India’s state-owned railway consultancy Rail India Technical and Economic Service Ltd. (RITES) is exploring participation in at least three major Philippine rail projects, including the Mindanao Railway, a mass rail system in Cebu and the extension of the Philippine National Railways (PNR) from Tutuban, as the government seeks to accelerate infrastructure development.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. met with RITES officials in New Delhi on September 12 to discuss potential cooperation on the projects, according to the Presidential Communications Office (PCO).
Presidential Communications Office Acting Secretary Dave Gomez said RITES could participate either as a consultant or through a public-private partnership (PPP), while also helping the Philippines explore possible official development assistance (ODA).
“The first priority is the Mindanao Rail System. So they will look at it and study it. Next is the mass rail system in Cebu,” Gomez said in Filipino after the meeting.
“And the third that they will enter is the extension of the PNR from Tutuban,” he added.
The discussions come as the Philippines advances several large-scale railway projects intended to expand intercity connectivity, improve urban transportation and strengthen links between major economic centers.
SCMB railway targets 2027-2028
The potential involvement of RITES comes as the government prepares the next stages of the proposed Subic-Clark-Manila-Batangas (SCMB) Railway, a 250-kilometer rail line being positioned as a cornerstone of the Luzon Economic Corridor (LEC).
Finance Undersecretary Maria Angela Ignacio said last week that construction could begin by the end of 2027 or in 2028, depending on the outcome of ongoing feasibility studies.
The feasibility work is being supported by international partners. The US Trade and Development Agency provided $3.8 million in assistance in 2025 for transport modeling, port-rail integration and legal and institutional frameworks, while Sweden provided P74 million for a study covering signaling systems and operational models.
The Asian Development Bank has also committed $8 million in technical assistance for the SCMB Railway.
The government has pitched the railway to international investors as one of the major projects under the Luzon Economic Corridor, which is intended to strengthen infrastructure and economic links across Luzon.
India offers space technology cooperation
Marcos also met with officials of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to discuss potential cooperation with the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA).
Gomez said India could provide technical expertise and share its experience as the Philippines works toward its long-term goal of launching its own satellite.
A Philippine satellite capability would support applications including communications, weather forecasting, climate monitoring, and defense and security, according to Gomez.
The meetings were held during Marcos’ visit to India to attend the BRICS Summit at the invitation of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Marcos is participating in the summit in his capacity as chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for 2026.
Marcos was accompanied during the meetings by Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro, Finance Acting Secretary Frederick Go, Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez, PhilSA Director General Gay Jane Perez, and Philippine Ambassador to India Josel F. Ignacio.
Before the RITES and ISRO meetings, Marcos met officials of the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) following the Philippines’ entry into the coalition. Discussions focused on strengthening Philippine infrastructure against disasters and climate-related risks.
The Philippine government is also seeking private investment for other major infrastructure projects. At the inaugural Luzon Economic Corridor Investment Forum, officials presented at least 38 projects worth more than $20 billion to investors and business executives, including the SCMB Railway and a proposed $4.1 billion Sangley Point International Airport package.
