President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday described the ongoing construction of the Metro Manila Subway project, which spans from Valenzuela City to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay City, as impressive and expressed hope that it can be completed by 2028.
“Sana matapos natin ito hanggang sa Valenzuela, baka matapos natin ito ‘28. Baka puwede nang in-inaugurate sa 2028,” President Marcos said in a media statement after conducting an inspection.
President Marcos led the inspection of a few hundred meters of the subway’s southbound rail from Camp Aguinaldo Station, aboard a rail transport used by workers.
The President was joined by Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Vince Dizon, Department of National Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, Presidential Communications Office Acting Secretary Dave M. Gomez, Japanese Ambassador Kazuya Endo, representatives of Sumitomo Mitsui Construction Co. (SMCC), and several Filipino engineers.
“Basta tingnan natin. Lahat naman ay nag-a-agree na kailangan bilisan nang mabuti at nang husto dahil ang ating mga commuter ay para naman maging mas maginhawa ang kanilang pag-commute,” President Marcos said.
The President also viewed one of the tunnel boring machines being used in the project.
“Napaka-impressive. Impressive talaga ito. Kung titingnan ninyo, isipin niyo kung gaano kabigat ‘yung engineering na dinadala nila dito,” the Chief Executive said, commending Japanese engineering as one of the best in the world.
“Kaya I urge everyone to keep going, and we look forward to the day when we can say na nasakyan na natin ‘yung subway sa Pilipinas. We have taken the tube to go to work,” the Chief Executive said.
The 33-kilometer line will run from Valenzuela City to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay City.
Travel between those cities currently takes about two hours and 30 minutes, but the subway will reduce the time to just 40 minutes, President Marcos said.
President Marcos noted that through the Metro Manila Subway project collaboration, Filipino engineers are learning from Japanese engineering specialists.
“Ngunit hindi lang sila nandito, tinuturuan din ang ating mga engineers. At kung makikita ninyo doon sa loob, isa lang, dalawang lang ang supervisor na Hapon. Karamihan ng mga nagtatrabaho puro Pilipino na,” said the President.
“Once again, I am not surprised dahil kayang-kaya naman talaga ng Pilipino ‘yun basta maturuan nang mabuti.”
