MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is widening the playing field for the operations and maintenance of the country’s biggest railway project, the 147-kilometer North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR), in a bid to draw in global expertise and stronger private sector participation.

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Transportation Undersecretary for Railways Timothy John Batan said several countries with extensive railway experience have expressed interest in the NSCR concession.

“We hope that those who are considering coming for the first time in the Philippines receive the message that we are open for business to anyone, from anywhere in the world,” Batan said.

According to Batan, the third leg of the NSCR Market Sounding event held on Thursday, Sept. 4, at the Asian Development Bank headquarters in Mandaluyong. drew 22 foreign and local companies.

“What we are working on is something that will change the lives of Filipinos. The goal is simple: to give back time that has been taken from millions of commuters in this country for decades,” he said.

Once fully operational, the NSCR will slash travel time between Clark International Airport in Pampanga and Calamba, Laguna, to under three hours, from the current four-hour land trip.

The 35-station commuter line, which stretches across Central Luzon, Metro Manila, and Calabarzon, is expected to create around 350,000 jobs during construction and operations. It is also projected to serve up to 750,000 passengers daily at full capacity.

The DOTr is positioning the NSCR as a flagship project under the government’s “Bagong Pilipinas” thrust, banking on international partnerships to ensure its sustainability and efficiency.