The Philippines' North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) is now targeted to become fully operational by 2033, after the Economy and Development (ED) Council approved amendments to the flagship rail project, with partial operations expected to begin in December 2027.

Under the revised schedule, full commercial operations of the railway, running from Clark to Calamba, are now targeted to start by the third quarter of 2033, pushing back the previous January 2032 target by more than a year. Procurement challenges, tighter government spending, and right-of-way issues delayed the project. The phased rollout means commuters will gain access to the railway segment by segment, with the full Clark-to-Calamba run arriving only at the end of the sequence in 2033.

“Regarding the North-South Commuter Railway Operations and Maintenance PPP (public-private partnership) project, there were some changes to the timeline. This was due to the need for fiscal prudence and careful management of public funds, challenges in the procurement process, and right-of-way issues,” Palace Press Officer Clarissa A. Castro told a news briefing in Filipino.

Revised Phasing

“The expected timeline for the first partial operation (Valenzuela to Malolos) is December 2027; the second partial operation (Malolos to Clark) is set for the fourth quarter of 2028; and the third partial operation (Clark-Solis-Alabang to Calamba) is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2031,” Ms. Castro said. Under that sequencing, commuters along Valenzuela to Malolos see service first, while riders waiting on the final stretch to Calamba face the longest timeline in the revised plan.

The ED Council, chaired by President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., approved revisions to the parameters, terms, and conditions of NSCR project in order to attract more bidders and encourage “competitive proposals.” For the operations and maintenance PPP at the center of the revised timeline, those terms set the commercial framework for a procurement the council wants to widen.

“Generally, the amendments involve the timelines and slight budget adjustments,” Ms. Castro said, though she did not specify the amount.

The 147-kilometer elevated railway line seeks to ease travel across three regions: Central Luzon, Metro Manila, and Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon). A full 2033 opening would complete that end-to-end rail link.

“The NSCR is an investment in opportunity,” said Arsenio M. Balisacan, Secretary of the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development and ED Council Vice-Chair. “Improved mobility will expand access to jobs, markets, education, and services across regions, reflecting our commitment to a more productive, resilient, and inclusive economy,” he added.

Cebu Airport Concession

At the same meeting, the ED Council approved an extension of the concession for the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA), which has been managed by Aboitiz InfraCapital Cebu Airport Corp. since end-2024.

“The approved extension of the concession period for the MCIA will provide a longer investment recovery period, enabling needed improvements such as the restoration and expansion of domestic and international routes and more seamless airport transfers, while minimizing pressure to increase passenger service charges,” the ED Council said, without specifying how long the concession period was extended.

Sought for comment, the Aboitiz Group said it has yet to receive official notice from the ED Council on the extension.

The council said the MCIA concessionaire commits to provide nearly P15 billion in “capacity augmentation and capital investments.” The airport was originally developed and operated by GMR-Megawide Cebu Airport Corp., which won the 25-year concession in 2014. How the approved extension compares with that original 25-year term was not disclosed.

Other Project Revisions

The ED Council also approved changes to the scope, cost, and implementation timelines the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority's Supporting Innovation in the Philippine Technical and Vocational Education and Training System project.

Similar changes were approved for the Department of Public Works and Highways' Road Network Development Project in Conflict-Affected Areas in Mindanao and the Department of Social Welfare and Development's Reducing Food Insecurity and Undernutrition with Electronic Vouchers project.

Meanwhile, the ED Council directed a review of the proposed guidelines on the suspension and resumption of classes amid tropical cyclones, earthquakes, storm surges, poor air quality, volcanic hazards, and extreme heat.

Former Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick T. Chua had earlier urged the Palace to review the policy on blanket suspensions, citing the disruption to face-to-face learning.

In a letter to Executive Secretary Ralph G. Recto that he shared with BusinessWorld, Mr. Chua said the “total cancellation since Aug. 1 is around 11 days already out of 27 class days, for a 41% cancellation rate.”

— J.I.D. Tabile and E.M.P. Sinaking

Source: BusinessWorld