There is no holding back for the construction of the Metro Manila Subway in the country.
Following the recent purchase of tunnel boring machines from Japan, an agreement was signed on Friday between the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Department of National Defense (DND) to use the latter’s land properties for the construction of the subway.
“Sa araw na ito, sasabihin natin sa sambayanan, tuloy ang subway station (Today we announce to the public that the subway station will push through) [to] make the Filipino life comfortable, convenient and safe,” DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade stated.
Part of the right-of-way usufruct agreement are Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) for North Avenue Station, V. Luna Hospital for East Avenue Station, Camp E. Aguinaldo for Camp Aguinaldo Station, Philippine Army for interstation between Lawton and Senate-DepEd Stations, and Villamor Air Base for interstation between Senate-DepEd and FTI/NAIA T3 Stations.
DND Secretary Delfin Lorenzana assured they will provide “whatever [they] can do” to the transportation department as he is “very passionate about improving [the] traffic system.”
The Metro Manila Subway will have 17 stations from Valenzuela to NAIA Terminal 3. Full section operation is targeted to take place in 2026 while partial operability is eyed in 2022 for East Valenzuela Station, Quirino Highway Station, Tandang Sora Station, and North Avenue Station. – Report from Karen Villanda
