THE Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Thursday said at least 26 Japanese firms have expressed interest in the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT 3) Capacity Expansion, Operations and Maintenance Public-Private Partnership (PPP) project.
The project covers the existing 16.9-kilometer (km) line that runs entirely along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA). In addition to maintaining the 13 stations along the route, the concessionaire will manage operations at the North Avenue depot and the integrated MRT 3 area within the Unified Grand Central Station.
“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,” Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez said.
The DOTr, with the Asian Development Bank, held a market-sounding activity for the project on June 23 in Tokyo.
DOTr Assistant Secretary for Railways Eduardo Danilo Macabulos said the Philippines remains the most congested country in Asia, with costs beyond economics. “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... If we can give millions of Filipinos even one or two hours back in their day, the impact on their lives can be enormous,” he said.
The MRT 3 PPP is part of a growing pipeline of private-sector opportunities in Philippine transportation, Macabulos added.
The DOTr expects to soon roll out similar deals for operations and maintenance of the 147-km North-South Commuter Railway, the 33-km Metro Manila Subway Project, the upcoming Light Rail Transit 2 and the Philippine Automated Fare Collection System.
These projects fall under the broader 30-year Railway Master Plan for a more connected, efficient and sustainable rail network. “This is not just about a single project, but part of a broader effort to transform rail and mobility in the Philippines... the goal is simple: to give Filipinos back their time,” Macabulos said.
