DOTR urges ASEAN investors, dev't institutions to build, invest in PH mass rail transit

Acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez on Wednesday urged investors and development institutions in member-states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to help invest and build the Philippines’ mass rail transit systems to sustain development and improve Filipinos’ lives.

Lopez made the call at the ASEAN Rail Conference (RailCon) 2026 in Mandaluyong City.

He said ASEAN members can help the country expedite the completion of major railway projects like the North-South Commuter Railway, Metro Manila Subway Project and Metro Rail Transit Line 7.

“With these game-changing projects, we can transform the entire landscape of Philippine Transportation. To achieve this, we would need help and collaboration from our partners and friends from ASEAN countries,” Lopez said.

The projects are also in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to ease Filipinos daily commuting experience by providing a modern, efficient and well-integrated Philippine railway system.

“The Philippines reaffirms its commitment to working closely with our ASEAN partners and development institutions in advancing a highly efficient, expansive and well-integrated rail system that will support sustainable development and improve the lives of our people,” the Transportation Secretary added.

He also cited the role of the Philippine Railways Institute in ensuring that railway systems are adequately supported by competent, safety-driven and future-ready railway personnel.

Andrew Jeffries, Philippines country director of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), cited the ADB’s partnership with the Philippines through the Department of Transportation (DOTr) in revitalizing the railway network over the past decade.

“Once fully operational, these new rail systems will be more reliable, affordable, faster, safer, and greener means of travel for millions of Filipinos,” Jeffries said.

The two-day ASEAN RailCon 2026 is aimed at boosting cooperation, knowledge sharing, and technical collaboration among member states towards a safer, more efficient, and sustainable ASEAN railway network.

At the same event, Satvinder Singh, deputy secretary-general for the ASEAN Economic Community, said the regional bloc’s key priorities for advancing railway development and operations should be sustainability and resilience, innovation and digital transformation, safety standards, long-term investment, and human resource development.

“Rail transport offers a kind of strategic path towards sustainable growth while at the same time enhancing connectivity and also providing us a much better, more inclusive future,” Singh added. — JMA, GMA News