The monorail system was proposed by Chinese investors in 2017. The initial plan was to connect Iloilo International Airport to the City of Iloilo. In 2018 it was announced that there would be three lines:

Line 1: Iloilo City Hall to Ungka in Jaro district.
Line 2: Jaro to City.
Line 3: Mohon, Areval to City.

The monorail system was proposed by Chinese investors, with Chinese electric car maker BYD involved. BYD branched out into building monorails in China, called SkyRail.

[SkyRail as depicted on the BYD Rail Transit website.]

The Iloilo Monorail would be integrated with the proposed Panay Railway, but at this point the city monorail and island railway have not been approved yet.

Iloilo Monorail map

[Map of Iloilo Monorail.]

Links and resources

Feasibility Study of Proposed Monorail System in Iloilo City by BYD
Published by Department of Transportation(DOTr) on Feb. 20, 2019.

Iloilo City Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) 2021-2029

BYD Rail Transit

News archive

2022

Guv mulls monorail project for Iloilo – [30/07/22
“Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. on Friday said they are eyeing the development of a provincial monorail system which would complement the revival of the defunct Panay Railways to increase mobility in the province.”

2018

‘Monorail’ systems eyed in Iloilo, Balanga by Chinese e-car firm – [20/07/18]
“Solar Transport and Automotive Resources Corp. (STAR Corp.), the official distributor of Chinese carmaker BYD, confirmed that it is seeking to build “monorail” systems in Balanga, Bataan, and Iloilo City.”

Monorail good for Iloilo? Feasibility study out soon – [07/06/18]
“The entrance and exits to and outside the city have been identified – terminals in Barangay Mohon, Arevalo district; and Barangay Ungka and Barangay Tagbak transport terminals in Jaro district.”

Monorail a boon to Iloilo City – [02/06/18]
“Last January, the result of the pre-feasibility study showed that this city is capable of hosting the project.”

Proposed monorail a boost to Iloilo City economy – [01/06/18]
“…the first of the project’s three phases will cover three Iloilo City routes — Iloilo City Hall to Ungka in Jaro district for Line 1; Jaro to the city center for Line 2; and Mohon, Areval to City Proper for Line 3.”

Chinese engineers to inspect Iloilo for monorail project – [26/01/18]
“Chinese engineers and geologists will be arriving on Jan. 31 to study Iloilo’s capacity to host a monorail system.”

Chinese investor finds monorail feasible in Iloilo City – [23/01/18]
“Iloilo City is capable of hosting a monorail project according to a pre-feasibility study conducted by the BYD Auto Co. Inc., an automaker and new energy technology based in China.”

2017

Chinese firm studies monorail project for Iloilo – [30/08/17]
“The initial plan is to put up the monorail system from Iloilo City to the Iloilo International Airport in Cabatuan town, about 20 kilometers away.”

BYD gets first overseas monorail order – [25/08/17]
“BYD said on Wednesday it would build a 20 kilometer SkyRail line in the city of Iloilo in the Philippines, the company’s first overseas monorail order. BYD officially entered the business in China last October after investing five billion yuan, or $746 million, in monorail systems. It expects to have systems up and running in 20 mainland cities by the end of this year.

Illoilo’s line is scheduled to be operational in 2019, BYD said.”

Iloilo City signs pact with Chinese firm for monorail system study – [24/08/17]

Philippines, Iloilo monorail pre-feasibility study signed – [23/08/17]
“On 22 Aug 2017 Iloilo City Council approved plans for a pre-feasibility study for a proposed monorail system. The Sangguniang Panlungsod (City Council) authorized Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog to sign a Memorandum of Understanding and a Non-Disclosure Agreement for the project with Chinese company BYD Auto Industry Company Limited.”

Chinese investors plan monorail in Iloilo City – [09/06/17]
“Chinese investors, who happened to meet President Rodrigo Duterte during the latter’s visit in China, planned to put up a monorail system in Iloilo City.”

