Defying the naysayers who alleged the subway project can never be done, Malacañang has vowed its “all-out support” for the construction of the country’s first-ever underground railway system which broke ground yesterday in Barangay Ugong, Valenzuela City.
Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said they would closely monitor the P355.6-billion Metro Manila subway project as he appealed to the public to be patient amid the start of the massive project.
“The critics say it can never be done. The cynics say it is just a dream. We are pleased to announce today’s groundbreaking ceremony of the Metro Manila Subway, which will be the first-ever underground railway system in the Philippines,” Panelo said.
“The Office of the President will be monitoring the progress of this project and commits its all-out support
to the Department of Transportation and all agencies involved as they endeavor to deliver this facility to our countrymen,” he added.
According to Panelo, the Metro Manila subway is considered the “project of the century” since it involves a major transformational project in country’s mass transport.
Once the subway commences operations, he said the riding public could travel between Quezon City to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 in 30 minutes. The subway is expected to operate with a speed of 80 kilometers per hour.
The project involves the construction of 15 stations and the first three stations would be operational in 2022, Panelo said citing information from the DoTr.
“With this foundation, we request succeeding administrations to exert the same effort until the railway system is fully completed,” Panelo said. “We also ask the public to remain patient as it is us who will greatly benefit from gains of this major infrastructure project in the near future,” he added. (Genalyn D. Kabiling)