We first heard of the news that a subway system is in the works in 2017 through a statement by then Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia. Today, the said train system that will cover 36 kilometers and 15 stations from Quezon City to Pasay begins construction today.
An agreement between the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Japan-based Shimizu-Fujita-Takenaka Civil Engineering Co. for the construction of the first three stations—Quirino Highway, Tandang Sora, and North Avenue—has just been finalized.
The groundbreaking begins today after many postponements. According to a report by the Inquirer, Tugade and DOTr officials were in talks last week with their counterparts in Japan to discuss, among other things, the delivery of the 600-ton tunnel-boring machines (TBM) with a 6.9-meter diameter manufactured by Hitachi Zosen’s Sakai Works.
The subway, one of the government’s flagship projects under the “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure program, will cost P227 billion, with partial funding of P51 billion coming from the Japan International Cooperation Agency.
The trains will run 80 kph and take passengers from Quirino Highway in Quezon City to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in 31 minutes. A Subway Depot in Valenzuela is also in the works for the routine maintenance of the trains. DOTr also assured the public that the project has flood control systems making it less prone to mechanical problems during typhoons. It will also have four common stations connected to the Light Rail Transit and the Metro Rail Transit.
Families which will be displaced by the construction will be properly compensated according to DOTr Assistant Secretary Goddes Hope Oliveros-Libiran.
DOTr estimates that 370,000 daily commuters will benefit from the construction of the subway system which is slated to be partially operational by 2022, and fully operational by 2025.
Photo courtesy of Unsplash
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Writer: CHRISTIAN SAN JOSE