The Panay Railway is a proposed restoration of the railway on the island of Panay in the Philippines. The original Panay line ran from Iloilo City to Roxas City. The service operated from 1906 to 1985, with cargo operations ending in 1989. This railway was operated by Panay Railways, which also operated the Cebu line.

The new railway would consist of a line on the old alignment from alignment Iloilo City to Roxas City. Phase 2 of the proposed line will extend from Roxas City to Caticlan in Aklan.

Panay Railways Incorporated still exists as an entity, leasing land of property that it owns.

This fact sheet is collating news about the proposed railway on Panay, whether it is operated by Panay Railways or not.

Panay Railway Maps

[Map of Panay.]

[Map by Metro MNL Lines showing the old rail alignment (in red).]

[Map by inquirer.net.]

[Panay Railways fantasy map by Kalibo International Airport (via silent-gardens.com.]

Links And Resources

Panay Railways – SkyscraperCity news and discussion.

Panay Railways – Facebook page of Panay Railways.

Bring Back Our Trains, Rehabilitate Panay Railways! – Facebook Group.

News Archive

2025

Bids solicited for Samar-Leyte, Panay railway feasibility study – [31/08/25]
“The Panay rail system project includes the construction of a passenger and freight railway, logistics facilities, maintenance depots, and transit-oriented developments.”

2024

Feasibility studies to be bid out for Samar-Leyte, Panay rail projects – [14/03/24]
“The Panay rail system project includes the construction of a passenger and freight railway, logistics facilities, maintenance depots, and transit-oriented developments.”

2023

On SONA anniversary: Panay railways attracts investors – [24/07/23]

Panay railways revival ‘nowhere’ in 2nd SONA – [26/07/23]
“The revival of Panay Island’s railway system, which was among the 10 infrastructure flagship projects of the current administration identified by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board, was not mentioned in the second State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.”

WATCH: DOTr eyes trains for Butuan-Cagayan de Oro, Panay rail revival – [19/07/23]
“The revival of the defunct Panay Railways is also on the table. Rappler earlier reported that the main issue that the government needs to resolve is the displacement of thousands of families or business entities that have settled on the government corporation’s land.”

Panay Railways revival needs masterplan covering other sectors – [04/04/23]

Panay Railways gets green light – [15/03/23]
“The revival of Panay Island’s railway system is among the high-impact infrastructure flagship projects (IFPs) of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration.”

Turkish investor to conduct feasibility study on Panay railways’ revival – [31/01/23]

Panay Railways attracts more investors – [03/01/23]
“With many potential investors, the state-owned Panay Railways, Inc. (PRI) is optimistic that the revival of Panay Island’s railway system will materialize.”

2022

Philtrak revives bid to build $5 billion electric railway system – [02/12/22]
“The consortium that had proposed to convert the idle 117-kilometer Panay railway into an electric road train (ERT) system is reviving its offer, this time on a broader scale with the inclusion of three more areas.”

China firm renews interest in Panay Railways revival – [08/08/22]

City doesn’t need railway – Treñas; Revived Panay railways should be outside Iloilo City, says mayor – [02/08/22]

PPP eyed for Panay raolway’s revival; Project achievable despite huge cost – exec – [30/07/22]

DOTr: No funds for Panay Railways; Dep’t not rushing to start project – [27/07/22]

‘Full speed ahead,’ Marcos seeks revival of Panay railways – [26/07/22]

Expressway in Panay mulled; It’s better than railway – bizmen – [16/07/22]

Railways in Panay Island soon ‘to be a reality’: solon – [26/04/22]
“A party-list lawmaker on Tuesday said the passage of the new Public Service Act has paved the way for the eventual revival and operation of the Panay line under the Panay Railways Inc. (PRI).”

