Metro Manila Subway Breaks Ground Today

As the traffic condition in Metro Manila continues to worsen, the project to put up a new mass transit system under the directive of President Rodrigo Duterte will soon rise as the Metro Manila Subway project broke ground today north of Metro Manila.

The premier underground railway system of the Philippines, the said project is the flagship program of the Duterte administration's 'Build, Build, Build' Program.

Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea led the groundbreaking ceremonies, together with Japanese Ambassador Koji Haneda, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, mayors Rexlon Gatchalian and Herbert Bautista of Valenzuela and Quezon City, respectively, and Senate Committee Vice Chair on Public Service, Senator JV Ejercito, among others.

During the kickoff of the program, Medialdea, Haneda, and the others led the unveiling of the scale model of the Tunnel Boring Machine.

"We believe in a fast and sure approach and the efficient delivery of public service. Matagal nang deprived sa ganitong mass transport system (We have long been deprived of this kind of mass transport system)," Medialdea said.

Ejercito, who is one of Duterte’s staunch supporters, reiterated his support for the infrastructure projects being done by the current administration.

"One of the reasons that I support the President is that he is the only President in the recent years to commit and spend PHP3 trillion for the next six years for infrastructure development. Given the situation that we have right now, we have a growing population, 105 million, we have 30,000 new vehicles added to our streets every month. So that's about 1 million vehicles in the next three years," Ejercito, who is seeking reelection bid for the 2019 midterm election this May, said

"I'd like to congratulate Sec. Tugade for really pushing our railway projects, particularly the PNR North, PNR South, Mindanao railways system and this time, what used to be like a dream but now is becoming a reality, the Metro Manila subway system.I know that we really need this, this will stimulate our economic growth, we will never reach the full economic potential for growth for the Philippines if we do not invest in infrastructure," he added.

Though he believed that there would be problems that would arise prior to the subway's completion, he said that such improvements would help the country in the long run.

"The only way we can spread out the development to the countryside, to decongest Metro Manila, Cebu, and Davao, is through the infrastructure development and transport modernization. I think the Philippines is 30 years behind in terms of infrastructure development. We have a lot of catching up to do. And the DOTr has been moving and I would like to commend Sec. Tugade and it has been a pleasure to have been defending the budget of (the) DOTr in the recent years because of this dream," Ejercito claimed.

"I will always support the 'Build, Build, Build' program of the Duterte administration. This is the only way we can only achieve full economic growth, we will spread the development, we can create growth development areas in all provinces. Kung gusto nating ng tunay na trabaho at hanapbuhay (If we want real jobs and livelihoods), if we want genuine exclusive growth we really have to invest in infrastructure and transport modernization," he  concluded.

Relatedly, the government awarded certificates of entitlement to affected informal setters who will be relocated to Disiplina Village II in Bignay, Valenzuela City.

Planned as a 36-kilometer rail line, a total of 15 stations will be constructed from Quirino Highway to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal.

The trains are set to run at about 80 kph and will go through Metro Manila's business districts, with the end-to-end trip expected to take around 30 minutes.

During the program, Medialdea announced that partial operation through the first three stations--Quirino Highway-Mindanao Avenue, Tandang Sora, and North Avenue--shall commence by 2022, with the entire project expected to be fully operational by 2025.

The subway is eyed to cater to 370,000 passengers daily in its first year of full operations, with a design capacity that can accommodate 1.5 million passengers per day.

The Metro Manila Subway is a PHP365-billion project with the government of Japan through official development assistance (ODA) from the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

"We support the Philippines in shifting the 'Build, Build, Build' Program in shifting to higher gear…Together there is no stopping Japan and Philippines in achieving more," said Haneda.

For his part, Valenzuela mayor Gatchalian expressed elation over the building of the subway, which is one of the government projects that would benefit the city.

"Truly,it pays to be in the northernmost part of Metro Manila. These projects will open Valenzuela to vast opportunities," he said, pertaining to
the subway and the recent opening of the NLEX Harbor Link project.