Two government agencies have agreed to work together to resolve the right-of-way issue in the Ortigas business district that is blocking the construction of the P488.5-billion Metro Manila Subway Project.
Officials of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Pasig City Local Government Unit (LGU) on Wednesday inspected the proposed Ortigas station of the long-delayed subway.
Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon and Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto followed through on the President’s directive to speed up the completion of flagship infrastructure projects that will benefit commuters.
The subway project is expected to be completed by 2032, pushed back from the original 2028 target as a result of right-of-way problems.
“Today, we came together to find a solution. Hopefully, after a few weeks, we will finally start construction,” Dizon said.
Sotto thanked the DOTr and said the local government is ready to help expedite the project’s completion. “Here at Pasig LGU, we are also looking forward to the subway, so we will do everything we can to help. We can already see that everything is moving forward, and the remaining issues are now being resolved,” Sotto indicated in a statement.
In an interview at the Post-State of the Nation Address (SONA) forum, Dizon said the other subway projects are far behind schedule.
“No, we are not on track. The subway is very delayed,” Dizon said.
However, the government aims to open two to three stations by 2028, particularly in Valenzuela, Quirino, and North Avenue.
The proposed subway spans 33 kilometers across 8 local government units in Metro Manila, passing through 3 central business districts. It also features a spur line to NAIA at Terminal 3 Station.