Panay Railways chief open to foreign ownership to rehab defunct rail system – [24/03/22]
“The head of Panay Railways, which has stopped operations since 1985, said the recent amendments to Commonwealth Act No. 146 (Public Services Act) may pave the way to the eventual revival of its rail transport operations.”

2020

Panay businessmen prefer expressway to railway – [07/02/20]

2019

RAILWAY REVIVAL: Hybrid electric train for Panay mulled – [09/12/19]

Philtrak consortium to spend up to P30 B for Panay rail line – [28/07/19]
“Under the proposal, the consortium will lay out a 3.7 meter-wide asphalt trackway along a 117 kilometer stretch of the PRI from Iloilo City in Iloilo province to Roxas City, Capiz in the proposed Phase 1, with a potential Phase 2 where the line could be extended into Caticlan in Aklan province.”

2018

Masterplan ready for electric train for Panay railway – [01/11/18]

ERT may run on old Panay railway – [09/08/18]
“The Electric Road Train (ERT) developed by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is being considered to run on the old, decommissioned rail line of the dormant Panay Railways.”

Expressway, not rail, pushed to bridge Panay’s urban centers – [08/02/18]

With or without a railway system, Western Visayas ready to steam ahead – [04/01/18]

2017

American firm keen on reviving Panay railway – [30/09/17]

Revived Panay railway system could be ‘Made in China’ – [02/04/17]

China firm to study revival of Panay railway system – [20/03/17]

2016

Ang pagbabalik: DoTr to study Panay Railways revival – [14/11/16]

Hope shines on Panay’s rail dream – [06/08/16]
“In 2010, the Regional Development Council endorsed the railway system. But due to its high cost, the project failed to get the support of then President Benigno Aquino III and then Interior Secretary Mar Roxas.

The first phase alone, covering Iloilo City (Iloilo) to Roxas City (Capiz), was estimated to cost P16 billion. There was no estimate for the second phase, which would connect Roxas to Barangay Caticlan in Malay town, Aklan province, the jump-off point to the world-famous resort island of Boracay.”

NEDA-6 head says Panay Railways revival a “pleasant surprise” – [28/07/16]

2015

Iloilo pitches massive infrastructure plan for the city – [27/07/15]
“The projects are a seamless railway connecting the city to its inner provinces, an intelligent transport system, and a government center.”

Trans Panay Express – [08/07/15]
‘Formerly known as the Panay Railways, the Trans Panay Express will connect and bring closer two provinces, three cities and 11 municipalities in Panay Island. The 122 kilometer railway line is planned to have fully air-conditioned coaches with 450 passenger capacity and will cut travel time from Iloilo City-Roxas City to 70 minutes.”

2014

Study to put up LRT from Iloilo to Kalibo – [09/07/14]

2012

Roxas says no to revival of Panay trains but yes to new toll highway – [16/04/12]

2011

Panay Railways revival depends on Pnoy – Guv – [01/07/11]
“The final decision on whether or not to revive the Panay railways project rests on President Benigno Aquino III, said Governor Victor Tanco Sr.”

2010

Council asked to revive Panay railways – [16/02/10]
“Mamondiong said the new study encompasses massive rehabilitation and reconstruction of the railways from Iloilo to Roxas City, Capiz and up to Kalibo and Caticlan in Aklan province.

He said the DOTC plan hopes to give tourists and visitors to the island paradise of Boracay a more comfortable, faster and safe means of transportation through the railways.”

2009

Aklan SP okays Panay railway system revival – [11/12/09]

2007

Trans Panay Express replaces Panay Railways – [19/03/07]
“Trans Panay Express (TPE) will soon roll off fast and comfortable air-conditioned trains that will connect and bring closer two provinces, three cities and 11 municipalities.”

2006

Panay Railways – [28/07/05]
“At present, there is a plan to revive the Panay Railways which was closed sometime in 1983 because of the sharp decline of the sugar industry in West Visayas.”

2005

Panay Railway rehab next year – [30/10/05]