THE Makati city government has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with a consortium to pave the way of the ambitious Makati Subway Project expected to be completed by 2023.
Lawyer Michael Camiña, city legal officer and spokesman, said the signing of the MOU indicated the start of the $3.7-billion project with the Philippine Infradev Holdings Inc., formerly IRC Properties Inc.
“The PPP project has been awarded but not fully finalized. That is why we have this MOU signing so that the parties can initiate the preparatory acts to enable them to find out all that will be needed for the final execution of the contract, “ Camiña told reporters in an interview right after the signing of the MOU and the ceremonial drilling of the Makati Subway Project in front of the old City Hall building.
Makati Mayor Abigail Binay led the ceremonial drilling that was attended by former Vice President Jejomar Binay, city officials and representatives of the city’s private-sector partners, signaling the start of preparatory works for the project.
Prior to the ceremonial drilling, the mayor unveiled a scale model of the Makati Subway at the ground floor of Makati City Hall I (main building).
Binay expressed her full commitment to the completion by 2023 of the project, which she considered a “very valuable legacy” that will benefit Makatizens for generations to come.
“I believe the Makati Subway will be a very valuable legacy, and I am fully committed to its timely completion
and operation. It will make a lasting positive impact on the lives of our residents, and contribute significantly to the city’s sustainable development and economic growth,” she said.
The mayor said the intra-city subway system is expected to create around 6,000 new jobs during its construction and when it starts operations in about five years.
With an efficient transport system in place, there will be more jobs and business opportunities created, she added.
The Makati Subway, the first of its kind in the country, will be a joint venture between Makati City and a consortium of local and foreign investors, with no cash out on the part of the city. The 30-year concession with the consortium includes maintenance and repair of the coaches and the control hub.
Once completed, the subway system will be able to service up to 27,000 passengers per hour per direction. The system also promises an interval of three to six minutes between trains on the first year, with 12 operational trains.
The subway system will have two tracks, up to 10 underground stations, and air-conditioned coaches, which can accommodate 200 persons per car. The entire system spans 10 kilometers with a train yard, maintenance depot and central command center at ground level.
The stations will have at least 30 station entrances linked to destinations across Makati, which will spur the growth of small and medium businesses. It will also be linked to ferry transport, interchanges to the existing MRT 3 line, as well as potential links to the future Japan International Cooperation Agency-funded Metro Manila subway, and to future parking structures and transport feeders outside the existing business districts.
By 2024, Makati City is eyeing to have 18 trains with a two to four-minute interval. The city is also prepared to accommodate as many as 40,500 passengers per hour during peak hours. The train system will run on an 18-hour
operational cycle.
The subway system is expected to increase work productivity by cutting down the daily commute or travel time of workers. According to Jica’s congestion valuations, the Philippines will gain at least $600 million annually in GDP just for enhanced productivity.
A reliable, comfortable and highly efficient mass transport system will result in less traffic congestion and parking woes in the country’s premier financial district. Feasibility studies project 270,000 fewer cars in the streets of Makati by 2048.
This makes the Makati Subway a more eco-friendly and sustainable solution as well, with a projected reduction of 2.3 million tons of CO2 annually in greenhouse-gas emissions by 2048.
Interestingly, the project will allow for an additional 320,000 residents in Makati City. Besides enjoying a walkable city with considerably less pollution, residents will also enjoy 20 percent higher land values because of the new transport system. The figure was based on the experience of other Asian cities like Bangkok and Hong Kong.