At least 26 Japanese firms have expressed interest in investment opportunities for the improvement of the MRT-3 Capacity Expansion, Operations, and Maintenance Public-Private Partnership project, according to the Department of Transportation.
Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez said the MRT-3 PPP is not only an investment opportunity but also a chance for potential investors to help improve the daily commute of millions of Filipinos.
“The MRT-3 PPP is more than an investment opportunity — it is an invitation to potential investors to help reshape how millions of Filipinos can swiftly move every single day. We are committed to building a railway system our people rightfully deserve, and we look forward to partnering with the private sector to help make this vision a reality,” Lopez said.
The DOTr, in partnership with the Asian Development Bank, conducted a market-sounding activity for the project on June 23, 2026, in Tokyo, Japan.
DOTr Assistant Secretary for Railways Eduardo Danilo Macabulos said the Philippines remains the most congested country in Asia, stressing that traffic congestion is not merely an inconvenience but also carries real economic costs and affects the daily lives of Filipinos.
“When people spend hours stuck in traffic, they lose time that could have been spent not only on working, but learning, resting, or spending time with their loved ones. At the end of the day, our goal is actually very simple: to help people save precious time. It may sound like a simple objective, but if we can give millions of Filipinos even one or two hours back in their day, the impact on their lives can be enormous,” Macabulos said.
Macabulos said the MRT-3 PPP is only one part of a growing pipeline of opportunities for the private sector to help shape the future of transportation in the Philippines.
In the near term, the DOTr expects to roll out similar opportunities for the operations and maintenance of the 147-kilometer North-South Commuter Railway and the 33-kilometer Metro Manila Subway Project, as well as the upcoming Light Rail Transit-2 and Philippine Automated Fare Collection System PPPs.
The DOTr said these projects form part of the broader 30-year Railway Master Plan, which envisions a more connected, efficient, and sustainable railway network for future generations.
“This is not just about a single project, but part of a broader effort to transform rail and mobility in the Philippines. Again, ultimately, the goal is simple: to give Filipinos back their time,” Macabulos said.