QC’s desist order won’t delay MRT-7 completion, DOTr assures

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Wednesday gave assurance it will not allow the delay of Metro Rail Transit-7’s (MRT-7) completion despite the order of the Quezon City local government to suspend its construction at the Quezon Memorial Circle (QMC) Station.

“We’ll not allow it to basically delay the whole project of the whole MRT-7. The secretary always follows and monitors the strict implementation based on accepted schedule,” DOTr Assistant Secretary Giovanni Lopez said in a press briefing.

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte has ordered a temporary cease and desist order on the above-ground construction after experts said it had encroached on the QMC, a historical landmark.

Belmonte also sought the review of the MRT-7’s construction after they found out that it exceeded the proposed floor area.

DOTr, in response, said it would coordinate with the Quezon City government to “strike a balance and obtain a win-win situation” on the matter.

The MRT-7 project, which started construction in August 2016, has already passed the halfway mark of completion, DOTr earlier said.

It is targeted to be fully completed by 2022 and is expected to link San Jose del Monte in Bulacan and North Avenue in Quezon City and cut travel time between the two locations from two hours to 34 minutes.

Edited by EDV