Metro Manila subway’s underground works to begin in Q3

MANILA, Philippines — Underground works for the country’s first subway system will commence in the third quarter of the year, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said yesterday.

The DOTr said it would proceed with the lowering of the tunnel boring machine for the Metro Manila Subway project by May and begin underground works by August.

The first two out of 25 tunnel boring machines for the project arrived in the country in February last year.

In 2019, the DOTr awarded the design and build civil works contract for the project’s partial operability section to the Shimizu-Fujita-Takenaka-EEI Joint Venture.

Transportation Undersecretary for railways Timothy John Batan said the subway was 30.55 percent complete as of February.

The P488-billion subway project is funded by official development assistance from Japan.

Once operational, the Metro Manila subway will reduce travel time between Quezon City and the Ninoy Aquino International Airport from one hour and 10 minutes to just 35 minutes.

The DOTr said the length of the Phase 1 route is approximately 36 kilometers, with a 30-hectare depot in Valenzuela City.

The Valenzuela Depot will house the Philippine Railways Institute, the first such institute for professionals in the railways industry.