The Department of Transportation (DoTr) has announced that at least 26 Japanese firms have expressed interest in investing in the planned Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) public-private partnership (PPP) project.
Transportation Secretary Giovanni Z. Lopez stated that the MRT-3 PPP is more than just an investment opportunity, but rather an invitation for potential investors to help reshape how millions of Filipinos can commute every day.
The DoTr revealed that several reputable firms made expressions of interest during a market sounding activity conducted with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Tokyo, Japan last June 23. The ADB is serving as the project's transaction adviser.
MRT-3 is a 17-kilometer elevated passenger rail line with 13 stations following the alignment of Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA), a major thoroughfare in Metro Manila. The Philippine government aims to privatize the operations and maintenance (O&M) functions of MRT-3, with the awarding of the contract targeted by early 2027.
Eduardo Danilo F. Macabulos, Transportation Assistant Secretary for Railways, noted that the MRT-3 PPP project represents just one part of a growing pipeline of opportunities for the private sector to participate in and shape the future of the transportation sector.
The DoTr hopes to open more O&M opportunities to private companies in the near term, including the North-South Commuter Railway, Metro Manila Subway Project, and the upcoming Light Rail Transit-2 and Philippine Automated Fare Collection System PPPs.
These projects are part of the broader 30-year Railway Master Plan, which serves as the government's long-term blueprint for building and improving the country's train system.
