President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. revealed that his administration has allocated over P49.98 billion this year for the Railway Sector under the Department of Transportation, underscoring the administration’s commitment to long-term infrastructure investment.

During the groundbreaking of the Kalayaan Avenue and Bonifacio Global City stations of the Metro Manila Subway Project on Friday, Marcos Jr. maintained the need to end the suffering of the country’s commuters, assuring that a modern railway network is underway.

He outlined a sweeping set of initiatives to modernize the country’s public transport system, underscoring sustained investments in rail infrastructure, commuter-focused upgrades, and international partnerships to deliver a safer, more efficient, and more accessible transportation network for millions of Filipinos.

An inconvenience

“For decades, traffic in Metro Manila has been more than an inconvenience. It has been a constant consideration affecting our daily decisions,” he said.

The President noted that traffic congestion influences where people live, work, and study, and recognized that some students hesitate to enroll in their top-choice schools due to multi-hour commutes, while some professionals turn down promising career opportunities due to travel costs and reduced time spent with their families.

“This is not the kind of future that we want for our kababayans. And that is why this Administration is determined to address these problems by providing sustainable, long-term solutions. This subway is one of those solutions,” the President said.

Station enhancements underway

Moreover, the Chief Executive assured that station enhancements are also underway, including upgrades at the MRT-3 Quezon Avenue station, to improve passenger flow and accessibility for senior citizens and persons with disabilities.

To ease the financial burden on commuters, discounted beep cards and cashless payments have been introduced in MRT-3, while free Wi-Fi has been rolled out across all MRT-3 stations and several EDSA Busway stations to ensure greater connectivity and convenience.

Expanded services such as the Love Bus Libreng Sakay Program continue to operate in Metro Manila, Cebu and Davao, providing free rides to passengers daily.

The President also recognized the Bases Conversion and Development Authority and Megaworld Corporation for granting perpetual easement rights for subway construction, ensuring that 100 percent of the required right-of-way has already been secured.

Deep gratitude

He then expressed deep gratitude to the Government of Japan and the Japan International Cooperation Agency for their steadfast support in making the Metro Manila Subway a reality.

The chief executive assured the public that the administration will exercise careful oversight, transparency, and accountability in implementing the project.

The inaugurated new segment will connect Shaw Boulevard Station in Pasig City to Lawton Avenue Station in Taguig City, with the BGC stations projected to serve more than 200,000 passengers daily during the first year of operation. “This means workers arriving on time, students getting home earlier, and our citizens regaining hours that we once lost to congestion,” said the President.