THE administration is reworking the terms of two major transport public-private partnerships (PPPs) as it seeks to make the projects more attractive to private investors and bring in fresh capital.
The Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DepDev) confirmed on Thursday that the Economy and Development (ED) Council approved amendments to the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) Operations and Maintenance (OandM) and Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) during its 11th meeting last Wednesday.
For the NSCR, DepDev said the ED Council approved changes to the project’s parameters, terms, and conditions (PTCs) specifically to ‘attract more bidders and encourage competitive proposals’ for the flagship railway project.
The NSCR will link Central Luzon, Metro Manila, and Southern Luzon, with partial operations targeted to start in December 2027.
Socio-economic Planning Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan said improved rail connectivity in Luzon would help support broader economic activity by making it easier for people and businesses to move across regions.
‘The NSCR is an investment in opportunity. Improved mobility will expand access to jobs, markets, education, and services across regions, reflecting our commitment to a more productive, resilient, and inclusive economy,’ Balisacan said.
For Mcia, meanwhile, the ED Council approved an extension of the airport concession period, giving the concessionaire a longer period to recover its investments.
Under the contract variation, the DepDev said the concessionaire will commit almost P15 billion in capacity augmentation and capital investments.
The investments are expected to support the restoration and expansion of domestic and international routes, as well as improve airport transfers, the agency added.
The longer concession period is also intended to minimize pressure to increase passenger service charges, it also said.
The two transport projects were among the major items approved by the ED Council as the government seeks to advance infrastructure investments through partnerships with the private sector.
Data from the PPP Center showed that 383 of the 576 PPP projects are national government projects, with 203 currently under implementation and another 180 in the pipeline.
By value, projects under implementation amount to P2.53 trillion, while those in the pipeline are worth another P3.02 trillion.
Class suspension rules
SEPARATELY, the ED Council ordered a further review of the proposed guidelines on the suspension and resumption of classes.
DepDev said the review will cover protocols for disruptions caused by tropical cyclones, earthquakes, storm surges, poor air quality, volcanic hazards and extreme heat.
‘Refining this policy is a matter of urgency. We must protect our learners and teachers while ensuring the continuity of education in the face of evolving risks,’ Balisacan said.
Last week, the chief economist warned that repeated weather disruptions could erode the Philippines’ improved results in the 2025 Program for International Student Assessment.
The ED Council also approved changes in the scope, cost and implementation timelines of three development projects.
These include the Supporting Innovation in the Philippine Technical and Vocational Education and Training System (SIPTVETS) project of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority; the Road Network Development Project in Conflict-Affected Areas in Mindanao (RNDP-CAAM) of the Department of Public Works and Highways; and the Reducing Food Insecurity and Undernutrition with Electronic Vouchers (REFUEL) project of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
DepDev, however, has yet to disclose the reasons behind the changes to the three projects.