BUSINESS

DOTr clears way for NSCR with record land cases

Maria Bernadette Romero · Jul 31, 2026, 2:02 PM

The Department of Transportation targets completion of the NSCR Angeles Station in Pulungbulu, Angeles City by 2028, with the full North-South Commuter Railway done by 2032. Learn how improved right-of-way acquisition, new stations linking Clark, Makati and Alabang, and expanded bike lanes aim to boost mobility, jobs and business opportunities in Pampanga. — Photo courtesy of DOTR

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has filed 105 land acquisition cases to remove right-of-way bottlenecks and keep the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) on schedule.

The agency said Friday the cases, filed jointly with the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), were the largest number of expropriation suits initiated for a single project as the government accelerated work on one of its flagship rail developments.

"The President has directed us to speed up the completion of vital projects such as the North-South Commuter Railway.

We will ensure that the project stays on schedule so passengers can begin using it as planned because it will provide significant benefits to our commuters," Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez said.

The cases were reviewed during a three-day "Write Workshop on Expropriation Cases" in Clark, Pampanga, where the DOTr and OSG jointly assessed the status of each case, resolved legal bottlenecks, and identified measures to accelerate their resolution.

Meanwhile, Transportation Assistant Secretary for Right-of-Way and Site Acquisition IC Calaguas said promptly resolving legal issues is key to delivering the project on time.

"With this development, we can ensure that the project will be delivered on time. We will continue working to speed up the resolution of legal issues, so transport projects can be implemented faster for the benefit of passengers," Calaguas said.

In his fifth State of the Nation Address, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said operations of the Valenzuela-to-Malolos segment of the NSCR are expected to begin next year.

The DOTr is also working to complete the line extending to Clark before the end of the President's term in 2028.

The 147-kilometer NSCR will span 35 stations linking Metro Manila, Bulacan, Pampanga and Laguna.

Once fully operational by 2032, the railway is expected to cut end-to-end travel time from four hours to two hours and serve more than 800,000 passengers daily.