WITH all contracts and funding already secured into the new administration of president-elect Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr., outgoing Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade has assured stakeholders that the construction of the ₱488-billion Metro Manila subway will continue until completed in 2027.
This was disclosed by Tugade in his report during the ‘Duterte Legacy Summit’ in Pasay City, where the transportation chief said the construction of the ambitious subway will happen on the first or second week of June, which will commence once the tunnel boring machine is set in place.
“In fact, the . . . transportation department will perform an activity to convince the people of the Philippines (this) are real at totoo,” he pointed out in reference to the lowering of the tunnel boring machine. Prior to Tugade’s report, the Department of Transportation (DoTr) had flaunted the speedy progress of the multibillion- peso Metro Manila Subway PH, which us being undertaken through a 253 billion yen (₱112.9-B) contract signed by Japan. “Most of the contracts involved in the construction of the subway are already awarded.
In fact many have started. Hindi na po matitigil ‘yan,” Tugade cited.
The transportation secretary undescored that the funds allocated for the project have already been prepositioned through loans agreed by the Department of Finance (DoF) and the Japanese government, while the right of way have already been started.
“Kung mayroon nang pondo, kung gawa na ang kontrata ng right of way, sabihin mo sa akin . . . paano hihinto ‘yan? Tuluy-na-tuloy ang subway,” he concluded.
