NSCR O&M auction projected to attract strong bidding interest

DOMESTIC and foreign bidders are expected to turn out in force for the operations and maintenance (O&M) contract of the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) project, transport analysts said.

- — Ashley Erika O. Jose

“Roads or highways with high expected traffic will most likely be financially viable. NSCR will most likely be very attractive,” Nigel Paul C. Villarete, senior adviser on PPPs at Libra Konsult, Inc. said via Viber over the weekend.

Last week, the Department of Transportation (DoTr) officially opened the NSCR O&M contract for bidding.

According to the instructions to prospective bidders, the draft concession agreement is expected to be released on Nov. 7 while the final O&M concession agreement will be released on April 30, 2026.

Bids will be accepted on or before May 29, 2026 at 11 a.m., according to the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center.

Earlier this month, Transportation Acting Secretary Giovanni Z. Lopez said around five companies, including foreign ones, have expressed interest in the O&M contract.

To qualify for the project, the bidder must have a minimum net worth of P114.65 billion or its equivalent in foreign currency as of the 2024 financial year.