THE Department of Transportation (DOTr) expects to complete bidding for the operations and maintenance (O&M) of the North–South Commuter Railway (NSCR) and the privatization of Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT 3) by the second quarter (Q2) of 2027.
The NSCR bidding could be finished as early as Q1 next year or in the succeeding quarter, Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez said, estimating that about seven parties are participating in the pre-bid process.
For MRT 3, Lopez said the DOTr had submitted the proposed privatization to the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center, with bidding done by the second quarter of 2027.
The DOTr earlier said at least 26 Japanese firms expressed interest in the MRT 3 Capacity Expansion, Operations and Maintenance PPP project during market-sounding activities in Tokyo.
The 148-kilometer NSCR is expected to serve more than 800,000 passengers daily once fully operational, helping ease road congestion in the National Capital Region. It will link Clark International Airport in Pampanga to Calamba in Laguna, passing through Bulacan and Metro Manila.
Its Clark-Valenzuela segment is targeted to start operations in 2028.
The railway will have 37 stations and 464 train cars, serving 26 cities and municipalities across Central Luzon, Metro Manila and Calabarzon.
A flagship project under the government’s Build Better More program, the NSCR comprises three segments: PNR Clark Phase 1 from Tutuban to Malolos; PNR Clark Phase 2 from Malolos to Clark; and PNR Calamba from Solis to Calamba.
Meanwhile, Lopez said the government would consider bidding out the Metro Manila Subway’s O&M contract after a market-sounding exercise to gauge investor interest.
The subway, financed by the Japan International Cooperation Agency, has an approved total project cost of P488.48 billion. The 33.103-kilometer railway aims to cut travel time between Valenzuela City and Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 from more than 90 minutes to about 41 minutes.
Full completion is the third quarter of 2031.
The subway will have 17 stations from Valenzuela to Parañaque, extending to Bicutan in Taguig, with a spur connecting to NAIA Terminal 3 in Pasay.
It will operate 30 eight-car trainsets at speeds of up to 80 kilometers per hour.
