Tokyo Metro Co. has begun helping train railway personnel in the Philippines as part of bilateral government efforts to develop urban rail networks in the country, according to the subway operator.

Tokyo Metro and two Japanese consulting firms — Oriental Consultants Global Co. and Almec Corp. — have jointly taken on a technical cooperation project led by the Japan International Cooperation Agency to establish and run the Philippine Railway Institute, a training center planned under the country’s Department of Transportation.

The three firms are responsible for drawing up training systems as well as nurturing local instructors through June 2023, aiming to enable them to smoothly operate and maintain city railroad networks, Tokyo Metro said. Tokyo Metro “intends to provide a wide range of support to build a safe and convenient city railroad system,” a spokesman said.

Japan’s development aid agency has discussed setting up a governmental training institute designed to boost local expertise and skills with the Philippine government such as train operations, railway building and wiring technologies, according to JICA. Along with a large infrastructure development plan by President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration, including projects for the Metro Manila Subway and Manila commuter railways, JICA has offered soft loans through its development aid program.