The Department of Transportation (DoTr) plans to run test trains on the Metro Manila Subway by early 2028, bringing commuters closer to faster, more reliable daily rides.

“The target for the demo run is the first quarter of 2028. Testing and commissioning are different,” Acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez said on Saturday.

Lopez said the subway project stood at about 26 percent complete as of November 2025, with delays largely driven by right-of-way issues — a long-standing bottleneck in major infrastructure projects.

“When I assumed office, I said that by December 2025, we could secure 90 percent of the subway’s right-of-way issues. By December, we had achieved 90 percent. Only 10 percent remains,” Lopez said.

He stressed that resolving right-of-way concerns is critical to keeping the project on track. “Right-of-way is important. This is really the main reason, if not the only reason, why projects get delayed. Right-of-way should always come first,” he said.

The DoTr is now targeting to clear the remaining issues by the second quarter of 2026. “We are targeting the remaining 10 percent of our right-of-way issues for the subway by the second quarter of 2026,” Lopez said.

For commuters, the demo run marks the beginning of operational readiness, bringing the country’s first underground railway system closer to full service.

Once completed, the line will run from Valenzuela to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, offering a faster, more reliable alternative to Metro Manila’s congested road network.

“Based on calculations and budget, we can achieve full operations by 2032 or the last quarter of 2031. We are talking about the entire stretch from Valenzuela all the way to NAIA,” Lopez said.

He added that the subway is being built in parallel with other rail projects to ensure seamless connectivity. “When we talk about the subway, it also needs to be connected to other railway systems,” he said.

The subway, the country’s first underground train line, is set for full completion by 2032, although the DoTr aims to finish at least three stations by 2028, including Valenzuela, Quirino, and potentially North Avenue.