Construction of the Philippines’ first subway to start soon

MANILA, Philippines – The construction of the much-awaited Metro Manila subway project is finally going to happen, with the formal groundbreaking ceremony set on February 27.
Construction of the Philippines’ first subway to start soon

Transport Secretary Arthur Tugade and other top officials of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) are in Japan to meet with their counterparts to discuss the project and inspect equipment that will be used for the construction.

Metro Manila Subway construction start soon
Photo credit: DOTr

The Metro Manila Subway will feature 15 stations, starting from Quirino Highway (Quezon City) to the NAIA (Pasay City) and FTI (Taguig City). Operating at a projected speed of 80 kph, the trip from North Avenue to NAIA Terminal 3 and FTI will only take about 31 minutes.

The subway system also has provision for a 5-km extension and two additional stations to connect it with the LRT Line 1.

According to DOTr officials, the subway will be partially operational by 2022, with the opening of three subway stations: at Quirino Highway, Tandang Sora, and North Avenue. But construction will be faster from that point on, with the entire line projected to be completed and fully operational by 2025.

Metro Manila Subway construction start soon
Photo credit: DOTr

The project will be funded by a loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The 30-km subway system be built using tunnel-boring machines (TBMs) manufactured by Japan-based Hitachi Zosen’s Sakai Works.

Php45-billion of the loan from JICA will go to the purchase of the machines needed to create the subway tunnels. The 600-ton TBMs have a 6.9-meter diameter and are designed to create the tunnels while minimizing vibration above the ground.

One of the flagship programs under the administration’s “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure program, the Php227-billion Metro Manila Subway is expected to ease traffic and provide commuters a faster alternative to reach their destinations much faster than the current options available.

Metro Manila Subway construction start soon
Photo credit: DOTr

The construction of the Metro Manila Subway was supposed to start last December 2018, but the groundbreaking ceremony was postponed to mid-January due to schedule conflicts with Japanese officials.

But the DOTr announced that the groundbreaking ceremony will finally push through on February 27 at 9am.

— Joy Adalia, The Summit Express



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