Marcos Taps Indian Firm for Potential Rail Projects in Mindanao, Cebu, and PNR Extension

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. met with an Indian railway company on Saturday to explore studies for three proposed railway systems in the Philippines, including projects in Mindanao and Cebu and the extension of the Philippine National Railways (PNR) from Tutuban in Manila. The meeting took place during the 8th BRICS Summit in India. The Philippines is not a member of BRICS, but Marcos was invited as an outreach participant and as the presumptive 2026 ASEAN chair. In his departure message, Marcos stated his intention to advocate for global governance, disaster preparedness, and international cooperation during the summit. "We will call for fairer global governance, stronger disaster preparedness, and responsible use of new technologies, climate action and the peaceful settlement of disputes under international law," Marcos said. He also stressed the importance of maintaining free and open sea lanes governed by law and responsible behavior, a statement that resonates with the Philippines' position on maritime security in areas like the South China Sea. During his visit, President Marcos also engaged with representatives of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI). These meetings aimed to gather insights on disaster management and resilience, with potential assistance in accessing financing for related initiatives. Additionally, Marcos was slated to meet with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to review the progress of the five-year action plan between the two nations. Discussions were anticipated to cover defense and maritime cooperation, trade and investment, a proposed preferential trade agreement, health and pharmaceuticals, digital cooperation, tourism, direct air connectivity, and people-to-people ties. The President also planned to extend an invitation to Prime Minister Modi to visit Manila for the ASEAN-India Summit and the East Asia Summit scheduled for November. This diplomatic engagement highlights the administration's pursuit of international partnerships to bolster the Philippines' infrastructure and its commitment to upholding international law and cooperation.