Metro Manila Subway to push through despite delays due to COVID-19

 

Coronavirus will not stop the dream of the Philippines to have its own subway, and despite the setbacks brought about the pandemic this dream project will continue.

Originally planned for a partial operability by December 2021, the Metro Manila Subway continue just got a major boost when the Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade said in the virtual unveiling of a completed tunnel boring machine (TBM) in Japan.

Tugade said that there will be delays in the implementation of the project but assured that there are no plans of stopping or suspending the project.

A tunnel boring machine manufactured in Japan by the joint venture of Shimizue-Fujita-Takenaka-EEI, in collaboration with JIM Technology Corporation, during an unveiling ceremony (PNA)

“Opo, may epekto ang pandemiya, pero hindi kami susuko (Yes, the pandemic is a challenge. But we will not give up). We will not bow our heads because of Covid-19,” Tugade said.

The DOTr chief said the project will begin its partial operation from the Valenzuela station to the North Avenue station in Quezon City by December 2021, while the rest of the project is seen to be completed by 2024 or 2025.

“Bakit partial operability sa Valenzuela? Kasi ho nandiyan yung depot, nandiyan yung first station, at higit sa lahat, nandiyan ho yung Philippine Railway Institute sa Valenzuela (Why to begin partial operation in Valenzuela? Because there is the depot, the first station, at most of all, the Philippine Railway Institute in Valenzuela),” Tugade said.

A tunnel boring machine (TBM) was unveiled—one of six TBMs that will be used for the partial operability phase of the project, during the event.

Each Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) costs about PHP400 to PHP500 million as part of the contract with the project’s civil works contractor.

The Metro Manila Subway project will cost PHP450 billion—out of which PHP290 billion was loaned by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

“Ito ho ay isang proyekto na pundado dahil meron na hong loan agreement yan sa JICA, at meron na rin provision yan (This is a project that is already funded because we have a loan agreement with JICA, and a provision for it has already been made),” Tugade said. 

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Report from PNA

 

 

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