The Japan International Cooperation Agency is extending new technical assistance to Light Rail Manila Corporation to improve the operational efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions of Light Rail Transit Line-1 (LRT-1) through energy conservation initiatives.

Following the official announcement made in June 2024 regarding JICA’s joint venture with Sumitomo Corporation and Hankyu Corporation, they concluded an investment agreement for the operation and maintenance of the LRT-1. The equity investment in LRMC aims to support the Philippine government and private sector’s efforts to ease traffic woes, improve daily commuting experience and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, among others. The aforementioned energy conservation promotion program will be a direct contribution to these efforts.

On the 24th April 2025, during the mission headed by JICA Private Sector Partnership and Finance Department Representative Kondo Takashi, JICA and LRMC agreed to implement JICA’s Expert Dispatch Program on Energy Conservation Promotion for LRT-1. This was formalized through the exchange of letters between JICA and LRMC president and CEO Enrico Benipayo.

Pursuing energy conservation measures in the railways sector is seen as an indispensable move in view of the Philippine government’s commitment to reduce its CO2 emissions by 75 percent by 2030 under the Paris Agreement.

The technical assistance project extended by JICA has significant potential to enhance energy efficiency of railways operation in the Philippines. Energy conservation promotion is also expected to lower operational costs and mitigate the environmental impact, for which JICA will provide maximum support by utilizing the expertise and experiences of Japan on railway operations.

Japanese Experts of this technical assistance are expected to identify critical intervention points at rolling stock by revitalizing the control units and motors as well as substations through the introduction of regenerative energy loss prevention systems, and related to the operation the energy-efficient driving techniques will be enhanced based on Japanese experiences, in order to propose optimal energy conservation measures. The project is expected to commence in July 2025 and conclude in May 2026.

The findings and lessons learned through the program will be disseminated to aid the government of the Philippines and other railway operators in enhancing their O&M and business efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions across the entire railway sector.