DOTr breaks ground for Metro Manila subway project

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade. INQUIRER PHOTO / NINO JESUS ORBETA

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Wednesday broke ground to start the construction of the first three stations of the Metro Manila Subway system.

Speaking at the groundbreaking rites in Barangay Ugong, Valenzuela City, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade gave assurance that the government would keep an eye on the project, which is funded by a loan from Japan.

“Inaugurating and groundbreaking is one thing, finishing it is another. We will finish this in 2022. Sabi nga sa Ingles, I will be watching you. This is what we want to achieve. Sa mga nagdududa, maniwala kayo,” Tugade said.

The multi-billion Metro Manila subway is among the flagship projects under the government’s “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure program.

Last week, the DOTr signed the main contract of the subway’s depot and first three stations, or its partial operability section, along with the structures and facilities of the Philippine Railway Institute.

READ: DOTr inks deal for Metro Manila subway’s first 3 stations

The first three stations consist of the Quirino Highway-Mindanao Avenue Station, Tandang Sora Station, and North Avenue Station.

The project is an expansive 36-kilometer railway system, which will have 15 stations from Quirino Highway in Quezon City to the Naia Terminal 3 in Pasay and FTI in Taguig.

With a speed of up to 80 kilometers per hour, the DOTr said the subway would cut travel time from Quezon City to Naia Terminal 3 to just 30 minutes.

The DOTr is targeting partial operability by 2022, while full operations would be in 2025.

Around 370,000 passengers are expected to benefit from the subway daily in its first year of full operations.

The Metro Manila Subway will be built with the support of the Japanese government through an Official Development Assistance (ODA) loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). /cbb