San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora
San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora said the national government's plan to create a subway system in Metro Manila will be a "game changer" and will help decongest traffic in the National Capital Region's (NCR) major thoroughfares.
Zamora, who was named chairman of the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) of Metro Manila, said he also aims to craft policies and programs aimed at curbing the proliferation of illegal drugs in the metropolis and to curb criminality.
"Alam po ninyo, ang pagiging RPOC chairman ay konektado din po sa ating pagiging Metro Manila Council president at isa sa mga bagay na nakikita ko talagang makakatulong sa ating traffic, but not immediately, ay meron tayong mga medium term and long term plans gaya nung nakaraang Metro Manila Council meeting namin ay nagpresent po ang DOTr, specifically si Undersecretary Cesar Chavez, patungkol po sa ating mga subway systems in Metro Manila (Being the RPOC chairman is also connected with me being the Metro Manila Council President and in my point of view, one of the things that will greatly help in easing the traffic in the metropolis, although not immediately and is considered as a medium term or long term plan, is the Metro Manila subway system that was presented to us by the Department of Transportation (DOTr), specifically by Undersecretary Cesar Chavez during our last Metro Manila Council meeting)," Zamora said in an interview with ABS-CBN.
Billed as the country's mass transit “Crown Jewel,” the Japan-funded Metro Manila Subway will cut across eight cities, from Valenzuela City to FTI-Bicutan in Parañaque City with a spur line to NAIA Terminal 3 in Pasay City.
With a total of 33-kilometer route length and 17 stations, the country’s first underground railway system will cut travel time between Quezon City and Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Pasay City to 45 minutes.
Once operational, the railway system can serve up to 519,000 passengers daily.
"Malaki ang ginhawa na madudulot nito once it is fully operational. Millions of Filipinos will be able to utilize our subway systems and I'm very excited for this, I've seen the overall plan at hinihintay na lang natin ang actual implementation (Once it is fully operational, the project will definitely relieve our citizens of their traffic burden. Millions of Filipinos will be able to utilize our subway systems and I'm very excited for this, I've seen the overall plan and I'm just waiting for its actual implementation)," he added.
The mayor also stressed that the national government is also ramping up its efforts to develop and launch new road networks to streamline the travel of the public from north to south without the need to pass through EDSA which is one of the busiest streets in Metro Manila.