At least 26 reputable companies from Japan have expressed interest in the investment opportunities for the improvement of MRT-3 Capacity Expansion, Operations and Maintenance Public-Private Partnership (PPP), the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said.
Transportation Secretary Banoy Lopez said the interests were raised during the market sounding activity conducted by the Department of Transportation in partnership with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) last June 23, 2026 in Tokyo, Japan.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has directed the DOTr to prioritize the modernization of MRT-3, recognizing its critical role in the fast mobility of passengers in Metro Manila as well as the benefits a well-maintained mass transit system would bring to millions of daily commuters.
“The MRT-3 PPP is more than an investment opportunity — it is an invitation to potential investors to help reshape how millions of Filipinos can swiftly move every single day. We are committed to building a railway system our people rightfully deserve, and we look forward to partnering with the private sector to help make this vision a reality,” Secretary Lopez said.
DOTr Assistant Secretary for Railways Eduardo Danilo Macabulos noted that the Philippines remains the most congested country in Asia, stressing that congestion is not just an inconvenience but carries real economic costs and an even greater toll on the everyday lives of Filipinos.
“When people spend hours stuck in traffic, they lose time that could have been spent not only on working, but learning, resting, or spending time with their loved ones. At the end of the day, our goal is actually very simple: to help people save precious time. It may sound like a simple objective, but if we can give millions of Filipinos even one or two hours back in their day, the impact on their lives can be enormous,” Asec. Macabulos said.
The transport executive also emphasized that the MRT-3 PPP represents only one part of a growing pipeline of opportunities for the private sector to help shape the future of Philippine transportation.
In the near term, the DOTr expects to roll out similar opportunities for the operations and maintenance of the 147-km North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) and the 33-km Metro Manila Subway Project (MMSP), as well as the upcoming Light Rail Transit-2 (LRT-2) and Philippine Automated Fare Collection System PPPs.
These projects form part of the broader 30-year Railway Master Plan, which envisions a more connected, efficient, and sustainable railway network for future generations.
“This is not just about a single project, but part of a broader effort to transform rail and mobility in the Philippines. Again, ultimately, the goal is simple: to give Filipinos back their time,” Asec. Macabulos said.
