SUBWAY WAS FIRST PROPOSED IN 1973, NOW TURNED INTO REALITY

Davao City, Davao

On June 12, 2022, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and Secretary Art Tugade led the lowering of the tunnel boring machine of the subway depot of the Metro Manila Subway Project in Valenzuela City.

For some, it might seem like a simple activity. But did you know how long it took the government to arrive at that ceremony?

A subway for Metro Manila had been conceived and proposed as early as 1973. That was nearly five (5) decades ago. 

For more than 40 years and six (6) administrations, all the Filipino people only had were proposals, studies, drawings, and presentations.

In June 2016, the project did not have any completed Feasibility Study. It did not have any NEDA Board approval. There was no financing, and no contract of any sort. 

NOW, the project is investment approved and funded, with its partial operability civil works and trains contracted out.

On June 12, we witnessed the lowering of the subway’s Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM), which marks the start of its underground works.

NOW, we also have a state-of-the-art simulator (training equipment) for the Philippine Railways Institute (PRI), which is essential to educate and improve the skills and efficieny of our railway personnel.

NOW, the funding support of the Government of Japan, through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) have likewise been arranged.

NOW, the Right-of-way acquisition for the partial operability segment of the Subway is more than 90% complete. 

A total of 25 TBMs will be utilized for the Subway Project to accelerate the construction of its 17 stations.

The Metro Manila Subway shall be 33-kilometers long, and shall traverse Valenzuela City to NAIA Terminal 3 in Pasay. 

It aims to reduce travel time between Quezon City and NAIA from the current one hour and 10 minutes to just 35 minutes.

And so, as Secretary Art Tugade said— “ANG METRO MANILA SUBWAY AY TOTOO, TOTOO, AT TOTOO.”

Photo: Department of Transportation