The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has requested a second loan tranche from Japan to extend the maintenance contract of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) for 30 months. As the current build-lease-transfer (BLT) agreement with Metro Rail Transit Corp. (MRTC) nears expiration in July 2025, DOTr is negotiating with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to secure official development assistance (ODA) to continue maintenance until a new operator is onboarded.
The extension will include a six-month transition period for the succeeding concessionaire. DOTr plans to submit the ODA request to JICA in June 2025, with approval expected by July following evaluation by the National Economic and Development Authority Board. Meanwhile, an interim maintenance period from August to October is proposed to cover the gap before the extension begins. DOTr emphasised challenges in financing MRT-3 operations independently and indicated openness to unsolicited private sector proposals, including from Metro Pacific Investments Corporation, with whom discussions continue after a previously returned proposal. If no unsolicited offers are received, DOTr will pursue a solicited bidding process with support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).