Construction of M. Manila subway starts by yearend

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) assured that the government's Metro Manila Subway project is right on track, adding that construction will start not later than December this year.

In a press briefing in Malacañang Wednesday, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said that construction will start by the last quarter of the year to give way to the partial operation of three stations.

"We're still on track, we are starting the ground-break and the formal construction by the end of this year, not later than December, na kung saan uumpisahan natin 'yung construction doon sa partial operability sa tatlong istasyon (where we will start the construction for the partial operability of three stations)," he said.

Tugade was referring to the stations to be built in Mindanao Avenue, Tandang Sora, and North Avenue. The government is eyeing to start operations in these stations by 2022.

Tugade also said that the project was hastened following the signing of the loan agreement between the Philippines and Japan last March.

"Napabilis po natin ang proseso na kung saan nag-agree-agree ang mga partidos upang mapaaga 'yung pag-start ng proyekto (We were able to speed up the process where all parties agreed to start the project early)," he said.

Kasama na rin ho dito 'yung pagpapatayo ng tinatawag na railway institute at depot sa Valenzuela. Lahat ho ito ay planong umpisahan not later than December of the last quarter of this year.

"'Yung loan agreement napirmahan na po 'yun nung Marso 2018. Kaya nga ho, dahil sa pagpirma ng loan agreement, umusad ng may kaunting kabilisan 'yung mga proseso at progreso ng ating proyekto (The loan agreement was already signed last March 2018. Because of this, the process and progress of the project was quite hastened)," he added.

Meanwhile, Tugade was mum when asked if President Duterte will return to Japan this year for the said project.

"Ayaw ko hong pangunahan ang mga schedule ng ating Presidente. Ako ho ay sa Department of Transportation, 'yung schedule ng Presidente sa Office of the President ho 'yun at tsaka sa Protocol (I don't want to preempt the schedule of the President. His schedule is being handled by the Office of the President and the Protocol)," he said.

Last year, the Japanese government pledged a total of over US$1 billion for three infrastructure projects in the Philippines by exchanging notes on the provision of a yen loan when Duterte visited Tokyo in October.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pledged the provision of a yen loan of up to Y104.53, or roughly P47.6 billion, for the Metro Manila Subway Project (Phase 1) (I).

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) in Japan, this project will contribute to relieving serious traffic congestion in Metro Manila by seeking to meet growing transportation demand.