The Department of Transportation (DOTr) said Wednesday that strong interest from San Miguel Corp. and major local and international firms in the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) operations and maintenance (O&M) contract is “very encouraging.”
Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s approval of the NSCR O&M public-private partnership (PPP) reflects the administration’s push to improve mass transport and strengthen Luzon connectivity under the Build Better More infrastructure program.
“With the President’s PPP clearance, this shows the administration’s trust in the private sector to manage the country’s biggest railway system,” Lopez said.
Major global rail operators joined the NSCR O&M pre-bid conference, including Tokyo Metro, JR East, JR West, Mitsubishi Corp., and Sumitomo Corp. of Japan; Transdev, RATP, Keolis, and Alstom of France; and Philippine firms First Balfour and San Miguel Corp.
Lopez said the high turnout signals strong investor confidence in the Philippine economy and highlights the need for close government–private sector cooperation to improve transport operations.
International firms said the NSCR could transform mobility in Metro Manila by easing congestion and cutting travel time. They cited the project’s scale, impact, and need for experienced operators as key reasons for their interest.
President Marcos has directed the DOTr to select the most qualified and competent firms to operate and maintain the 147-kilometer rail system.
Transportation Undersecretary for Railways Timothy John Batan said the strong participation followed market-sounding roadshows in Singapore, Paris, Manila, and Japan. He stressed that building the railway is not enough—proper operation and passenger safety are critical.
Up to one million passengers are expected to use the NSCR daily once fully operational, Batan said, underscoring the need for experienced global operators.
The NSCR will run from Clark International Airport in Pampanga to Calamba, Laguna, cutting end-to-end travel time to under 2.5 hours. It will feature the country’s first Airport Express Service and through-train interoperations with the Metro Manila Subway.
The 35-station system is expected to generate about 350,000 jobs and serve nearly one million passengers daily. Partial operations from Valenzuela to Malolos are set for December 2027, with the Malolos-to-Clark segment targeted for October 2028.
The NSCR O&M PPP tender was launched on October 20, 2025, under the new PPP Code and its implementing rules. The DOTr said strong participation reflects an improved investment climate following the PPP Code’s implementation.
