PHP229.32B PPP approved for NSCR, set to benefit 1M daily commuters

President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr., through the Economic Development Council (EDC), has approved a PHP229.32 billion public-private partnership (PPP) for the operations and maintenance of the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR).

The NSCR, an elevated railway spanning Central Luzon, Metro Manila, and Calabarzon covering 147 kilometers, aims to benefit up to one million commuters daily once fully operational.

Partial operations for Phase 1, from Clark International Airport to Valenzuela involving 13 stations, are set to begin in December 2027, while Phase 2, extending service to Nichols with an additional segment from Alabang to Calamba covering 32 stations, will start in October 2028.

Full operations of the NSCR featuring two types of train services—commuter trains and limited express trains with travel speeds ranging from 120 to 130 kilometers per hour—are expected to commence in January 2032.

The project includes depots located in Clark, Valenzuela, and Calamba for maintenance and operations, and pre-operations phase will run between March 2026 and July 2027.

The NSCR aims to integrate the system with the Metro Manila Subway for faster, greener, and more connected transportation.