Construction of Metro Manila Subway to start before the end of 2019

MANILA, Philippines – The much-awaited Metro Manila Subway Project is touted as one of the best ways to solve the traffic problem in the metropolis. Construction would start very soon as the tunnel digging will begin by November, said Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade.
Construction of Metro Manila subway to start soon

Though the digging might start going full blast by December, Tugade is positive that the construction of the first phase of the Metro Manila Subway Project will start before the end of 2019.

Construction of Metro Manila subway to start soon
Photo credit: Metro Manila Subway Project - DOTr / build.com.ph

“We will start the construction by the end of this year, earlier will be November latest will be December of this year,” Tugade said.

“Yung depot ginagawa na po ngayon, yung mga right of way ina-address [na].”

Targets for subway completion

Tugade is feeling hopeful that the construction will move forward as planned, so that the subway will become partially operational by 2022, particularly in the first quarter. Meanwhile, Transportation Undersecretary Timothy John Batan said it might be possible to start partial subway operations in as early as the later part of 2021.

By that time, the first three stations that would be operating will be at Mindanao Avenue, Tandang Sora, and North Avenue.

READ: Map of upcoming Greater Metro Manila Railway Network wows netizens

A number of netizens wondered about what took the authorities so long to start building the subway, considering that the groundbreaking ceremony was held last February. It turned out that they were still doing additional plans and safety precautions with the contractor to make sure everything is in order before they start the actual digging.

“The detailed engineering design of our contractor has been ongoing from February to October. Patapos na po sila. By November-December this year, mobilize ng equipment, hukay na po tayo sa subway project natin,” Batan said.

While the first phase will begin with three stations, the subway system will actually have a total of fifteen stations that would cover 36 km across seven cities. It will being/end at Terminal 3 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Pasay up to Quirino Highway in Quezon City.

Construction of Metro Manila subway to start soon
Photo credit: Jonathan Cellona / ABS-CBN News

Projected to serve 300,000 passengers per day, the subway system will cut end-to-end travel time from 2-3 hours to just 30 minutes. The subway is expected to be fully operational by 2024 or 2025.

— Joy Adalia, The Summit Express



Add a comment here (0)
Previous Post Next Post