President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Friday reported that the country’s first subway system is advancing faster than planned, signaling rare momentum for a major transport project long plagued by delays.
During inspections at Shaw Boulevard Station in Pasig City and the groundbreaking of Kalayaan Avenue and Bonifacio Global City stations in Taguig, Marcos said the project is exceeding expectations.
“I’m happy to report that the progress is proceeding… We are very much on schedule. In fact, from the original timetable, we have accelerated the process and we are moving even more quickly than that.”
The Metro Manila Subway Project spans 33.1 kilometers with 17 stations from Valenzuela City to Taguig, directly connecting to Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3.
Once operational, it is expected to cut end-to-end travel time to about 46 minutes and serve around 500,000 passengers daily.
The Department of Transportation aims for a partial trial run by the first quarter of 2028, marking an advanced phase for the long-delayed megaproject.
Funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency, the subway is a flagship initiative under the administration’s railway modernization program.
Marcos also highlighted that over ₱49 billion has been released this year for railway projects, including station upgrades and accessibility improvements.