DM Wenceslao mulls EDSA subway system

MANILA, Philippines — Construction and real estate developer D.M Wenceslao and Associates Inc. (DMWAI) has offered to build a subway from Trinoma mall in Quezon City to Mall of Asia in Pasay City to help ease congestion along EDSA.

DMWAI chairman Delfin Wenceslao said the firm submitted a proposal for the subway in Metro Manila with a different route or under EDSA.

He said the offer was submitted last year to the National Economic and Development Authority.

Wenceslao said the proposal would not be in conflict with the government’s subway project.

The Metro Manila Subway Project (Phase 1) which has a total project cost of P356.96 billion, is part of the infrastructure projects under the government’s Build Build Build program.

The first phase would cover the central zone or about 30 kilometers of underground railway from Mindanao Ave. to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

There will be 14 stations and possibly, one or two more extension stations.

Earlier, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez said the government is aiming to start operations of the first three subway stations such as Mindanao Avenue-Quirino Highway, Tandang Sora and North Avenue by May 2025, while the entire central zone would be operational by 2025, including the commercial space for the subway stations.

Wenceslao said the group decided to make an offer to the government to address the congestion along EDSA.

“The mess is in EDSA. We want to solve the problem in EDSA,” he said.

As of end of last year, the firm has completed more than 100 ports, bridges, expressways, and other construction and infrastructure projects across the country.

DMWAI, which aims to go public this year, has earlier filed an application for a P15.5 billion initial public offering with the Securities and Exchange Commission.