SUBWAY WAS FIRST PROPOSED IN 1973, NOW TURNED INTO REALITY

Valenzuela City, NCR, Philippines

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

Concrete paving of 79.39 km. road project in Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur

The government  fast track the concrete paving of Sindangan - Bayog - Lakewood Road that connect the Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur. This 79.34-kilometer road project if completed, will reduced the travel time from the "usual 6-hour travel time to 4 hours", DPWH Sec. Mark Villar said.

📸 DPWH

Provoncial Capitol of Zamboanga del Norte | ctto

About Zamboanga del Norte

It is a province in the Philippines situated within the Zamboanga Peninsula region in Mindanao. Its capital is Dipolog and the province borders Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga Sibugay to the south, Misamis Occidental to the east, and the Sulu Sea to the west.

Zamboanga del Norte is the largest province of the Zamboanga Peninsula region by land area covering 7,301.00 square kilometres (2,818.93 sq mi). Zamboanga del Norte is the 26th populous province in the Philippines.

Map of the Zamboanga Peninsula or Region 1X

Provincial Capitol of Zamboanga del Sur | ctto

About Zamboanga del Sur

It is a province in the Philippines located in the Zamboanga Peninsula region in Mindanao. Its capital is the city of Pagadian. Statistically grouped with Zamboanga del Sur is the highly urbanized city of Zamboanga, which is geographically separated and a chartered city and governed independently from the province.

The province borders Zamboanga del Norte to the north, Zamboanga Sibugay to the west, Misamis Occidental to the northeast, and Lanao del Norte to the east. To the south is the Moro Gulf.

Panabo Flyover is officially open to the public on July 16

PANABO CITY, Davao The Panabo Flyover in Panabo City, Davao del Norte will be accessible to the public now, It was open last Thursday, July 16, 2020. It is the first Flyover project in the province of Davao del Norte that will open this year. It cost Php 76 Million (pesos).
It was officially inaugurated by the DPWH Davao together with the local official of the city. 📷 City Government of Panabo

The Tarlac Pangasinan La Union Expressway will be opened on July 15

The Tarlac Pangasinan La Union Expressway (TPLEX) will be open on July 15, 2020. This project will reduced the travel time from Manila to Baguio to only 3 hours. The opening of the project was announced by DPWH Sec. Mark Villar through his facebook page.

This is another project by the government through its Build Build Build program.

NLEX Harbor Link Project - Metro Manila

 

NLEX Harbor Link Project (Segments 8.1, 8.2, 9 & 10)

Project Description: 
The project involves the 21.60-km extension of the NLEX eastward from Valenzuela City to Mel Lopez Boulevard/R10, (NLEX Harbor Link Project comprising of Segments 9, 10 and Exit Ramp to R10) and westward from Valenzuela City to Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City, (Circumferential Road 5, C-5, comprising of Segments 8.1 and 8.2). 

ONGOING SEGMENT:
A) SEGMENT 8.2 – is a proposed 8.30 kms 4-lane divided (2x2) expressway from Segment 8.1 at Mindanao Avenue, traversing westward to Republic Avenue and turning right to Luzon Avenue up to Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City.
      Section 1A: Mindanao Avenue to Quirino Highway, 2.0 kms.
     Section 1B: Quirino Highway to Regalado Avenue, 3.80 kms.
     Section 1C: Regalado Avenue to Congressional Avenue, 2.50 kms

COMPLETED SEGMENTS:
B) SEGMENT 10, EXIT RAMP to R-10 - is a 2.60 km. 4-lane (initial) elevated ramp extending the NLEX Harbor Link Segment 10 exit to Radial Road 10 (R-10), using C-3 Road as its route.

C) SEGMENT 10 - is a 5.58-km. 6-lane divided (2x3) elevated expressway connecting McArthur Highway and C-3. It will utilize the existing PNR railroad tracks that cut across Valenzuela City and Malabon City.

D) SEGMENT 9 - is a 2.42-km. 4-lane (2x2) that connects NLEX Mindanao Avenue Link (Segment 8.1) at the SMART Connect Interchange to McArthur Highway in Valenzuela City.
E) SEGMENT 8.1 - a 2.7-km expressway connecting the NLEX, at its Valenzuela City junction, to Mindanao Avenue in Quezon City. A major component is the Cloverleaf SMART Connect Interchange crossing the main expressway. It provided motorists with alternative entry and exit ramps to the NLEX.

Read more of this project here DPWH - NLEX_harbor_link project 

Quezon City (QC) to Port Area in Manila is now travelled in just 20 minutes (commute)  read here NLEX Corp by Metro Pacific 

Photo courtesy: NLEX Corp