Around 100 local and international companies have expressed strong interest in taking part in the proposed P103.6-billion concession for the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3), highlighting growing confidence from both foreign and domestic investors in upgrading the country’s main urban railway network.
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) announced that the government aims to award the public-private partnership (PPP) concession by mid-2027. To attract experienced global rail operators, the agency partnered with the Asian Development Bank to conduct market-sounding activities throughout the year, pitching the project to major industry players in Singapore and Tokyo, Japan.
The prospective partnership seeks to tap into private sector capital and technical expertise to overhaul the line, which currently carries more than 388,000 daily passengers across 13 stations along EDSA. Under the modernization blueprint, the private concessionaire will acquire new train sets and upgrade the railway’s signaling system to increase capacity and boost overall operational efficiency.
For daily commuters, the project promises a safer, faster, and far more reliable travel experience. Passengers can expect better train availability, fewer breakdown delays, cleaner facilities, and better-maintained coaches. The contract structure guarantees accountability by tying payments to the private partner directly to strict performance targets. Despite the privatization of operations and maintenance, the government emphasized that the DOTr will retain full authority over setting fare prices, ensuring that ride costs remain regulated and accessible for the riding public.
Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez clarified that the MRT-3 concession will be offered as an independent, stand-alone project rather than bundled with the Light Rail Transit Line 2. The privatization directive comes straight from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who has prioritized the urgent overhaul of the country’s busy commuter rail system.
