The Department of Transportation said Wednesday interest from international investors in the operations and maintenance contract for the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) is “very encouraging.”
The high turnout at a recent pre-bid conference reflects investor confidence in the local economy and the government’s infrastructure program, DOTr Secretary Giovanni Lopez said.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. recently approved the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) for the project as part of the “Build Better More” initiative to improve mass transport and connectivity across Luzon.
Lopez said the administration’s decision to clear the project for private sector management shows trust in private firms to handle the largest railway system in the country. He said the government and private sector should collaborate to make transport infrastructure operations more effective.
The 147-kilometer rail system will run from Clark International Airport in Pampanga to Calamba in Laguna. Once fully operational, the DOTr estimates the line will serve 1 million passengers daily and reduce travel time between the two points to less than 2.5 hours from the current 4 hours by land.
Prospective bidders that attended the conference include Japan’s Tokyo Metro, JR East, JR West, Mitsubishi Corp. and Sumitomo Corp. French firms Transdev, RATP, Keolis and Alstom were also present, alongside Philippine companies First Balfour Inc. and San Miguel Corp.
The procurement process aims to select a highly qualified operator to ensure safety and efficiency. DOTr Undersecretary for Railways Timothy John Batan said the government is seeking the expertise of those who manage the most complicated rail systems in the world.
RATP Dev S.A. business development head Benoit Vo Dinh said the project would significantly change how residents around Manila move and live by giving back time lost to traffic.
Transdev Group business development director Marzio Stefano cited a massive need for public transportation in the capital to alleviate heavy congestion.
The project is expected to generate 350,000 jobs during its construction and operational phases. It will also feature the first airport express service in the country, connecting Clark to Makati in less than 1 hour.
The tender for the contract was launched on Oct. 20, 2025, under the new PPP Code. Partial operations for the segment between Valenzuela and Malolos are scheduled to begin in December 2027, with the Malolos to Clark segment targeted for October 2028.
Sumitomo Corp. representative Kosuke Takahashi described the project as a challenging but transformative development for Manila that would introduce a new movement method for the population.
