By Brian Campued
“Panahon na upang matuldukan ang dekadang paghihirap ng ating mga komyuter.”
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to providing “sustainable, long-term solutions” to ease commuting woes and improve the public transport system in the country.
During the groundbreaking ceremony in Taguig City for the Kalayaan Avenue and Bonifacio Global City Stations of the Metro Manila Subway Project (MMSP), Marcos Jr. underscored the importance of investing in rail infrastructure along with implementing commuter-centric initiatives to address the perennial traffic congestion in the metropolis.
“For decades, traffic in Metro Manila has been more than an inconvenience. It has been a constant consideration affecting our daily decisions. It influences where we work, where we study, and how we plan our lives,” he said.
“[T]his is not the kind of future that we want for our kababayans… Hangad natin ang ligtas, mabilis, at komportableng biyahe, dahil ang oras ng bawat Pilipino ay mahalaga, at bawat minutong matitipid ay oras na maigugugol ninyo kasama ang inyong mga pamilya,” he added.
Funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) under a loan agreement, the MMSP is the first subway system in the Philippines—covering 17 stations from Valenzuela City to Parañaque City, ending at Bicutan in Taguig City, with a connection to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 in Pasay City.
Once fully operational, the MMSP is expected to serve up to 500,000 passengers daily and significantly reduce travel time within Metro Manila and nearby provinces through improved connectivity with existing and planned railway lines.
“This means workers arriving on time, students getting home earlier, and our citizens regaining hours that we once lost to congestion,” the President emphasized.
“This is the scale of transformation that we are building. And this brings us closer to a fully connected subway that will redefine mobility in our nation’s capital,” he added.
On top of major transport infrastructure projects, the Chief Executive stressed that improvements are continuously being made in key stations to ease passenger flow as well as enhance accessibility for senior citizens and persons with disabilities.
Discounted Beep cards and cashless payments have also been introduced, along with free Wi-Fi across MRT-3 and several EDSA Busway stations to ensure passenger convenience.
He likewise noted that the iconic Love Bus, which provides daily free rides, continues to operate in Metro Manila, Cebu, and Davao.
“All these we do because we want future generations to no longer worry about traffic and distance when they make their life choices,” Marcos Jr. said.
-jpv
