On October 25, 2023, the Philippine Railway conference was held in Manila, Philippines, and Mr. Takayuki Hagiwara, the Director of the Rail Transportation Planning Department at Oriental Consultants Global, was invited as a presenter.

Director of Rail Transportation Planning, Takayuki Hagiwara, delivering the presentation

Commemorative photo with Minister Bautista, Mr. Sakamoto, Director of JICA Philippines Office, Undersecretary Ronquillo, and Undersecretary Chavez.
Second from the left: Our employee, Katsuyuki Saito, Project Director of the North-South Extension Line.
Third from the left: Our executive, Akihiko Fujiyoshi, Head of the Rail Transportation Business Department.

Hagiwara presented a progress report on the project to Ambassador Kazuhiko Koshikawa, Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines, Takema Sakamoto, Director of JICA Philippines Office, and Keisuke Fukui, Deputy Director

Hagiwara presented a progress report on the project to Ambassador Kazuhiko Koshikawa, Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines, Takema Sakamoto, Director of JICA Philippines Office, and Keisuke Fukui, Deputy Director

[Related Link] Philippine Department of Transportation Railway Training Center on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/DOTrPRI)

Organized by the Philippine’s Department of Transportation (DOTr), the conference began with an opening speech by DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista. Ambassador Kazuhiko Koshikawa, the Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines, and Mr. Takema Sakamoto, Director of JICA Philippines Office, also delivered speeches.

Mr. Hagiwara was invited as a presenter to the conference upon the recommendation of DOTr, based on his role as the overall coordinator for JICA’s “Technical Assistance Project to Establish of the Philippine Railway Institute Project.” In his presentation, Mr. Hagiwara discussed the Philippine Railways Institute (PRI)’s establishment history the training program’s content, and the challenges faced by the Philippine workforce. The Philippines urgently needs to develop railway personnel in the context of its expanding railway development projects. In response to this situation, the PRI was established as a subsidiary agency of the DOTr by presidential decree in December 2019. Approximately 70% of the existing railway staff, totaling 4,000 individuals, have completed training from PRI. Mr. Hagiwara also mentioned that under the JICA project, PRI provided a two-month training program for SMC MRT7 train drivers and dispatchers, with plans to educate additional personnel next year.

When including training for operational and maintenance staff for ongoing construction projects, such as the Manila Subway Project and the North-South Commuter Railway Project, approximately 15,000 railway personnel will be required in the future. OC Global has expanded its involvement in Philippine railway projects. It established the Philippine Railway Project Office in June 2019 in response to the growth in railway activities in the Philippines. In April 2020, OC Global set up the O&M Promotion Office to strengthen consulting services related to urban railway operation and maintenance. The company remains committed to continuing its involvement in Philippine railway development projects while supporting the country’s urban railway systems’ safe, secure, and efficient operation through talent development and capacity enhancement.

OC Global supports improving infrastructure technology and economic growth in the respective country by collaborating with stakeholders to develop railway talent.