The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) committed to support the Philippine government in implementing the P357 billion Metro Manila Subway Project (MMSP) Phase I.
The 27-kilometer MMSP will run underground from East Valenzuela City to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Terminal 3) in Pasay City.
Once completed, the MMSP can accommodate about 370,000 passengers per day while reducing the travel time from 1 hour and 10 minutes to just 45 minutes.
JICA and Department of Finance (DOF) last week signed the JPY253.30 billion Loan Agreement for the second tranche of Phase I.
“This second tranche loan is not only representative of the headway that this flagship project has achieved, but also an evidence of the Philippine and Japan’s solid partnership to expanding railway infrastructure and enhancing the country’s connectivity under its Build, Build, Build program.” according to JICA Chief Representative Azukizawa Eigo in a statement released Tuesday, Feb. 15.
“Here we are in 2022, making tangible progress in certain sections, with more contracts already in various stages of procurement and implementation, and needing this fresh financing to ensure the sustained advancement of the Project for Filipinos to soon realize the dream of having its very own world-class subway system based on Japan’s experiences and technologies, to ease the traffic burden, and improve the overall quality of life,” he added.
While the COVID-19 pandemic has brought challenges in the implementation of the MMSP, the project is also expected to support economic recovery by creating more jobs for Filipinos.
Currently, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) has already executed and started works for contracts on consulting services, civil works, trains, and electromechanical systems. Remaining civil works contracts are expected to be procured and awarded soon.
The MMSP has been identified in 2014 under JICA Study “Roadmap for Transport Infrastructure Development for Metro Manila and its Surrounding Areas”, which is also known as the “Dream Plan for Metro Manila”. Following this, JICA extended grant to the Philippine Government for the conduct of Preparatory Survey and Detailed Design Study.
The first tranche of the JPY104.53 billion loan to finance the implementation of the MMSP has been executed in 2018.
JICA is the executing agency of Japanese Official Development Assistance (ODA), which handles technical cooperation, ODA loans and investment, and grant aid, as well as cooperation volunteers and disaster relief programs.