The trains were gradually replaced by new E233-2000 series EMUs, and the last set ran in revenue service on 26 September 2011.

In November 2011, four former 203 series 10-car sets (set numbers 53, 54, 55, 67) were shipped to the Philippine National Railways (PNR) in the Philippines for Metro commuter service in Metro Manila, replacing former Japanese 12 and 14 series coaches.

[8] Due to the lack of electrification in the PNR line, the units are equipped with a diesel-powered generator at the head car to provide power for the doors, lighting, and air-conditioning.

PNR conducted a bidding for the procurement of ten air-conditioning units for the 203 series from August to September 2018.

[13] PNR procured polycarbonate panels from PT Industries Incorporated through public bidding in 2019 to replace the old windows of the 203 Series.

The management have stripped off the paint and focus on the bodywork progress of the said EMUs (with some instance of revealing their old livery dating back to their JR incarnation).

But recently in July 2023, the new management finally decided to revert them back to the blue livery since they will be mostly allocated to Calamba, Laguna for commuter services connecting to Lucena City in Quezon province, right after the Metro South Commuter services will be finally halt by December 2023 in preparation of construction of the North-South Commuter Railway connecting from Clark, Pampanga to Calamba in Laguna.