Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista leads site inspection of Metro Manila Subway’s North Avenue station.
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is working on acquiring the right-of-way (ROW) for the remaining three contract packages (CP) of the 33-kilometer Metro Manila Subway to complete awarding of said projects by third quarter.
Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista on Thursday told the media they were targeting secure all ROW requirements for the underground railway soon to avoid “prolongation cost” or spending related to delays in construction.
Bautista was referring to CPs 105, 108 and 109–all of which have yet to be awarded to contractors.
CP 105 includes the construction of Kalayaan Avenue and Bonifacio Global City Stations. CP 108 is for the build of Lawton and Senate-DepEd Stations while CP 109 covers Terminal 3 Station.
These packages were originally scheduled to be awarded in the first quarter but ROW issues have delayed the process.
“We have already accomplished the parcellary survey and the appraisal of the properties to be affected. Negotiations are now ongoing with property owners,” DOTr Undersecretary for Railways Jeremy Regino said.
In total, the DOTr has acquired 55 percent of the ROW requirements of the subway. Construction, meanwhile, is at 11-percent completion.
READ: DOTr: Only 55 percent of right-of-way acquired for Metro subway
Should the ROW concerns be resolved immediately, Regino said the rail line would be able to start operations by 2029.
JICA financing
The government and Japan International Cooperation Agency are currently working on the release of P55.7-billion loan—the third tranche of the financing agreed upon by the parties—this month to fund the project.
READ: DOTr to secure 3rd tranche of funding for Metro Manila Subway Project
On Thursday, the DOTr launched the tunnel boring machine for the tunnel works between Tandang Sora and North Avenue stations under CP 101.
Bautista said tunnel works will start in three months with the target completion period of 12 months.
CP 101 includes the construction of a depot in Valenzuela City, Quezon Highway station, Tandang Sora station and North Avenue station. It was awarded in 2019 to the joint venture of Shimizu Corp., Fujita Corp., Takenaka Civil Engineering & Construction Co. Ltd. and EEI Corp.
The Metro Manila Subway project, which is designed to have 17 stations, will connect Valenzuela City to Pasay City. It is expected to service over 519,000 passengers daily once operational.
The subway is seen to reduce travel time between Quezon City and Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay to just 35 minutes from one hour and 10 minutes at present.
The idea of building a Metro Manila subway was first proposed in 1973 under the Urban Transport Study in the Manila Metropolitan Area.