Philippines' Major Rail Projects On Track for Partial Operations by 2027

THE Department of Transportation (DoTr) is confident of completing the construction of the North South Commuter Railway (NSCR) project, with the rail line hitting a 62% progress rate overall. The department affirmed President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s commitment during his State of the Nation Address that the two major rail projects will be partially operational by 2027. According to the DoTr, the MRT-7 is currently 89% complete. The DoTr said that the NSCR is set to start partial operations next year, with the Malolos-Valenzuela segment of the rail line expected to be first to open. The DoTr said it also expects to complete the NSCR line to Clark, Pampanga by 2028. At present, the DoTr is also conducting the auction for the NSCR operations and maintenance contract. It said that at least 10 companies have expressed interest in bidding. The 147-kilometer NSCR will connect Malolos, Bulacan with Clark International Airport, and Tutuban, Manila with Calamba, Laguna. The O&M deal will run for 15 years from the signing date of the contract. The NSCR is expected to be fully operational by January 2032, although partial operations of the Malolos to Valenzuela segment are projected by December 2027, while the Clark to West Valenzuela segment is expected to run by October 2028. Meanwhile, the DoTr also said that the completion of MRT-7 is on track, with the operations of the 12 stations of the MRT-7 expected by next year. In May, the Public-Private Partnership (Center) said MRT-7 remains on schedule for operations by the second quarter of 2027, after the amendments to the project terms were approved by the Economy and Development Council. MRT-7 has a total of 14 stations and is expected to carry 300,000 passengers daily in its first year, rising to 850,000 passengers in its 12th year. The commuter rail line’s stations are Quezon North Avenue Joint Station, Quezon Memorial Circle, University Avenue, Tandang Sora, Don Antonio, Batasan, Manggahan, Doña Carmen, Regalado, Mindanao Avenue, Quirino, Sacred Heart, Tala, and San Jose del Monte. The project is run by San Miguel Corp., with the company financing the construction and set to operate the 23-kilometer commuter rail system under a 25-year concession agreement with the government. The project also includes a road component of a 22-kilometer link between the Bocaue interchange of the North Luzon Expressway to an intermodal terminal in Tala, Caloocan City. — Ashley Erika O. Jose