President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. instructed the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to finalize a broadband co-sharing partnership with Smart Communications, Inc. for the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) Project.
In a meeting Feb. 28, 2025 with the Regional Development Council III in San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan, President Marcos emphasized the importance of engaging with Smart Communications’ Chairman and CEO, Manny V. Pangilinan, to resolve the issue surrounding broadband frequency for the NSCR’s signaling system.
“This issue has been pending for some time, but knowing SMART and Manny, we’re confident we can work it out,” President Marcos said, addressing DOTr officials. “We are requesting SMART to share even a small portion of their broadband to support the commuter railway.”
DOTr Secretary Vince Dizon also reported that discussions with Pangilinan and Smart are already underway. He expressed optimism that a swift resolution could be reached. “Securing the signaling system was the top priority on the agenda, and based on my initial talks with Smart, we are hopeful for a quick resolution,” Dizon stated.
The NSCR is a 147-kilometer mass transit network designed to connect Clark, Pampanga, to Calamba, Laguna. Once completed in 2026, the system is expected to accommodate up to 800,000 passengers daily, significantly reducing travel time between Pampanga and Laguna to under two hours.
