By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has clarified that the Metro Rail Transit Line 7 (MRT-7) will proceed with its complete 14-station alignment, dismissing reports suggesting that the project would be limited to only 13 stations.
In a statement released Sunday, transportation officials stressed that the San Jose del Monte (SJDM) Station in Bulacan remains an integral component of the railway project and has not been excluded from the approved route.
The DOTr emphasized that the MRT-7 alignment continues to include the northern terminus in San Jose del Monte, ensuring that commuters in Bulacan will benefit from direct rail connectivity to Metro Manila once the system is fully operational.
The 22-kilometer railway line will feature the following stations: North Avenue Joint Station, Quezon Memorial Circle, University Avenue, Tandang Sora, Don Antonio, Batasan, Manggahan, Doña Carmen, Regalado, Mindanao Avenue, Quirino, Sacred Heart, Tala, and San Jose del Monte.
Transportation officials said the first phase of operations covering 12 stations—from North Avenue to Sacred Heart—is expected to begin service by the second quarter of 2027.
Meanwhile, construction and completion works for the remaining Tala and San Jose del Monte stations are scheduled to continue, with both facilities expected to open to passengers in 2028.
Once fully operational, MRT-7 is projected to serve approximately 300,000 passengers daily, providing a faster and more efficient transportation option between Metro Manila and Bulacan.
The railway is expected to reduce travel time between the two areas from the current two to three hours by road to approximately 35 minutes, offering substantial relief to daily commuters and helping ease traffic congestion along major highways.
The MRT-7 remains one of the government’s flagship transportation projects aimed at expanding mass transit infrastructure and improving mobility in northern Metro Manila and neighboring provinces.
With the full 14-station alignment confirmed, officials expressed confidence that the project will play a key role in strengthening regional connectivity and supporting economic growth in the years ahead.
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