Transport Secretary Vince Dizon inspects the Valenzuela depot of the North-South Commuter Railway project on April 10, 2025. Andrea Taguines, ABS-CBN News

MANILA — The Asian Development Bank said it has approved the $1.45 billion second and final tranche of its loan for the Malolos–Clark Railway Project (MCRP).

The MCRP, which forms part of the larger North-South Commuter Railway Project, is one of ADB's biggest projects in the entire Asia and Pacific region, according to ADB Philippines Country Director Pavit Ramachandran.

The MCRP is a 53.1-kilometer segment of the 163-km NSCR. It will connect Clark International Airport to Malolos, Bulacan. Another segment of the NSCR will connect the Tutuban Station in Manila of the Philippine National Railways to Malolos, Bulacan.

Another part will connect the PNR's Blumentritt Station to Calamba, Laguna. ADB is also financing the southern leg of the NSCR system, called the South Commuter Railway Project.

"This major transformative project will spur more investments, create jobs, and contribute to sustaining the country’s growth momentum,” said Ramachandran.  

The ADB said that aside from helping decongest Metro Manila, the Malolos-Clark Railway will promote regional economic integration by creating linkages to the Central Luzon Corridor.

Tranche 1 of the MCRP loan, which is $1.3 billion, was approved by ADB in 2019 and is now fully utilized.

The Japan International Cooperation Agency is co-financing the project. JICA will deliver the rolling stock and railway systems such as track, electrical, and mechanical systems.

The Northern leg, or the Valenzuela to Clark segment of the NSCR, was originally expected to begin operations in 2026, but this has since been pushed back to 2028 as builders contend with right-of-way issues.

Other big-ticket infrastructure projects like the Metro Manila Subway have also met with right-of-way issues and are not expected to be finished within President Ferdinand Marcos Jr's term.