By Ashley Karen
The Philippines government wishes to award all contract packages (CP) of the Metro Manila Subway in 2023, as it follows its target of finishing the railway by 2028 despite different challenges.
As Jaime Bautista, the Transportation Secretary, told reporters, to assure that the project will finish on time, the government intends to award all of the P488.48 billion contract packages for the subway this year.
He expressed that the Department of Transportation (DOTr) seeks to utilize its TBMs by Jan. 9, to begin tunnelling the alignment for the rail line.
Bautista pointed out: “We have already signed several contracts and we will sign other deals soon to ensure that our operations there are completed in time. We have two tunnel boring machines and our plan is to operate them by Jan. 9.”
“In 2023 we will release all of the contracts for the Metro Manila Subway. All in all, there should be about eight CPs making up the project,” he added.
Mr. Bautista argued that with various problems that have to be addressed in the process, it would be challenging for the DOTr to deliver the Metro Manila Subway as planned in 2028.
Cesar Chavez, the Transportation Undersecretary, claimed that The STAR is a challenging task to obtain all of the right-of-way (ROW) for the subway, particularly as parts of the alignment would pass through the exclusive villages in Quezon City.
For the ROW acquisition of the rail line, the DOTr has even pursued the assistance of agencies, especially the Office of the Solicitor General, the National Housing Authority and the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development.
Cesar Chavez articulated that the DOTr will obtain P11.26 billion from the national budget this year to receive the ROW for preferred areas in CPs 101 to 104. CP 101, ensured by a JV led by EEI Corp., includes four stations – East Valenzuela, Quirino Highway, Tandang Sora and North Avenue – plus the depot and the Philippine Railway Institute Building.
The CP 102 bagged by D.M. Consunji Inc. comprises the stations on Quezon Avenue and East Avenue. Sumitomo Mitsui Construction Co. Ltd. won CP 103 – the Anonas to Camp Aguinaldo stretch – while Megawide Construction Corp. took CP 104 – the Ortigas to Shaw Boulevard segment.
Available contract packages are CP 105, the stations connecting Kalayaan in Makati City to Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City; CP 108, the Lawton to Senate tranche; and CP 109, the spur line linking to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
The P488.48 billion Metro Manila Subway is funded by Japan, and will spread for nearly 33 kilometers across seven cities, from Valenzuela City to Pasay City, and should cut travel time between Quezon City and NAIA to only 35 minutes.
