By Anna Leah Gonzales | Philippine News Agency
The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) said a giant transport hub that can rival the size of the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) will be built on its three-hectare property in Quezon City.
In a statement on Monday, GSIS said the transport hub dubbed as ‘Project Hub’, will be located at the corner of the Elliptical Road and Commonwealth Avenue.
The project is expected to provide much needed augmentation to several major transport lines already plying through the area.
By 2027, the hub is expected to enhance access to the neighboring Philcoa Station of the Metro Rail Transit-7 (MRT-7) when it begins operating from the North Triangle Common Station in North Edsa to San Jose del Monte in Bulacan.
“Our property in Quezon City is centrally located and accessible, positioned in a location that maximizes connectivity with the city and surrounding regions,” GSIS President and General Manager Wick Veloso said.
“The end view of the Project Hub is a world-class intermodal transport hub that is a well-organized, modern facility that streamlines the bus travel experience, focusing on efficiency, passenger comfort, and seamless connectivity with other transport modes including the MRT-7,” he added.
GSIS said that Veloso, Department of Transportation (DOTr) Sec. Jaime Bautista, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairperson Romando Artes, and Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte met last Oct. 15 to discuss the project.
The DOTr, with the help of the World Bank, will plan, finance, and implement the intermodal transport hub while the MMDA will conduct the feasibility study covering both traffic management and basic engineering design.
The Quezon City government, as host city to the project, shall ease and facilitate the expected permits and other requirements for smooth implementation of the project.
While DOTr-led studies and preparatory designs are being done, the GSIS, MMDA, and the Quezon City government will provide additional parking on the GSIS property for the general public.
The plan is to prepare some 300 temporary parking slots on the site while waiting for the permanent development to get underway.
“The GSIS’ unwavering focus is to serve our members and pensioners, ensuring that their needs are met with integrity and excellence, with the best customer experience. Through the Board of Trustees’ approval and guidance, the GSIS will continue to support the Project Hub which has a pivotal role to serve them better. As long as there is provision of their needs, we will affirm our commitment to advancing this sustainable initiative,” Veloso said.
