Construction work progress on the Metro Manila Subway Project (MMSP) has reached 14 percent as the country’s first underground railway is expected to be fully operational in five years.
In a statement, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said the flagship project under the “Build, Better, More” program of the Marcos administration is expected to operate fully by the latter part of 2029.
Spanning 33 kilometers across eight local government units in Metro Manila and passing through three central business districts, the MMSP is an expansive system that will be interconnected with the Light Rail Transit (LRT) line 1, Metro Rail Trasnsit (MRT) 3 and MRT 7 at the Common Station; the LRT 2 at Anonas Station; and physical run through into the North-South Commuter Railway or NSCR-EX at FTI and Bicutan Stations.
Passengers can board a subway train at North Avenue Station and get off almost 100 kilometers away at the NSCR Calamba Station without changing trains.
The Subway also features a spur line to Ninoy Aquino International Airport at Terminal 3 Station which makes the airport reachable from Quezon City in as little as 40 minutes.
With eight-car train sets carrying up to 2,200 passengers per train, running as fast as 80 km per hour, and with trains arriving at stations every five minutes, MMSP will deliver an incredible passenger experience
In a related development, the DOTr, Philippine Railways Institute (PRI), Embassy of Japan and the Japan International Cooperation Agency recently convened for the 8th Joint Coordination Committee Meeting – marking the culmination of the PRI-Technical Assistance Project Phase 1 and the onset of the next priority steps for Phase 2.
As of May 2024, the PRI has reached its target of 76 percent operation and maintenance workforce and 72 percent train drivers trained, heading toward the overall target of 80 percent by December 2024 and 100 percent by June 2025.
The institutional development, research and development readiness, digital transformation action plan that focuses on its application for railway maintenance and VR/AR/MR for training delivery, facilities and equipment, and retention and institutional memory have also been discussed.
DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista noted the vital role of uplifting the competency of the country’s railway personnel in realizing the DOTr’s vision of elevating the Philippines’ transport system to global standards.
“PRI has adapted to this administration’s nationwide vision. Its scope has expanded to encompass the entire country, with the potential to serve Southeast Asian nations in the future upon completion of its training center,” Bautista said.
PRI, the country’s first-ever railway training institution, has been ISO 9001:2015 recertified with excellent results – having zero nonconformities, five opportunities for improvement and three best practices.
