Go Unlimited with Magzter GOLD
Get unlimited access to 10,000+ magazines, newspapers and Premium stories for just
Try GOLD - Free
Single contract eyed for LRT-1, MRT-3
The Philippine Star
|January 19, 2026
The country's busiest railways — Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) and Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) - could end up being managed by a single group eyeing to operate train services jointly to make them profitable assets.
Light Rail Transit Line 1 connects FPJ (Quezon City) and Dr. A. Santos Avenue (Parañaque) stations. Metro Rail Transit Line 3 runs from North Avenue station in Quezon City to Taft Avenue station in Manila and vice versa.
With tycoons planning to leave the LRT-1 business, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) is looking for creative ways to improve the financial prospects of investing in the rail sector.
The DOTr is reviewing the public-private partnership (PPP) model for rail projects to prevent a repeat of struggles faced by LRT-1 operator Light Rail Manila Corp. (LRMC).
The DOTr is willing to package the concession agreements for the MRT-3 and LRT-1 into one.
Acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez said a private group is now coming up with an unsolicited proposal to operate the two railways.
This story is from the January 19, 2026 edition of The Philippine Star.
Subscribe to Magzter GOLD to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 10,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
MORE STORIES FROM The Philippine Star
The Philippine Star
Fuel prices climb up to P2 per liter
Motorists are facing another round of fuel price increases today, with diesel and kerosene rising for the third straight week this year.
1 min
January 20, 2026
The Philippine Star
Bonoan on flood coordinates: No intention to mislead BBM
A day after arriving from the United States, former public works secretary Emmanuel Bonoan appeared before the Senate Blue Ribbon committee yesterday and denied there was ill-intent in his submission to Malacañang of misleading coordinates of flood control project locations.
4 mins
January 20, 2026
The Philippine Star
Phl growth outlook dims
IMF lowers 2025-2027 forecasts
2 mins
January 20, 2026
The Philippine Star
ICTSI on track to complete Batangas port
International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) of tycoon Enrique Razon Jr. is progressing with the development of the $800-mil-lion South Luzon Container Terminal (SLCT) project in Batangas, with its commercial operations eyed by 2028.
1 min
January 20, 2026
The Philippine Star
Marcos bares major Malampaya gas find
President Marcos yesterday announced the discovery of natural gas at the Malampaya East-1 (MAE-1) well, the first in over a decade.
3 mins
January 20, 2026
The Philippine Star
Triumphs & tragedies: 65 years after Camelot
E xactly 65 years ago today, before most of us were even born, history was being written at the Capitol in Washington DC. John F. Kennedy was sworn into office as the 35th president of the United States, the youngest and the first Roman Catholic elected to the post. He was only 43.
5 mins
January 20, 2026
The Philippine Star
The power trio of Phl business
While the Philippine entertainment business has icons like Tito, Vic and Joey and the music industry has the APO Hiking Society, the local business sector also has its own formidable all-male trio - Edgar Saavedra, Louie Ferrer and Oliver Tan.
2 mins
January 20, 2026
The Philippine Star
$1 B in cash buys a permanent seat on Trump's 'Board of Peace'
President Donald Trump's \"Board of Peace\" is billing itself as a new international peacekeeping body - and permanent membership won't come cheap.
3 mins
January 20, 2026
The Philippine Star
Show-cause order issued vs Co, Guteza
The Senate may order the arrest of fugitive former congressman Zaldy Co and controversial witness Orly Guteza if they fail to comply with a Senate show-cause order issued after the pair ignored subpoenas from the Blue Ribbon committee in its ongoing probe on corruption in flood control projects.
1 mins
January 20, 2026
The Philippine Star
Revilla surrenders at Camp Crame
Former senator Ramon \"Bong\" Revilla Jr. on Monday evening voluntarily surrendered to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) at its headquarters in Camp Crame.
3 mins
January 20, 2026
Listen
Translate
Change font size