The Swedish government has reaffirmed its commitment to Philippine infrastructure development by extending a ₱74-million grant to support the Luzon Economic Corridor’s flagship railway initiative. The grant, coursed through Swedfund International, will fund a feasibility study for the Subic-Clark-Manila-Batangas (SCMB) railway project, a major undertaking aimed at enhancing logistics and trade across Luzon.

The agreement was formally presented at Malacañang Palace, with Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs Secretary Frederick Go and Swedish Ambassador Anna Ferry leading the ceremony. Also in attendance were officials from Sweden’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Department of Transportation (DOTr), Department of Finance, and Department of Foreign Affairs.

“This partnership between the Philippines and Sweden advances the President’s vision of developing globally competitive logistics infrastructure that will drive investment and inclusive growth,” Go said in his keynote address.

Ambassador Ferry echoed the sentiment, emphasizing Sweden’s pride in supporting the Philippines’ development goals through technology and expertise. “This additional agreement with the Department of Transportation is a remarkable example of synergies and cooperation between public and private efforts,” she noted.

The Asian Development Bank will oversee the procurement of consultants for the feasibility study, which will focus on signaling systems and operational models for the SCMB railway. The grant complements earlier funding from the U.S. Trade and Development Agency, which supports parallel studies on transport modeling and port–rail integration.

With this latest boost, the Luzon Economic Corridor inches closer to becoming a transformative force in Philippine infrastructure, promising streamlined connectivity between key ports and a more robust foundation for inclusive economic growth. (PNA)