Gov’t launches PH’s first subway system

FILE: Scale model of the Metro Manila Subway System which is expected to have partial operations in 2022. (Photo by Aerol John B. Patena/PNA)

MANILA — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Wednesday finally conducted the groundbreaking for the Metro Manila Subway System, the first in the country.

“When we announced that we are doing the subway, many sectors did not believe. They told us: subway station? This is only a plan and will not become a reality. To all those who are doubting, the subway station is now a reality. This will provide a comfortable life for Filipinos,” Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said in his speech during the launching of the Metro Manila Subway in Valenzuela City.

Undersecretary for Railways Timothy John Batan, on the other hand, said the joint venture of Shimizu Corporation, Fujita Corporation, Takenaka Civil Engineering Co. Ltd., and EEI Corporation will be in charge of designing and building the first three stations of the subway, tunnel structures, its Valenzuela Depot and the facilities of the planned Philippine Railway Institute.

“Each subway station will feature an intermodal facility that will make transfers to and from road-based transport seamless and convenient,” Batan said.

The 36-kilometer subway will have 15 stations from Quirino Highway in Quezon City to Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 in Pasay City and FTI in Taguig City. It will traverse seven localities and pass through three of Metro Manila’s business districts.

Travel time from Quezon City to NAIA Terminal 3 is estimated to be reduced to only 30 minutes with trains running at speeds of up to 80 kilometers per hour.

The subway will connect with other major rail lines such as the PNR Clark, PNR Calamba, and the Common Station to ensure interconnectivity, intermodality, and interoperability.

The subway will feature technological advancements and disaster-resilient strategies to strengthen its structural integrity amid regular occurrence of typhoons and earthquakes.

The subway is expected to have its partial operations in 2022 with three stations–the Quirino Highway-Mindanao Avenue, Tandang Sora, and North Avenue with its full operations set on 2025.

It is expected to serve up to 370,000 passengers daily during its first year of full operations, with a design capacity of accommodating up to 1.5 million passengers per day.

Tugade and other officials were in Osaka, Japan last week to inspect tunnel boring machines that will be used for the construction of the Metro Manila Subway.

The Philippine and Japanese governments signed a loan agreement for the subway project, with an initial tranche amounting to PHP51.37 billion (104.5 billion Japanese yen), in March last year.