By Perfecto T. Raymundo, Jr.
PASIG CITY — Former Ilocos Sur Governor Luis “Chavit” Singson, owner of a big commercial hub in Pasig City, on Monday (Oct. 13) called on the government to end the waiting and start the long delayed Metro Manila Subway.
As President and Chairman of LCS Group of Companies, who owns Metrowalk, Singson said that he has been waiting for three years with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) after he issued the Permit-to-Enter on Sept. 30, 2022.
However, the promised construction of the P17.75-billion project that will be highly “game-changing” in travel has not yet started.
“Kami ay umaapela kay DOTr Sec. Giovanni Z. Lopez na agad nang simulan ang matagal nang naantalang konstruksiyon ng Metro Manila Subway, at nagpadala na kami ng liham sa kanila,” Singson said, stressing that now is the time to act.
The appeal was made after the Megawide Construction Corporation, including its joint venture partners Tokyu Construction and Tobishima Corporation from Japan, won the bidding for the ambitious project.
Singson emphasized that the construction “should start immediately.”
The delay pushed the completion of the project to 2032—a five-year gap.
Once constructed, the subway is expected to change the travel in Metro Manila.
“Ang proyekto ay magiging isang malaking pagbabago para sa mass public transportation ng metro,” Edgar Saavedra, Chairman and CEO of Megawide, said, stressing the capability of the consortium.
“Ang Megawide at ang aming mga partner na Tokyu at Tobishima ay bihasa, moderno at pinagkakatiwalaan sa aming mga larangan at sa bansa, na pinaniniwalaan naming magiging kritikal sa tagumpay ng pioneering na gawaing ito,” Saavedra said.
Because the traffic in Metro Manila is among the worst in the whole world and the motorists will lose upto 127 hours every year due to rush hour gridlock, the need for the subway is urgent.
The subway guarantees faster travel time between Quezon City and NAIA from more than an hour to only 35 minutes, offers faster, better alternative which may open billions worth for the economy and may benefit millions of citizens. ###
