This Feb. 5, 2021, photo shows the cutter head of the Tunnel Boring Machine No. 1 “Kaunlaran” that arrived at the Manila Harbor Center in Port Area, Manila. This would be used for the Metro Manila Subway Project Phase 1. It will break, cut, and grind rocks and soil by rotating its 36-piece disc cutter. (File photo by RICHARD A. REYES / Philippine Daily Inquirer)
Tokyo — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) will conduct feasibility studies for the planned construction of three more subway projects in the Greater Manila Area in partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica).
Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said the projects were already in the planning stage and that the proposed subways would be in Metro Manila and might extend to Cavite.
“As early as now, we are already planning for more subways in Metro Manila because this will ease the traffic,” he said during the Philippine Business Opportunities Forum at the Palace Hotel in Tokyo.
In an interview with reporters, he said the DOTr would prepare feasibility studies for the planned subway projects and that construction might still be far off.
“It’s from Metro Manila until Cavite, but it’s still in the planning stage … We’ll have to prepare a feasibility study,” Bautista said.
The planned subway projects may be linked to the Metro Manila Subway Project, which is currently under construction.
The 33-kilometer Metro Manila Subway Project will have 17 stations and will run through Valenzuela City, Quezon City, Pasig City, Makati City, Taguig City, Pasay City, and Parañaque City.
Jica will fund P370.77 billion or 75.9 percent of the project cost, while the Philippine government will finance the remaining P117.71 billion or 24.1 percent of the cost.