Japanese consortium to build Metro subway

Initial 30-km project

Aconsortium of Japanese companies won the contract for the would-be Metro Manila subway system, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said.

Budget Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno said that the 111-billion project covering the initial phase of the 30kilometer Metro Manila Subway system was awarded to the winning bidder OCGlobal, consisting of six Japanese firms.

These companies include Oriental Consultants Global Co. Ltd., Tokyo Metro Co. Ltd., Katahira & Engineers International, Pacific Consultants Co. Ltd., Tonichi Engineering Consultants, Inc. and Metro Development Co. Ltd.

“The amount involved is 111 billion, which is for general contracting for the subway,” Diokno said.

Last March, the government and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) sealed the first tranche of the loan agreements amounting to $7.05 billion for the country’s first subway system in Metro Manila.

According to JICA, the first loan deal is only a portion of the 800-billion yen funding requirement to complete the subway connection between Mindanao Avenue in Quezon City, Food Terminal, Inc. (FTI) in Taguig City and Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

The first phase will cover 14-underground railway stations with the possible extension of one to two more stops from Mindanao Avenue to NAIA.

The project includes a depot in Valenzuela, electro-mechanical systems and rolling stock, and the establishment of a Philippine Railway Institute (PRI).

The subway system has been part of the joint National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)-JICA Roadmap for Transport Infrastructure Development of Metro Manila and its surrounding areas.

The project also includes commercial space for the subway stations that will help defray the cost of operating this facility.

The subway is scheduled to start operating in May 2022.