The Metro Manila Subway Project (MMSP) is now nearly 60% complete as the government continues efforts to keep the country’s first underground railway project on schedule, according to Senate Finance Committee Chairperson JV Ejercito.
Ejercito made the statement after inspecting several components of the subway project, including the depot, the upcoming Quirino Station, and the Philippine Railway Institute, together with Transportation Secretary Giovanni “Banoy” Lopez, representatives of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Japanese Embassy, and project partners.
Ejercito said he personally went underground at the Quirino Subway Station construction site to inspect the progress of the project.
“Bumaba tayo mismo sa underground site ng Quirino Subway Station to see first-hand the future of transportation that has long been awaited by commuters,” Ejercito said.
“The overall project is nearly 60% complete and we are working to ensure that there are no further delays,” he added.
The Department of Transportation previously reported that the overall status of the MMSP had reached around 60%, with the tunnel section connecting Valenzuela to Quirino Highway Station already completed, along with the section from North Avenue to Tandang Sora.
Ejercito, who chairs the Senate Finance Committee, also vowed to help secure the funding needed for the timely completion of the subway and other major mass transportation projects.
“On our part as Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, we will ensure funding to ensure the timely completion of the MMSP and other vital mass transport projects,” he said.
The 33-kilometer MMSP will have 17 stations and is designed to connect Valenzuela City to the southern portion of Metro Manila, with a spur to Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3. It is expected to accommodate up to 519,000 passengers daily once fully operational.
The project is also expected to significantly reduce travel time between Valenzuela City and NAIA, with the journey projected to take around 40 minutes compared with the current travel time of about one and a half hours.
The latest progress comes as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. led the groundbreaking for the MMSP’s NAIA Terminal 3 Station on September 16. Marcos said the subway had achieved “nearly 60 percent overall progress,” with construction activities underway across much of its alignment.
Ejercito also highlighted the continued partnership between the Philippine government and Japan, particularly through JICA, in advancing the project.
“This project is made possible through our strong partnership with the Japanese Government and the Japan International Cooperation Agency,” Ejercito said, thanking Japan for its continued support.
The government continues to target the timely completion of the MMSP as part of broader efforts to improve mass transportation, mobility, and connectivity in Metro Manila.
