President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has ordered the accelerated construction of the Metro Manila Subway Project (MMSP), particularly the segment stretching from Valenzuela City to Camp Aguinaldo Station, aiming to make the country’s first underground rail line operational by 2028.
During an inspection of the Camp Aguinaldo Station site, Marcos emphasized the need to fast-track the project to provide immediate relief to Filipino commuters burdened by worsening traffic congestion in Metro Manila.
“We’re pushing to complete this segment up to Valenzuela by 2028. Hopefully, we can inaugurate it by then,” the President said in Filipino. “Everyone agrees — this must be done faster to make daily commuting more bearable.”
The President also expressed gratitude to the government of Japan for its ongoing assistance in the construction of the subway, which is largely funded through official development assistance (ODA) loans from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
The Department of Transportation (DOTr), under the directive of President Marcos, will coordinate closely with the project’s contractors to speed up completion.
“As the President pointed out, this segment will offer significant relief once operational. It will ease the daily commute for hundreds of thousands of Filipinos,” said Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon said in Filipino. “We’re working closely with the contractor to meet the deadline and fulfill the President’s vision.”
Once operational, the Metro Manila Subway is expected to reduce travel time between Valenzuela City and Camp Aguinaldo from the current 90 minutes to just 45 minutes. The full subway line is projected to serve an estimated 519,000 passengers per day.
The 33-kilometer subway will connect key areas in Metro Manila, with 17 stations from Valenzuela to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3. The project is seen as a cornerstone of the administration’s “Build Better More” infrastructure program, which aims to modernize public transportation and decongest urban roads.
Construction of the Camp Aguinaldo Station is one of several ongoing civil works packages under the MMSP. The DOTr has also announced plans to begin trial runs of select segments before full operations in 2028.
The Metro Manila Subway, touted as the "project of the century" for Philippine transport infrastructure, broke ground in 2019 and has faced multiple delays due to the pandemic, right-of-way issues, and logistical constraints. However, the Marcos administration has reaffirmed its commitment to seeing the project through.
“Our goal is to deliver a modern, efficient, and reliable transportation system for Filipinos — one that keeps pace with the demands of a growing population and economy,” Marcos said.
