The Philippine Department of Transportation (DoTr) is exploring the possibility of a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) for the Mindanao Railway Project (MRP) following the withdrawal from the financing plan from the Government of China.

Three international companies, two Korean and one Japanese companies showed interest in pursuing the idea and they are eager to design and construct the project. The Mindanao Railway is planned to be constructed in ten phases with a total track of 2,278 km (1,415 miles) to be built for the system. The MRP initial phase is estimated to be worth around PHP 83 billion (US$ 1.4 billion). It will run to Digos City, Davao del Sur, from Tagum, Davao del Norte. It is anticipated to reduce the three-hour travel time between Tagum and Digos to one hour and carry 122,000 passengers daily.