'Education City' transport hub seen as template for future commuting projects
The future "Education City" in Taguig (DOTr photo)
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) said the development of a transportation hub at the future Education City in Taguig City will serve as a model for future projects aimed at improving the commuting experience of students.
In a statement, the DOTr said it has signed an agreement with the Department of Education (DepEd) and the United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (UK FCDO) for the Senate DepEd Transit-Oriented Development (SEED TOD) initiative.
The SEED TOD initiative aims to build a transit hub at the 13-hectare (ha) DepEd Complex in Taguig, which the agency envisions to transform into an Education City.
The city is planned to be a future-ready, mixed-use development with eco-friendly commercial and residential buildings, open spaces, training facilities, and teacher accommodations.
The planned development will feature the soon-to-rise Senate-DepEd Station, which will connect the under-construction Metro Manila Subway and North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR).
Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon said this setup of linking transport and education hubs could serve as the government’s template for other projects.
“This project will pave the way for better projects in the future—not only transportation projects but also education projects,” said Dizon.
Dizon said this is aligned with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to ease the daily travel of commuters, especially students, as well as improving access to efficient transportation and education facilities.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara, for his part, said the SEED TOD initiative will drive significant progress for the country’s transport sector.
“This project will have the same catalytic effect not only on Taguig but definitely Philippine transportation. We have the DOTr to shepherd and speed up this project,” he said.
Beyond improved connectivity, Angara said the project will generate revenue opportunities for DepEd, which will help fund the construction of more classrooms and support digital adoption nationwide.
Inspired by London’s Elizabeth Line, the SEED TOD initiative will be funded under the UK FCDO’s Green Cities and Infrastructure program.
The DOTr and DepEd will work with advisory firm Crossrail International and other top British architectural and engineering firms for the project.