Malolos-Clark Railway gets another $1.45 billion funding

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a new $1.45 billion loan for the Malolos–Clark Railway Project (MCRP), part of the Philippine government’s program to establish a safe, affordable, reliable and environment-friendly railway connecting northern and southern Luzon provinces to Metro Manila.

The MCRP is a 53.1-kilometer segment of the 163-km North–South Commuter Railway (NSCR), which aims to transform mass transportation in the country using disaster-resilient design and advanced construction methods. The ADB is also funding the southern section of the NSCR system, known as the South Commuter Railway Project.

“The Malolos–Clark Railway Project represents one of ADB’s largest project financings in the entire Asia and Pacific region. We are proud to partner with the government in realizing the vision of a world-class mass transportation system in the country. This major transformative project will spur more investments, create jobs, and contribute to sustaining the country’s growth momentum,” said Pavit Ramachandran, the ADB’s country director for the Philippines.

The MCRP will offer three types of commuter services: regular commuter trains, express trains with stops at high-demand stations, and the Philippines’ first airport express trains connecting to Clark International Airport. The project is also expected to reduce the country’s greenhouse gas emissions by encouraging a shift from private vehicles to mass transit.

The MCRP also aims to promote regional economic integration by creating links to the Central Luzon Corridor. The initial $1.3 billion tranche of financing for the project was approved by the ADB in 2019 and was fully utilized.

The ADB said it would continue to support the implementation of the MCRP and provide livelihood assistance to vulnerable communities through technical assistance.

The Japan International Cooperation Agency is co-financing the project and will supply the rolling stock and railway systems, including tracks and electrical and mechanical systems.