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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Marcos to DOTr: Seal broadband deal with Smart for railway signaling system

Marcos to DOTr: Seal broadband deal with Smart for railway signaling system

Published Mar 1, 2025 07:41 am

At A Glance

  • The NSCR is a 147-kilometer mass transit system that connects Clark, Pampanga, to Calamba, Laguna. Once completed in 2026, it is expected to serve up to 800,000 passengers daily and cut travel time from Pampanga to Laguna to less than two hours.

President Marcos has ordered the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to secure the broadband co-sharing partnership with Smart Communications, Inc. to resolve frequency issues concerning the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) Project.

President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. (Mark Balmores)
President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. (File Photo/Mark Balmores)

Marcos said this during a meeting with the Regional Development Council III in San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan, on Friday, Feb. 28.

During the meeting, the President underscored the need for a dialogue with Smart Communications' Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Manny Pangilinan to resolve the problem of broadband frequency for the NSCR signaling system.

"It's been left hanging for quite a while, and knowing Smart and Manny, nakakausap naman natin [sila] (We're able to talk to them). We'll just find a way to it," Marcos told DOTr officials.

"Nakikiusap tayo sa Smart na kahit na kaunting broadband ipamigay nila, ibalik nila sa atin para magamit ng commuter railway (We're asking Smart to provide us with a few broadband that we can use for the commuter railway)," he added.

Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon told the President that they have already talked with Pangilinan and Smart. He assured Marcos that securing the signaling system is one of their priorities.

"This was the top item on the agenda, and based on my initial talks with Smart, I think we can come to a quick resolution to this," Dizon said.

The NSCR is a 147-kilometer mass transit system that connects Clark, Pampanga, to Calamba, Laguna. Once completed in 2026, it is expected to serve up to 800,000 passengers daily and cut travel time from Pampanga to Laguna to less than two hours.

Related Tags

Bongbong Marcos North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) SMART COMMUNICATIONS INC President Marcos railway projects
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