The North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) is expected to start its first partial operation, which is Valenzuela to Malolos, in December 2027 followed by the second partial operation in the fourth quarter of 2028.

The railway, which connects Central Luzon, National Capitol Region and Calabarzon, is co-funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency and the Asian Development Bank. The government has set aside P123.843 billion under the proposed 2027 national budget for this project which covers at least 144 kilometers.

It is the second major infrastructure project backed by the Japan. The other transport project is the Metro Manila Subway Project, where a groundbreaking ceremony for the contract package at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 was held on Wednesday.

In a press briefing on Thursday, Palace Press Officer and Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro announced the changes on the timeline for the partial operation of NSCR which was approved by the Economy and Development Council (EDC), chaired by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.,Wednesday.

The earlier timeline was for the railway to start in 2023.

Castro said the timeline was adjusted to ensure prudent use of public funds, address procurement challenges, and resolve right-of-way issues.

"There was a slight change regarding the timeline, because as we know, there was a bit of cost-cutting, a need to be prudent with public funds, and difficulties in procurements; besides that, there were also issues regarding right-of-way," she said.

Castro said the "first partial operation, which is Valenzuela to Malolos, will be in December 2027 while the "second partial operation, from Malolos to Clark, will be in the fourth quarter of 2028"

"The third partial operations, Clark-Solis and Alabang to Calamba, will be in the fourth quarter of 2031. And overall, full operations for Clark to Calamba will be in the third quarter of 2033," she added.

Aside from the North-South Commuter Railway project, among those discussed by the EDC are public-private partnership (PPP) projects such as the Mactan-Cebu International Airport PPP project, Supporting Innovation in the Philippine Technical and Vocational Education and Training System Project, as well as the Road Network Development Project in conflict-affected areas in Mindanao. Robina Asido/PHS