Build subway under Edsa, gov’t urged

The Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) has called on the Duterte administration to use one of the city’s main thoroughfares, Edsa, as the “priority line” for its planned multiline subway system to help ease the worsening traffic congestion in Metro Manila.

The business group pointed out that having a subway was critical for Metro Manila which, although already a megapolis, was one of the few large cities in Asia that does not have one yet.

“MAP suggests Edsa as the priority line for fast-track planning and implementation starting from North Avenue to Makati to run under and complement the MRT3. This can be part of an overall urban improvement plan to transform Edsa into a world-class efficient, less-vehicle centric, calmer and pleasant tree-lined pedestrian friendly avenue,” said Eduardo H. Yap, governor-in-charge for MAP Traffic, Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

“A presidential executive order to this effect will be helpful for planners and prospective proponents to provide focus and impetus. This Edsa subway can be named ‘Mabuhay Metro Line 1’ to signify a resurgent Philippines,” Yap added.

According to MAP, Transportation Undersecretary Noel Kintanar floated the idea of reviving the previously planned east-west oriented subway traversing under Edsa as one of the possible lines to comprise the Metro Manila subway system, which would serve Bonifacio Global City in Taguig, Ayala Center in Makati  and Mall of Asia (MOA) in Pasay City.

Although a mass transit linking these three bustling growth nodes made good sense, the group noted that the low ridership count may be a factor to consider. An added challenge, it pointed out, was the thorny legal issue of subterranean rights under the many private properties that the line, by necessity, have to be traversed.

“Until ridership is shown to reach the critical mass and property value enhancements are sufficient to render this east-west subway line viable such that private investors are willing to undertake the project without government subsidy, Kintanar may want to consider other equally effective but more doable mass transit options in the review process. In most instances, governments here and abroad provide a subsidy to augment operating revenues. Such is the case with the MRT-3,” MAP explained.

“One viable and quicker alternative for possible consideration is by having a spur LRT-1 line from its Baclaran station to MOA through Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard in Pasay City. This would effectively link Ayala Center to MOA and at much less cost. Another is a bus rapid transit system on an east-west loop expressway using existing but upgraded road ways, including the soon-to-be completed Naia Skyway, as previously proposed by Yap published on July 2004,” it added.

In August last year, MAP released a document called “Edsa Dream Plan” as part of the holistic transportation and traffic plan for Metro Manila.

One of the recommendations called for a commuter subway under Edsa which would provide the most efficient mass transit to complement the MRT-3 on this densest traffic corridor of Metro Manila without causing disturbance to the above-ground environment.  Amy R. Remo