DOTr fast-tracks works on NSCR Clark Extension

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February 3, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is expediting the construction of the country’s biggest railway, with new segments in the Clark extension and a Pampanga depot.

The DOTr yesterday completed two milestones for the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) Extension by putting up the initial girder in Clark and starting the rail welding for the Mabalacat Depot.

Acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez said the placement of the first girder in Clark is significant because it gives people an insight into the physical progress of the NSCR Extension.

Further, the start of rail welding signals that contractors are prepared to proceed with one of the toughest parts in building a railway. Soon, they will begin fastening the permanent tracks across the project site.

As civil works enter a new phase, Lopez urged contractors and their consultants to work closely with the DOTr in keeping the project on schedule. He underscored the importance of the NSCR Extension in cutting the travel time to the Clark International Airport.

The NSCR Extension covers 6.5 kilometers of tracks leading to the Clark International Airport, which is the secondary gateway nearest to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

The project includes the construction of elevated viaducts and an underground tunnel connecting to the airport, providing commuters with a direct access from the NSCR.

DOTr gained full access to the alignment of the NSCR Extension after receiving assistance from the local government in securing right of way (ROW).

In 2025, DOTr made significant progress in the ROW procurement for its big-ticket railways. The agency cleared about 56 percent of the alignment for the northern leg of the NSCR.

DOTr expects to complete ROW for NSCR’s northern segment by mid-2026. It is also expediting ROW acquisition for the project’s southern line, with properties cleared for four of the 19 stations, particularly along EDSA, Cabuyao and Sta. Rosa in Laguna, and for the depot.

The NSCR – the country’s largest infrastructure investment worth P873.6 billion – will span 147 kilometers across three regions, and is expected to serve roughly 800,000 passengers daily.

It will also feature the country’s first airport-to-airport connection, offering a limited service that stops at select stations only for a quicker transit between NAIA and Clark.