Portion of MRT 7 ready by end-2021

By Leslie Gatpolintan/Philippine News Agency

MANILA — Diversified conglomerate San Miguel Corp. (SMC) targets to open a 20-km. portion of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) Line 7 by end of 2021 amid right-of-way (ROW) issues hounding the project.

SMC president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang said the construction of the MRT project is in “full swing” despite some problems on ROW and train depot.

“But we have more or less sorted that out and have agreed with (Transportation) Secretary (Arthur) Tugade to initially open the first 20 km. by the end of 2021. And then, one year after, (it will already be) full(y) operational,” he said during the conglomerate’s stockholders’ meeting on Tuesday.

The MRT 7 project is a 23-km. elevated railway line with 14 stations from San Jose del Monte, Bulacan to North Ave. in Quezon City.

Ang told reporters the 20-km. portion of the project stretches from the North Edsa MRT-LRT common station to Fairview in Quezon City.

“Maganda na yun, malaking bagay na yun (It will already have a huge impact). I think, yun ang malaking volume ng passenger (A huge volume of passengers is from these areas),” he added.

Meanwhile, Ang bared that the conglomerate would unveil an initial 800 megawatts (MW) in renewable energy projects early next year.

“By March 2020, isi-switch on ko na yon (I will switch-on these projects),” he said without elaborating.

Ang said they plan to add 1,000 MW of renewable energy projects in their portfolio over the next few years, including solar, wind and pumped hydro projects.

For the latest updates about this story, visit the Philippine News Agency website

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