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The Cadmus Group met with the Anti-Red Tape Authority to discuss regulatory matters related to the Subic–Clark–Manila–Batangas Freight Rail Project
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Among topics discussed were regulatory bottlenecks affecting infrastructure and corridor-based investments
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ARTA Secretary Ernesto Perez emphasized the importance of strong inter-agency coordination and efficient local government-level permitting for such major transport projects
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The SCMB railway feasibility study, being undertaken by the Cadmus Group, includes assessments on right-of-way acquisition, port integration, and logistics planning
The Cadmus Group recently met with the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) to discuss regulatory matters related to the Subic–Clark–Manila–Batangas (SCMB) Freight Rail Project, a flagship initiative under the Luzon Economic Corridor.
The meeting on February 23 was led by Jeffrey Singer, Cadmus senior vice president, ARTA Secretary Ernesto Perez, and John Garrity, former chief of party of the United States Agency for International Development-Better Access and Connectivity Project.
The Cadmus Group is undertaking the feasibility study for the SCMB railway project.
ARTA, in a social media post, said among the topics discussed were regulatory bottlenecks affecting infrastructure and corridor-based investments.
They also explored potential coordination between Cadmus and ARTA to improve permitting efficiency and advance whole-of-nation streamlining for strategic projects.
Garrity, who is currently engaged in projects with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the World Bank in the Philippines, shared insights on ongoing collaboration efforts.
Perez emphasized the importance of strong inter-agency coordination and strict adherence to the mandated Citizens’ Charter timelines, particularly for permits from local government units.
He also highlighted the institutionalization of the initiative for a Provincial Business One-Stop Shop expanded across the Luzon Economic Corridor to accelerate permit processing and strengthen political commitment at the local level.
The SCMB railway feasibility study, funded by the United States Trade and Development Agency, is targeted for completion by mid-2027. It includes assessments on right-of-way acquisition, port integration, and logistics planning.
The SCMB, which will stretch for about 198 kilometers, will connect major ports and industrial hubs located north and south of the capital Manila. It is intended to decentralize Manila Port and provide the additional transport capacity needed at the Batangas Port and Subic Bay.
Development of the freight rail project is being supported by ADB, USTDA, and Sweden’s development finance institution, Swedfund.
READ: SCMB railway now under project development, feasibility study to start within the year
