Tugade assures safety of ‘calamity-resilient’ Metro Manila subway project

MANILA, Philippines—Citing Japan’s technological advancements, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade on Wednesday has assured the public that the Metro Manila Subway system will be “calamity-resilient.”

Tugade made the remark after the groundbreaking ceremony in Valenzuela City of the multi-billion peso subway project.

According to Tugade, the construction of the subway project will employ “tested” Japanese technologies to make the system resilient against natural disasters.

“Ginagamit natin ‘yung teknolohiya ng bansang Hapon, ibig sabihin, ‘yung teknolohiya na tugma at tested sa baha saka lindol. Pagka tayo ay nagkabaha at nagkalindol, nakaaddress ‘yan,” Tugade told reporters.

“It will be quake and flood-resilient. Kaya nga ‘yung sabi kanina e, incredible subway kasi among the reasons of the incredibility is addressing the issue of baha and earthquake,” he added.

The flagship project under the government’s “Build, Build, Build” program will be built through the support of the Government of Japan through an Official Development Assistance (ODA) loan amounting to P51 billion from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)

READ: DOTr breaks ground for Metro Manila subway project

Last week, the DOTr signed the main contract for the construction 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.

While the construction is ongoing, Tugade appealed for patience from the public as the DOTr targets partial operability of the subway by 2022, while full operations would be in 2025.

“Nagsusumamo at nakikiusap kami sa publiko, sana intindihin ninyo ‘yung inconvenience na madadala at dadaloy sa development na ating gagawin,” he said.

“Importante ho, mamili kayo, anong gusto mo: Inconvenience for three to four years or inconvenience for 20 years?” he added.  /muf