Manila: The Department of Transportation (DOTr) anticipates that the nation's major railway lines will eventually serve up to 5 million passengers daily. This projection emphasizes the importance of mass transit within the PHP300.96-billion proposed budget for 2027.
According to Philippines News Agency, Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez informed a Senate budget hearing that the integration of the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR), Metro Manila Subway, Metro Rail Transit (MRT) Lines 3 and 7, alongside other rail systems, is expected to redirect a significant number of commuters from roads to trains. Lopez highlighted that this expanded network would offer commuters more predictable travel times, improved accessibility, and lower fares, which would, in turn, alleviate road congestion.
The DOTr is focusing on an early test with MRT-7, aiming for partial commercial operations in the second quarter of 2027. This phase will open 12 stations from Sacred Heart to North Avenue in Quezon City, with Lopez estimating a conservative 300,000 daily passengers for the initial operations.
The 2027 National Expenditure Program (NEP) allocates PHP197.30 billion for rail transport, with PHP123.84 billion designated for the NSCR and PHP67.44 billion for the Metro Manila Subway. Combined, these two projects constitute nearly 97 percent of the proposed railway budget. Partial operations of the NSCR section from West Valenzuela in Quezon City to Malolos, Bulacan are targeted by December 2027, while full operations of the Metro Manila Subway are projected by 2032, contingent on sustained funding.
Lopez emphasized the necessity of uninterrupted funding, cautioning that any disruptions could impact right-of-way acquisition, contractor payments, and project timelines. He urged for sufficient financial support, as the proposed PHP300.96-billion DOTr budget for 2027 represents a 52.52 percent increase from the PHP197.33 billion proposed under the 2026 NEP and more than double the agency's current PHP137.85-billion enacted budget.
