Contractors asked to speed railway project

TRANSPORTATION Secretary Vince Dizon has directed construction teams to expedite works on the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR), the Philippines' most ambitious rail project to date, following an inspection of ongoing work.

The 147-kilometer state-of-the-art railway system promises to revolutionize regional connectivity by cutting travel time from Clark in Pampanga to Calamba in Laguna to under two hours — a journey that currently takes half a day by road.

The railway's Metro Manila to Malolos, Bulacan, segment will deliver the most immediate impact, reducing commute times from several hours to just 30 minutes.

Designed to eventually accommodate up to 800,000 passengers daily, the NSCR will feature multiple stations across Bulacan, including Marilao, Meycauayan, Bocaue, Balagtas and Guiguinto, before extending north to Clark and south to Calamba.

Beyond transportation benefits, the project is expected to serve as an economic catalyst for the entire Central Luzon and Calabarzon regions.

By providing efficient, high-capacity transit, the NSCR will help decongest Metro Manila's overwhelmed road network while stimulating development in provincial areas along its route.

The railway is projected to generate thousands of jobs during construction and operation, while encouraging business growth in previously underserved areas.

Partial operations are scheduled to begin in 2026, with full service along the entire Clark-to-Calamba route expected by 2029.

"This isn't just about building tracks and stations," Dizon emphasized during the inspection. "The NSCR represents a fundamental improvement in quality of life by giving Filipinos back their most precious resource — time."

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has prioritized the project as part of its strategy to modernize the country's transportation infrastructure, reduce road congestion, and promote more balanced regional development beyond Metro Manila.