DoTr Secretary Tugade hopes the agreement will be signed during the ASEAN summit.
“Target signing of this contract is November this year. Hopefully, that agreement will be signed between Prime Minister Abe and President Duterte in November,” Secretary Tugade remarked during the “DuterteNomics” economic panel at Pasay City.
The Mega Manila Subway (MMS) is part of the Duterte administration’s major projects for solving the metropolis’ traffic problems. The Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will be providing financial backing for the project. The agency has been conducting feasibility studies on the undertaking since the previous administration’s term. Aside from JICA’s assistance, the MMS project will also be funded with official development assistance and government funds.
According to Rappler’s report, the Mega Manila Subway is expected to cut travel time from Quezon City to Taguig to 31 minutes. The 25-kilometer underground system will connect major business districts like Ortigas, Makati, and Bonifacio Global City. An estimated 350,000 daily passengers will be using the service in its first year of operation.
The MMS, based on current plans, is expected to have the following route:
- Mindanao Avenue or Quirino Highway in Quezon City
- North Avenue
- Quezon Avene
- East Avenue
- Anonas
- Katipunan
- Ortigas North
- Ortigas South
- Kalayaan Avenue
- Bonifacio Global City
- Cayetano Boulevard
- FTI in Taguig
“As of yesterday, we were discussing alignments. Tutumbukin po ‘yung airport kasi malapit na po (it will reach the airport because it’s already nearby),” the Secretary noted.
“It is targeted that this project will be started in the 4th quarter of 2020, that’s what the project proponent says. I’m trying to push to start it by 2019. Completed date will be the 2nd quarter of 2024,” added Tugade.
