• San Miguel Corporation signed a strategic partnership with Korea Railroad Corporation to accelerate the transition of the MRT-7 project into full operations
• KORAIL will help establish MRT-7’s safety protocols, maintenance programs, and core operational systems
• The agreement kicks off in July 2025, with the first 6–12 months focused on operational readiness
• Full operations of MRT-7 are targeted for 2026, with all trains expected to be running and tested by end-2025
San Miguel Corporation (SMC) has signed a strategic partnership with Korea Railroad Corporation (KORAIL) to accelerate the transition of the MRT-7 project into full operations.
The Operations and Management Services agreement was inked between SMC MRT-7 Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of SMC’s infrastructure arm, and KORAIL, South Korea’s national railway operator, during a formal ceremony attended by executives and key government officials from both nations.
KORAIL will provide technical advisory and operational support beginning July 2025. The scope includes setting up MRT-7’s safety protocols, maintenance programs, and core railway systems, with a key focus on preparing the line for full public operations by 2026.
“This is a critical step as we move closer to delivering MRT-7 to the public,” said Ang. “We have faced delays — mostly due to right-of-way issues — but we have stayed focused. With all trains expected to be running and tested by the end of this year, and full operations targeted for 2026, this partnership with KORAIL brings us closer to our goal,” SMC chairman and CEO Ramon Ang said in a statement.
The MRT-7 is a 22-kilometer elevated railway that will connect North Avenue in Quezon City to San Jose del Monte in Bulacan. With 14 stations, the line is projected to dramatically reduce travel times.
KORAIL’s role will be especially critical during the system’s pre-operational phase, which is expected to span six to 12 months. The South Korean rail operator will then continue offering technical support during regular operations to ensure continuity, skills transfer, and the application of global rail management standards.
Representatives from the Department of Transportation (DOTr), including Undersecretaries Giovanni Lopez, Timothy John Batan, and Jonathan Ronulo, joined the event. Batan, delivering remarks on behalf of Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon, reaffirmed the administration’s focus on commuter-first transport planning.
“We prioritize passengers, we focus on the plight of the commuters. We are ensuring that an infrastructure or a transport project such as a railway system is not only safe and efficient but will also provide comfort to commuters and lessen their travel time,” Dizon said in remarks read by Batan, the DOTr undersecretary for railways.
KORAIL President and CEO Han Moon Hee described the agreement as a “landmark of cooperation and mutual prosperity, enabling the Philippines’ premiere corporation to excel in the new arena of rail.”
“I am confident that the fusion of KORAIL’s technical expertise with San Miguel’s managerial prowess will make MRT-7 the finest rail in the Philippines,” said Han.
South Korea’s national rail operator, KORAIL, manages an expansive transportation network encompassing the high-speed KTX system, metropolitan commuter routes, and intercity rail services.
The ceremony was also attended by Vice Minister Baek Won Kug of Korea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and Korean Ambassador to the Philippines Lee Sang-hwa, further cementing the bilateral significance of the partnership.
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