MANILA, Philippines — To improve the technical skills of workers and revive the lost glory of the country’s Philippine National Railways, President Duterte has issued an executive order that will create the Philippine Railways Institute (PRI).
The President signed the executive order last Nov. 21, but had it released to the media only yesterday.
Under the EO, the PRI was created as a research and training center under the administrative supervision of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and shall serve as the planning, implementing, regulating and administrative entity for the development of human resources in the railways sector.
It is also tasked to ensure an efficient, reliable and safe railway transportation services.
“Whereas, the transportation sector, which includes the railways industry, has been identified as a priority sector under Ambisyon Nation 2040, where investments should be complemented by appropriate human capital development,” a portion of the executive order read.
Malacañang also noted the urgent need to develop the human resource capacities of railways personnel to ensure their availability and competence and the need to “guarantee their compliance with generally accepted standards of practice, as well as the rules and regulations pertaining to the safety, operation and maintenance of railways.”
The PRI shall have the primary powers and functions of developing, formulating and recommending plans, programs, standards and guidelines pertaining to the development of personnel in the railways sector.
Since the DOTr is mandated to establish and prescribe rules and regulations for the inspection of land transportation facilities, specifically railways, the agency will lead the operations of the PRI.