DOTC shelves subway systems project

The Department of Transportation and Communications’ (DOTC) multibillion-peso plan to construct subway systems to improve mobility in Metro Manila has been put at the bottom of the Aquino Administration’s priority list.

The 374.5-billion Makati-PasayTaguig Mass Transit System Loop (MTSL) and the proposed BulacanDasmariñas subway that will pass underneath Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) are not among the rail projects that are lined up for implementation until 2021.

According to DOTC Undersecretary for Planning Rene Limcaoco, the two subway projects have been shelved due to the limited time of the Aquino Administration to approve and roll out these big ticket infrastructure projects.

“(The subway projects) are feasible, but we cannot do 10 rail lines all at once,” Limcaoco pointed out.

Earlier, Limcaoco said the DOTC is building eight new rail systems and two bus rapid transits (BRTs) in order to improve public transportation within Metro Manila, where vehicular traffic congestion is getting worse day by day.

The eight new rail lines include the 11.7-kilometer Light Rail Transit (LRT) 1 extension to Bacoor, Cavite; 15-kilometer LRT 6, which extends LRT 1 from Bacoor to Dasmariñas in Cavite; 3.05-kilometer LRT 2 extension to Port Area, Manila; 4-kilometer LRT 2 extension to Masinag, Antipolo; 11kilometer LRT 6, which will connect EDSA-Ortigas to Taytay, Rizal; 22.8kilometer Metro Rail Transit (MRT) 7, which will link North EDSA to San Jose del Monte, Bulacan; and the 53.5-kilometer new rail lines to be build over the existing Philippine National Railways (PNR) between Malolos in Bulacan to Tutuban in Manila and from Tutuban and Calamba, Laguna. Meanwhile, two BRTs will soon operate across Metro Manila: 13-kilometer Manila BRT and the 49-kilometer EDSA BRT.

“We are going to implement these projects first,” said Limcaoco, referring to the eight new rail lines and two BRT projects.

While the MSTL is only pending for approval of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board, the feasibility study for the Bulacan-Dasmariñas subway is yet to be completed by the second quarter of 2016.

“The JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) is doing the feasibility studies. It is possible to present it to NEDA Board (before the Aquino Administration’s term ends) if the feasibility study will be completed as scheduled by the second quarter,” Limcaoco added.

But citing government’s tight schedule, Limcaoco admitted bidding out the subway projects is “unlikely” within the remaining days of the Aquino Administration.

“It’s up to the next administration to pursue the subway projects when government can afford it,” he said.

The MTSL covers the financing, design, construction, operation and maintenance of a 12-kilometer subway connecting the fast-developing districts of Bonifacio Global City, Makati Central Business District, and the SM Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City. It will be tendered under the PublicPrivate Partnership scheme of the Aquino Administration.

Another subway is being eyed for construction underneath the perennially busy EDSA to connect San Jose del Monte, Bulacan to Dasmariñas, Cavite. Funding of the project will likely be through an official development assistance from the Japanese Government.