NEDA: Metro subway a priority project

MANILA, Philippines – The construction of a subway system that would link the business centers of Makati, Pasay and Taguig is high on the infrastructure priority list of the Duterte administration, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said yesterday.

“The subway project is a priority, yes, but the alignment still has to be discussed by the infrastructure committee,” said Rolando Tungpalan, NEDA deputy director general for investment programming.

He said the committee is set to convene next month.

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) conducted pre-feasibility study on the P375-billion proposed subway project – composed of both underground and elevated railways – that would link the Makati Central Business District, Bonifacio Global City in Taguig, and the Mall of Asia complex in Pasay.

One of the proposed routes for the 20-kilometer train system is Market! Market!, St. Luke’s Medical Center, Metro Rail Transit Line 3’s Buendia Station, Ayala/EDSA, Ayala Triangle, Makati Post Office, Philippine National Railways’ Buendia station, Buendia/Taft Avenue, World Trade Center, Mall of Asia and EDSA/Taft Avenue.

Right-of-way issues also have to be ironed out, NEDA said.

Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said three possible alignments for the proposed subway project are being considered before it can be endorsed to the NEDA board for approval.

He also said JICA remains interested in helping finance the subway system’s construction.

The project, first proposed under the Aquino administration, was shelved because of its massive cost and right-of-way issues in the Bonifacio Global City area, where elevated stations may be situated.