DOTr, Meralco ink agreement on power for Metro Manila Subway

The Metro Manila Subway Project Line 9 northbound. (File photo by NOY MORCOSO / INQUIRER.net)

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Manila Electric Corp. (Meralco) signed an agreement on Thursday on the power distribution of the Metro Manila Subway Project.

“I would like to thank Meralco for your support as this agreement will help the Metro Manila Subway a step closer to reality,” DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista said.

According to the DOTr, the agreement will cover a 1,742-square-meter switching station area for the project’s power resource.

“Under the Switching Station Agreement with Deeds of Usufruct, the transport agency will provide Meralco with a Switching Station area of 1,743 square meters for the interconnection of the Metro Manila Subway to the energy provider’s distribution network,” it said.

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The facilities will be constructed at the Valenzuela Depot, it added.

“Once granted by the DOTr lot allocation, Meralco will finance, install, construct, control, operate, and maintain the required facilities within the Switching Station for the Metro Manila Subway,” the DOTr added.

The construction of the 33-kilometer project began in January 2023 and is expected to be operational by 2029.

It will run from Valenzuela City to Pasay City and will have 17 stations.