The Department of Transportation (DOTr) reported a “very encouraging” turnout of world-class railway operators during the recent Pre-Bid Conference for the Operations and Maintenance (O&M) of the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) Project.
The high level of interest from international and local conglomerates signals strong investor confidence in the Marcos Administration’s “Build Better More” (BBM) Infrastructure Program and the country’s new Public-Private Partnership (PPP) framework.
Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez emphasized that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to bid out the O&M of the 147-kilometer rail system underscores the government’s trust in the private sector’s capability to manage critical national assets.
“The high turnout displays the investors’ confidence in our government and our economy,” Secretary Lopez stated. “The government and the private sector must collaborate to ensure our transport infrastructure is run effectively for the benefit of the Filipino people.”
The conference, held at the Asian Development Bank (ADB) headquarters, follows a series of successful global market-sounding roadshows in Singapore, Paris, Manila, and Japan.
The event saw participation from some of the most sophisticated railway operators in the world, including:
-
Japan: Tokyo Metro, JR East, JR West, Mitsubishi Corp., and Sumitomo Corp.
-
France: Transdev, RATP Dev, Keolis, and Alstom.
-
Philippines: First Balfour, Inc. and San Miguel Corporation (SMC).
Prospective bidders highlighted the transformative potential of the NSCR. Benoit Vo Dinh, Business Development Head of RATP Dev S.A., noted that the project is about “giving back time” to commuters currently stuck in Metro Manila’s traffic. Similarly, Kosuke Takahashi of Sumitomo Corp. and Marzio Stefano of Transdev Group expressed their commitment to bringing international expertise to provide a “new movement method” for Filipinos.
Undersecretary for Railways Timothy John Batan explained that selecting a highly qualified operator is vital to the project’s success, as the NSCR is expected to serve nearly one million passengers daily at full operation.
“It is not enough that we simply build this new line; it is equally important to ensure its seamless operation,” Usec. Batan said. “We are looking for the expertise and capability of the largest, most complex rail systems in the world to ensure the NSCR is convenient, efficient, and safe.”
The 147-kilometer NSCR System will connect Clark International Airport (CRK) in Pampanga to Calamba, Laguna. Once completed, it will:
-
Slash Travel Time: Reduce the journey from Clark to Calamba from 4 hours to less than 2.5 hours.
-
Launch Airport Express: Connect Makati to CRK in under an hour.
-
Boost Employment: Generate approximately 350,000 jobs during construction and operations.
-
Modernize Connectivity: Feature the country’s first “Through Train Interoperations” with the Metro Manila Subway.
The NSCR O&M tender is being conducted under the new PPP Code and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). Partial operations for the Valenzuela-to-Malolos segment are slated for December 2027, followed by the Malolos-to-Clark segment in October 2028.
