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Manila Bulletin devider Business devider Trade & Industry devider DOTr rejects rumors of downsizing ₱77-billion MRT-7 railway

DOTr rejects rumors of downsizing ₱77-billion MRT-7 railway

Published Jun 1, 2026 06:08 am
A Metro Rail Transit Line 7 (MRT-7) train sits on elevated tracks against the backdrop of the Sierra Madre mountain range in Quezon City on Saturday, May 2, 2026. The ₱77-billion mass-transit project has surpassed 80 percent completion, with authorities targeting partial operations for its initial stations by the second quarter of 2027 to ease severe traffic congestion along Commonwealth Avenue. (Photo by Santi San Juan I Manila Bulletin)
A Metro Rail Transit Line 7 (MRT-7) train sits on elevated tracks against the backdrop of the Sierra Madre mountain range in Quezon City on Saturday, May 2, 2026. The ₱77-billion mass-transit project has surpassed 80 percent completion, with authorities targeting partial operations for its initial stations by the second quarter of 2027 to ease severe traffic congestion along Commonwealth Avenue. (Photo by Santi San Juan I Manila Bulletin)
The government rejected speculation that it is downscaling a major mass-transit infrastructure project, affirming that the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) Line 7 will proceed with its complete 14-station layout to connect Metro Manila with neighboring northern provinces.
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) stated that the planned San Jose del Monte station in Bulacan remains integrated into the approved alignment.
The DOTr announcement comes after social media reports suggested that the terminal stop would be cut due to localized routing adjustments, potentially reducing the multi-billion-peso project to 13 stations.
Built under a public-private partnership framework by San Miguel Corp., the 22.8-kilometer commuter rail line is designed to dramatically improve transit between Quezon City and Bulacan.
Upon full operation, the line is projected to handle roughly 300,000 passengers daily, paring down a notorious three-hour gridlock to a 35-minute commute.
Economic managers are maintaining pressure on builders to meet revised construction deadlines following years of bureaucratic delays and right-of-way acquisitions. Under the directive from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to accelerate critical mass-transit links, the transportation department expects partial commercial operations for the first 12 stations—stretching from the North Avenue grand interchange to the Sacred Heart station in Caloocan City—by the second quarter of 2027.
The final leg of the system, comprising the Tala and San Jose del Monte segments, is slated for handover and public launch in 2028.

Related Tags

Department of Transportation (DOTr) San Miguel Corp. (SMC) MRT-7
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