THE P59.3-billion Metro Rail Transit (MRT) Line 4, which will link the eastern parts of Metro Manila and Rizal, is expected to start operations in 2025.
This time line was released after the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) Investment Coordination Committee-Cabinet Committee (ICC-CabCom) approved the project on December 20, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said on Tuesday.
The 15.56-kilometer MRT 4 will run from Cainta in Rizal all the way to Mandaluyong City. It will pass through Taytay, Pasig City, Quezon City, San Juan City and Ortigas Center.
It will serve 11 stations, and will have a daily ridership of about 235,000 passengers.
The construction of the line will be funded by an official development assistance (ODA) package from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
“Considering how densely populated these areas are, which is made more difficult with the lack of road capacities and ever worsening traffic conditions, MRT 4 will be of great help in moving commuters between eastern Metro Manila and Rizal,” Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade said.
Public Works Secretary Mark A. Villar, who chairs the Cabinet Infastructure Cluster said, meanwhile, the approval is a reflection of the magnitude of the project’s impact.
“After passing the ICC-CabCom, we’ll be able to release the projects by early next year, allowing us time within the Duterte administration to significantly complete these game-changing projects. It’s crucial that we start these projects—we’ll be working on the procurement, that’s why we fast-tracked all these projects before the end of the year so that next year, we can focus purely on the detailed engineering and procurement of these big-ticket projects,” Villar said.