The Department of Transportation (DOTr) plans to bid out the concession for the operations and maintenance of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) by the first quarter of 2025. The agency aims to complete the terms of reference for this public-private partnership (PPP) project within 2024. This move comes as the current contract with Metro Rail Transit Corporation will expire in 2025.
Key players such as San Miguel Corporation (SMC) and Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC) are expected to participate in the bidding process. However, one of the main challenges in preparing the PPP terms is making the MRT-3 an attractive project for private investors. Given the profit challenges associated with running the MRT-3, the government will likely need to continue sharing the costs of management to ensure the railway remains financially viable and appealing to potential operators.
