By Raymond Carl Dela Cruz | Philippine News Agency
A third tunnel boring machine (TBM) has begun drilling works for the Metro Manila Subway Project (MMSP) at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Tuesday.
During the TBM launch at Camp Aguinaldo Station, Acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez said the third TBM is in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to fast-track the completion of the MMSP.
Lopez said, “Ang sabi nga po ng Pangulo ay kailangang bilisan ang projects natin, kasi mass transit po talaga ang susi para maresolba ang problema ng mga commuter.”
To date, the TBM is drilling at a pace of nine meters daily and is on track to reach Anonas Station in six months, with a parallel TBM to be launched in the next two months.
He said, “Additional tunnel boring machines means lesser time para matapos natin ang mga proyekto. Tuloy tuloy po ang subway at hindi hihinto ang DOTr sa mga proyekto.”
The third TBM is part of the MMSP Contract Package 103, with two TBMs having already excavated 1,000 meters from Camp Aguinaldo to Ortigas Station in Pasig City.
The Transportation Secretary added, “The fourth TBM for Camp Aguinaldo station is already being assembled, while the whole MMSP line now has eight TBMs.”
Once completed, the 33-kilometer, 17-station MMSP will run from Valenzuela City to Bicutan Station in Taguig City, with a spur line to Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 in Pasay City.
The MMSP is expected to have a daily ridership of 519,000 once fully operational in 2032 and will be interoperable with the North South Commuter Railway through the Food Terminal Inc. and Bicutan stations.
The subway is expected to cut travel time from Valenzuela to Pasay to 45 minutes from the current one-hour and 38-minute drive. (PNA)
