‘Project of the Century’ na Metro Manila Subway tuloy sa gitna ng pandemic–-Tugade

Ipinagmalaki ni Department of Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade na nananatiling buhay ang tinaguriang “Project of the Century” na Metro Manila Subway Project sa kabila ng COVID-19 pandemic.

Kasabay ito ng pagpapasilip sa publiko sa pamamagitan ng Facebook Live mula sa bansang Japan sa anim na mga tunnel boring machine na gagamitin sa konstruksyon ng subway.

“Perhaps, because of what has happened, because of the pandemic created by COVID-19, many people might have thought that the Subway Project is gone,” ayon kay Tugade.

“Today, they are in for a big surprise. Because in the quietness, in the attitude of working quietly, notwithstanding the pandemic, lo and behold! They are now surprised to see that the Subway is not forgotten,” wika pa niya.

Sabi ni Tugade, inaasahang darating na sa bansa ang nasabing makina sa Enero at Pebrero ng susunod na taon.

Target din ng ahensya na makapagsimula na ang partial operation ng Metro Manila subway bago matapos ang termino ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte sa 2022.

Ayon naman kay DOTr Undersecretary for Railways Timothy John Batan na Setyembre  1973 pa isinagawa ang pag-aaral para sa subway ng Metro Manila pero ngayon lamang maisasakatuparan.

“After nearly half a century and six (6) administrations from the 1973 Japan OTCA (Overseas Technical Cooperation Agency) study, under the strong-willed leadership of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and Secretary Arthur P. Tugade, it is now the Philippines’ turn to finally build our first-ever subway,” wika ni Batan.

Mayroong 35 kilometrong haba ang subway mula sa Quezon City hanggang Ninoy Aquino International Airport sa Pasay City.

Kapag naging fully operational, magiging 40-minuto na lamang ang travel time mula Quezon City hanggang NAIA mula sa kasalukuyang mahigit dalawang oras. Inaasahan ng DOTr na maseserbisyuhan nito sa initial operation ang 370,000 na mananakay kada araw.