Reaching the halfway point of the Marcos administration, the Economy and Development (ED) Council, chaired by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., convened on Tuesday, July 15, to address critical national development initiatives. The meeting saw the discussion of the midterm update of the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023-2028 and the significant approval of the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) Operations & Maintenance (O&M) Project under a public-private partnership (PPP) arrangement.
The midterm update of the PDP 2023-2028 is a crucial exercise to refine and recalibrate the country’s key policies, strategies, programs, and legislative priorities. Spearheaded by the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev), this process ensures the Plan remains aligned with evolving economic conditions and development goals, allowing for necessary adjustments to targets and interventions.
DEPDev Secretary and ED Council Vice Chairperson Arsenio M. Balisacan emphasized the administration’s commitment to sustained progress, stating, “We have learned a lot of lessons from our past experiences, and many of these have been reflected in our recent efforts. We will continue to stay on our course to sustain our momentum for the second half of this administration.” Following the Council’s discussions, DEPDev will integrate feedback from various agencies to finalize the updated Plan, which is slated for public release by the end of July 2025.
In a major stride towards modernizing public transportation and enhancing regional connectivity across Luzon, the ED Council officially approved the NSCR Operations & Maintenance Project. This 147-kilometer elevated railway line is designed to significantly ease travel across Central Luzon, Metro Manila, and CALABARZON. With construction already in advanced stages, the NSCR is projected to serve up to 800,000 passengers daily in its opening year, eventually reaching one million commuters. The railway will feature 35 stations, supported by depots in Clark, Valenzuela, and Calamba.
The NSCR will offer two distinct train services: commuter trains, with 51 trainsets each accommodating 2,242 passengers, and Limited Express trains, with seven trainsets designed for 386 passengers. These services promise a dramatic improvement in travel speeds, with trains operating at 120 to 130 kilometers per hour, far exceeding current average speeds. For instance, travel time from Clark to Calamba will be reduced to approximately three hours via commuter service, down from around four hours, while the limited express service will cut travel time from Clark to Alabang to roughly two hours.
The project timeline outlines pre-operations from March 2026 to July 2027. The concession period for the partial operations of Phase 1 (Clark International Airport to Valenzuela, 13 stations) will commence in December 2027 and run until September 2028. Phase 2, extending services to Nichols with an additional segment from Alabang to Calamba (32 stations), will see its concession period from October 2028 until December 2031. Full operations for the entire NSCR are expected to begin in January 2032. The total estimated cost for the O&M contract is PHP 229.32 billion.
Secretary Balisacan highlighted the broader impact of the project, adding, “The North-South Commuter Railway Project is a major step toward faster, greener, and more connected transportation for Filipinos as the system will also be integrated with the Metro Manila Subway. At the same time, it will promote green and commercial development along its corridors.” The NSCR stands as one of the Marcos Administration’s flagship infrastructure projects, underscoring its commitment to delivering high-impact, long-term solutions for the nation’s connectivity and economic development challenges.
