ADB, PH inspect P873.6B Malolos-Clark railway project

The Philippines and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) reaffirmed their partnership through a joint inspection of the P873.6-billion Malolos-Clark Railway Project (MCRP), a vital component of the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) System.

Finance Secretary Ralph Recto highlighted that the project demonstrates ADB's confidence in financing and the Philippines' dedication to improving transport connectivity.

Recto emphasized that such projects are a testament to a shared vision of a more connected Philippines, fostering greater opportunities for its citizens, and expressed gratitude for partners who share this belief.

The NSCR System, a massive 147.26-kilometer undertaking with 35 stations, is the ADB's largest infrastructure project in the Asia-Pacific, with additional co-financing from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

Upon completion, the NSCR System is anticipated to serve 800,000 passengers daily and generate approximately 350,000 jobs throughout Luzon.

The MCRP, which has reached 42.4 percent completion as of June 2025, is expected to significantly reduce travel time between Malolos, Bulacan, and Clark, Pampanga, from almost three hours to just one hour.

Furthermore, the MCRP is designed to accommodate the future population of New Clark City, projected to reach 1.2 million, and enhance the competitiveness of the Luzon Economic Corridor.