The Department of National Defense (DND) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) expressed support to the ongoing construction of the Metro Manila Subway Project (MMSP) which will include a station at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.
DND Sec. Carlito Galvez Jr. and AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Andres Centino graced Monday, Feb. 13, the groundbreaking ceremony of the MMSP Contract Package 103, or the construction of the underground stations at Camp Aguinaldo and in Anonas as well as the connecting tunnels from Quezon City to Pasig City.
In his speech, Galvez congratulated the Department of Transportation (DOTr) for the progress of the MMSP.
"It is a significant milestone for our country that brings the Filipino people closer towards realizing our longtime collective dream and aspiration of having an accessible, affordable, comfortable, and safe mass public transport system," Galvez said.
Meanwhile, Centino said the military will support the project and appreciates its "immense and far-reaching" impact and benefits as it seeks to minimize traffic and, in effect, reduce carbon emmissions.
"It is without a doubt that our soldiers, together with the rest of our fellow Filipinos, look forward to the opportunities and the possibilities that come with the completion of this project," he said.
The MMSP is the first mass underground rapid transit line in the country. It has a projected length of 36 kilometers traversing six major cities with fifteen stations.
The project aims to improve commuter mobility and boost intercity connectivity.
Aside from Galvez and Centino, other officials present during the ceremony were DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista, Sumitomo Mitsui Construction Co., Ltd. (SMMC) Project Director Hitoshi Yamaji; Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Chief Representative Sakamoto Takema; Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, and other officials from the Embassy of Japan and Quezon City government.