secretary Bautista hopes that work on the initial station from Malolos to Valenzuela will hopefully be completed by 2027 before the term of the current Marcos administration ends. In a previous briefing, the DOTr secretary said that underground ROW problems still have to be resolved, particularly along EDSA and the private subdivision property of Corinthian Village, Metrowalk and the property of Unilab.

In an update, Bautista said, that while some property owners have given their consent on ROW access, other landowners are insisting on the 50 meters mandated by the existing law.