IT’S all systems go for the Metro Manila Subway as the government has awarded the P11-billion general contract to a Japanese consortium.
One of the flagship infrastructure projects of the Duterte administration’s “Build, Build, Build” program, the country’s first subway is widely expected to decongest traffic, especially in Metro Manila.
“The winning bidder is OC Global, consisting of six Japanese firms.” Budget Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno said on Wednesday.
The firms comprising the Japanese consortium are Oriental Consultants Global Co. Ltd; Tokyo Metro Co. Ltd.; Katahira and Engineers International; Pacific Consultants Co. Ltd.; Tonichi Engineering Consultants Inc.; and Metro Development Co. Ltd.
The Department of Transportation aims to have the project break ground on December 19.
By 2022 or before the term of President Duterte ends, partial operations are expected to start with the opening of a training center, depot and three stations ready: Quirino Highway, Tandang Sora and North Avenue.
The target completion for the entire subway project is by 2025.
Once completed, the subway will have 14 stations, which will start running from Mindanao Avenue in Quezon City to Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay City.
The project funded with a loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) costs P356.96 billion.
Jica and the Philippine government signed in March a ¥104.53-billion loan agreement for the construction of the first phase of the subway project.