By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
Commuting in Metro Manila has long been a struggle for Filipinos, who have to spend several hours in transit and even deal with multiple transfers just to get to their destination.
This is the dilemma that the Department of Transportation (DOTr) strives to resolve through the completion of long-overdue projects, which include the Unified Grand Central Station (Common Station).
In an inspection on Wednesday, Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon checked on the resumption of its construction after years of an on-and-off cycle that has significantly stalled progress on NCR’s most vital infrastructure.
The Common Station was likewise hampered by troubles that plagued previous administrations, which left its fate at the mercy of those sitting in government for so long.
Initially conceived in 2007, the project is almost 20 years old and yet it remains incomplete, much to the chagrin of commuters who have to navigate around the worksite as they go back and forth between SM North EDSA and Trinoma.
Secretary Dizon said in an interview, “We are confident that by the first quarter of 2028, March 2028, bago matapos ang termino ng ating Pangulo—base na rin sa kanyang direktiba na tapusin na ito once and for all, magagamit na ng mga kababayan natin after 20 years.”
Construction has resumed with Lightrail Manila Corporation (LRMC) Consortium, composed of the MVP Group, Ayala Group, Sumitomo Corporation, Hankyu Corporation, and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), working together to inch the project’s progress towards completion.
The Transportation Chief expounded, “Sinabi ko sa ating road sector tsaka rail sector: Kailangan ang commuting experience, lahat nasa ibabaw na. Konektado na lahat ito. Maglalakad ka na lang ng konti, dadaan ka ng mall, hindi ka bababa ng EDSA, ganun na, parang ibang bansa na.”
Once completed, the Common Station will serve as a hub connecting MRT-3, MRT-7, LRT-1, EDSA Busway, and Metro Manila Subway, including the PUV terminals of neighboring malls.
For its part, the 12 stations of MRT-7 from North Avenue to Sacred Heart are expected to be completed by June 2027.
Meanwhile, the DOTr assured Filipinos of continuous progress for transportation projects nationwide to help ease struggles of commuters and bring about long overdue change to mobility that resonates with the masses. (with report from JM Thompson | PTV News)
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