By Tracy Cabrera
DILIMAN, Quezon City — With the Metro Manila Subway Project (MMSP) now about 60 percent complete, the Department of Transportation (DoTr) is targeting a demonstration run of its key section before the end of President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. (PBBM)’s term in 2028.
According to transportation secretary Giovanni ‘Banoy’ Lopez, the MMSP’s construction progress stands at 32 percent while the project’s overall completion is about 60 percent.
“We are aiming to conduct a demonstration run on the Valenzuela City-to-Quirino Avenue segment by 2028 to show the public that the country’s first underground railway is nearing operation,” Secretary Lopez announced.
“We want the public to see that trains will already be running and that the subway is no longer just a plan on paper,” he added even as he clarified that the demonstration run differs from full commercial or revenue operations as it is only intended to test and showcase the system before passenger service begins.
He highlighted that the tunnel excavation for both northbound and southbound tracks of the MMSP between Valenzuela and Quirino Avenue has already been completed.
Moreover, Lopez disclosed that the tunnel works between North Avenue and Tandang Sora in Quezon City have also reached 100-percent completion.
“The progress reflects the administration’s effort to accelerate major infrastructure projects. Once fully operational, the Metro Manila Subway is expected to reduce travel time across the capital significantly,” he noted, citing that a trip from Valenzuela to Terminal 3 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay City is expected to take only 35 to 40 minutes using the subway.
Currently this takes about two hours under light traffic.
“The shorter travel time would not only make commuting more convenient but also help passengers save on transportation costs,” Lopez asserted.
ia/xf
