France has expressed strong interest in financing and supporting the stalled Philippine National Railways South Long Haul (PNR-SLH) project, following the Philippines’ decision to withdraw from a previous loan deal with China.
The 561.1-kilometer railway project, which aims to connect Muntinlupa City in Metro Manila to Matnog, Sorsogon, was among the major transport initiatives discussed during a meeting between Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Vince Dizon and visiting French Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and French Nationals Abroad Laurent Saint-Martin on April 11.
Saint-Martin said France is prepared to support the railway through the France Development Agency, export financing guarantees, and treasury loans. He also offered to connect the Philippine government with other potential funders, including the European Investment Bank.
In 2022, the Philippines withdrew from a loan agreement with China due to lack of progress. Since then, other countries such as Japan, South Korea, and India, along with global financial institutions like the Asian Development Bank and World Bank, have expressed interest in backing the project.
Beyond the PNR-SLH, France has also shown interest in other major railway projects, including those under the Luzon Economic Corridor. This includes the Subic-Clark-Manila-Batangas cargo railway, which is envisioned as a key logistics and industrial artery in the region.
“We have a transportation industry in France that has already proven its expertise,” Saint-Martin said in a weekend press conference. “If we can participate further and do a deeper Filipino project, we’ll be very happy and proud to do so.”
He praised his meeting with Secretary Dizon, calling it “very concrete,” and said France is eager to see fast results. “Secretary Dizon is a very hands-on member of the government. He really wants things to become concrete as soon as possible.”
Saint-Martin also welcomed the possibility of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. visiting France later this year to further bolster cooperation in the railway sector.
Several French companies, including Alstom, Colas Rail, Bouygues Travaux Publics, and RATP Dev, are already active in Philippine rail projects. Alstom and Colas Rail are part of the consortium handling systems components for the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR), while Alstom is also involved in the Metro Manila Subway Project (MMSP).
The 147-kilometer NSCR will link Malolos, Bulacan to Clark International Airport in Pampanga and Tutuban, Manila to Calamba, Laguna. The MMSP will stretch 33 kilometers across Metro Manila, cutting travel time between Valenzuela City and Ninoy Aquino International Airport from 90 minutes to just 35 minutes.
Saint-Martin said French firms are also preparing to support the Light Rail Transit (LRT) and Metro Rail Transit Common Station in Quezon City, with France ready to expand its financing to accelerate the LRT-2 modernization before the end of the Marcos administration.
