On Friday, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. urged the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to finalize a crucial broadband co-sharing agreement with Smart Communications Inc. to facilitate the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) project’s progress.
Addressing the Regional Development Council III, Marcos stressed the urgency of resolving broadband frequency issues hampering the NSCR’s signaling systems. He highlighted the importance of discussions with Smart’s Chairman and CEO, Manny V. Pangilinan, to navigate these challenges.
“This issue has lingered long enough, but considering our relationship with Smart and Manny, we can definitely engage in productive talks. We’ll certainly find a solution,” Marcos assured DOTr representatives.
The president called on Smart to relinquish some broadband capacity to support the commuter railway’s operation.
DOTr Secretary Vince Dizon revealed that preliminary discussions with Pangilinan and Smart have already taken place, underscoring that the signaling solution remains a top priority.
“Resolving this issue was the main focus of our agenda, and I am optimistic about reaching a swift agreement with Smart,” Dizon stated.
The NSCR is a pivotal 147-kilometer mass transit network linking Clark, Pampanga to Calamba, Laguna, with completion targeted for 2026. Once active, the railway is projected to serve up to 800,000 daily passengers and significantly cut travel time between Pampanga and Laguna to less than two hours.