The common station that will connect the four major railway lines in Metro Manila is set to be completed this month and is expected to be operational before the end of this administration, according to the Department of Transportation (DOTr).
Arthur Tugade, DOTr secretary, recently led the site inspection in Quezon City together with Japan ambassador to the Philippines Kazuhiko Koshikawa, Japan International Cooperation Agency chief representative Eigo Azukizawa, BF Corp. chief executive officer Marides Fernando, other transport officials and private sector partners to check on the progress of the project.
The inspection consisted of a walkthrough of the common station, which saw significant and fast-paced improvements since Tugade’s last inspection in December 2021.
To date, the station building of Area A is now connected to Area B or the Atrium, which is now 100 percent complete.
The common station features a 13,700-square-meter concourse area.
The project is composed of three portions: Area A where the platform and concourse for Light Rail Transit line 1 (LRT-1) and Metro Rail Transit line 3 (MRT-3) are located; Area B for the two concourses connecting Area A and the Metro Manila subway system; and Area C, the location for the platform of MRT-7.
“Notwithstanding the fact that I did not close EDSA to traffic, notwithstanding the fact that I did not suspend or realign the operations of the MRT-3, the construction of the common station’s building structure will be completed by end of March,” Tugade said.
The project is targeted to start operations by July 2022, but Tugade ordered the commencement of operations at an earlier date “without sacrificing quality of work and reasonability of cost.”
“I will henceforth, until my term ends, inspect and make sure that the electromechanical system will also be in place so that this common station — a long-time dream of the Filipino people — will come into reality. I hope it can be done during the term of President Rodrigo Duterte,” Tugade said.
Meanwhile, the project’s contractor, BF Construction, assured to meet the timeline set by Tugade with non-stop construction works to complete the project.
Fernando said the concreting of the platform level, where the MRT-3 and LRT-1 lines are set to merge, is ongoing.
“You can see that the status of the (station) building is well on its way and we are rushing; 24/7 work is going on here at the station to complete it as per the Secretary’s schedule,” said Fernando.
Once operational, the common station can accommodate almost 500,000 passengers daily.
In a separate statement, DOTr through the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) noted the completion of airport projects across the country.
Tugade said CAAP, along with the DOTr aviation sector, had endured challenges, criticisms and doubts through commitment, passion and love for the people.
Since the start of the Duterte administration in 2016 and amid the coronavirus pandemic for the past two years, CAAP and the rest of the DOTr aviation sector had completed a total of 243 airport projects nationwide.
Of this number, 169 airport projects in 55 airports were completed by CAAP throughout the country as of February 2022. – Myla Iglesias
