President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. (Photo courtesy of Presidential Communications Office)
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has directed the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to finalize a broadband co-sharing agreement with Smart Communications, Inc. to resolve frequency issues affecting the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) Project.
The President issued the order during a meeting with the Regional Development Council 3 (Central Luzon) in San Jose Del Monte City, Bulacan, on Friday, according to a news release from the Presidential Communications Office on Saturday.
Marcos emphasized the importance of engaging in discussions with Smart Communications chairman and CEO Manny Pangilinan to address the broadband frequency concerns for the NSCR’s signaling system.
“This has been left unresolved for some time, but knowing Smart and Manny, we should be able to find a solution,” Marcos told DOTr officials.
“We are requesting Smart to allocate even a small portion of their broadband to be used for the commuter railway system,” he added.
DOTr Secretary Vince Dizon assured the President that securing the necessary frequency is a priority for the department. He also confirmed that he has already initiated discussions with Pangilinan.
“This was the primary topic on our agenda, and based on my initial talks with Smart, I believe we can reach a swift resolution,” Dizon stated.
The NSCR, a 147-kilometer mass transit system, will connect Clark, Pampanga, to Calamba, Laguna. Once completed in 2026, it is expected to accommodate up to 800,000 passengers daily and reduce travel time between Pampanga and Laguna to under two hours.
