P1.5 billion allotted for Metro subway

MANILA, Philippines — Congress has set aside an initial P1.5 billion this year for the 36-kilometer Metro Manila subway project, Makati City Rep. Luis Campos Jr. said yesterday.

He said the amount covers the government’s “counterpart fund” for the project and is lodged in the budget of the Department of Transportation (DOTr). 

“Metro Manila could use two or three more subways over the 10 to 20 years to efficiently convey large numbers of commuters,” he said.

He added that the National Capital Region’s peak 15-million daytime population could easily surge to 20 million in the years ahead.

“Electric trains below ground offer the fastest way for us to move tens of thousands of people – whether over long or short distances – without adding to road congestion above ground,” Campos stressed.

He pointed out that the nation has no option except to build subways, “considering that we can no longer widen our roads.” 

The DOTr recently broke ground for the construction of the Metro Manila subway’s train depot in Barangay Ugong, Valenzuela City. Japan is helping fund the subway project.

Once completed, subway trains are projected to run at 35 to 48 kilometers per hour and traverse 15 underground stations from Mindanao Avenue-Quirino Highway in Quezon City all the way to the Food Terminal Inc. Complex in Taguig City in just 31 to 42 minutes.

The subway would enable passengers from Quezon City to reach the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 in less than 30 minutes.

Some 365,000 passengers are expected to take the subway every day on its first year of full operations in 2025. The number is anticipated to surge to 973,000 by 2035.

The subway’s first three stations in Quezon City are due for completion before President Duterte’s term ends in 2022.