The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is on track to start the partial operations of three major railway projects in the next four years, but the completion of the Metro Manila Subway project will likely be pushed back to 2029.
DOTr expects the partial operations of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) line 1 Cavite extension, Metro Rail Transit (MRT) line 7, and a portion of the North and South Commuter Rail (NSCR) projects to start in 2024, 2025 and 2027, respectively.
“We are on track and the mandate of the government is full speed ahead to expedite the project,” Cesar Chavez, DOTr undersecretary for railways, said at the hearing at the House of Representatives for DOTr’s proposed budget for 2024.
Five stations of the LRT-1 Cavite extension project will start operations by September 2024, while the MRT-7 is expected to operate 10 stations by 2025, Chavez added.
DOTr also expects the substantial completion of the NSCR project on the Manila to Malolos portion by 2027.
However, Chavez said the Metro Manila Subway’s target partial completion from Valenzuela to Ortigas will be pushed to 2029 from 2028.
“There are delays definitely on the right-of-way,” he added.
Meanwhile, the MRT-3’s rehabilitation project is now substantially complete.
Last month, DOTr said it is projected to spend 76 percent of the proposed P214.3 billion budget for next year for the improvement and construction of modern railway systems in the country.
A substantial portion of its proposed 2024 budget will support the country’s Build Better More Program, which is among the top priorities in the 8-point Socioeconomic Agenda of the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., DOTr said.
The rail transport program will receive over 76 percent of the DOTr budget for projects, such as the NSCR, Metro Manila Subway Phase I, LRT-1 Cavite extension project, Philippine National Railways South Long-Haul project and the MRT-3 rehabilitation. – Myla Iglesias
