The Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Friday said the two major mass transit projects—the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) and Metro Manila Subway Project (MMSP)—have together provided more than 30,000 jobs for Filipinos so far. These projects form part of the Marcos administration’s “Build Better More” program, which aims to create quality work with competitive pay and benefits to address unemployment and underemployment.
Under partnership with foreign contractors, the projects prioritize hiring Filipino professionals, skilled workers, and local laborers. The MMSP employs 10,122 Filipinos, while the NSCR has given jobs to 21,031 locals. Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez noted that foreign firms are encouraged to hire Filipinos because of their strong skills and talent, including workers from areas near the project sites.
For some employees, the work offers more than just income. Sharlene Guyo, a finance officer for the MMSP, shared that working on the government project lets her spend more time with her family, unlike her previous job in banking.
Once finished, the 147-kilometer NSCR will connect Clark, Pampanga to Calamba, Laguna, cutting travel time from 4 hours to just 2 hours, and serve up to 800,000 passengers daily. The 33-kilometer MMSP will run from Valenzuela to Parañaque (with a link to NAIA Terminal 3), reducing travel time from 1 hour 38 minutes to 45 minutes. It is expected to carry about 519,000 passengers daily when fully operational in 2032.
