The Philippines is taking a step closer to grant everyone’s wish; to have the Metro Manila subway to open partially.
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) unveiled a part of a tunnel boring unit – the head cutter.
It’s a part that’s crucial for the construction of the Metro Manila subway, which is to commence partial operations by the last quarter of the year.
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In 2025, the $350 billion project is scheduled to be completed.
Around 85% of the expenses were given by Japan through loans. It has a 12-year fixed term and 0.1% interest, due to be paid in up to 40 years.
To Start This Year or the Next
However, the agency said the actual construction will commence in the third quarter of this year. They have a goal to open and partially run the East Valenzuela subway station by the end of the year.
Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said that even though we have not paid the loans from Japan, we can already enjoy using the subway.
Partially operability by December this year. Worst case scenario is by January or February next year."
Tugade added that the construction of the subway would be secure, citing the use of Japanese technology.
Furthermore, the engineers, consultant, and skills of the contractor all have experiences and have been in Japan; where the count of earthquakes and typhoons are greater than that of in the Philippines.
Ibig sabihin kung bibitbitin 'yung kanilang talent at skills at experience puwede natin sabihin kagaya ng Japan hindi magkakaproblema 'yung baha."
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In Translation: What that means is that if they bring their skills and experiences here, we can say that they’ll use their skills and knowledge and apply it in our project.
The Arrival of The Cutter Head For Tunnel Building
As part of the news that the Metro Manila Subway is to partially open, the cutter head, weighing 74 tons or as big as two Airbus A320 airplanes; and the largest component of the tunnel boring unit, has arrived.
Its main objective is to crack, grind and cut rocks and soil by spinning its 36-piece disc cutter with the power of 300 jackhammers.
This giant will be the first of 25 tunnel boring machines they'll use to dig the tunnels and passages through the International Airport of Ninoy Aquino, Taguig, Pasig, and Quezon City from Valenzuela.
According to the DOTr, the machine can dig up to 6 to 12 meters a day.
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In a statement, the agency said that the appearance of the cutter head would signal the "continuous arrival" of other equipment and materials necessary for the construction of the tunnel, noting that in the coming days the remaining parts of that machine could arrive in the Philippines.
The Plan to Build The First-Ever Subway
Based on a study by the Japan Overseas Technical Cooperation Agency, a predecessor of JICA, the plan to build the first-ever subway line in the capital region dates back to September 1973, the agency noted.
The metro manila subway project is the Philippines' first underground rail system project. It has a goal to provide mass transit in the National Capital Region (NCR).
Stations to Metro Manila Subway
After the Transportation Department agreed to extend the initial proposal to include more stations. the Metro Manila subway will now have 17 stations.
Transportation Assistant Secretary Goddes Hope O. Libiran told BusinessWorld that Bicutan, Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3, Senate, Lawton, East Valenzuela will be situated at the new stations.
She said that in the initial design, the Senate and Lawton stations replaced the Cayetano Boulevard station, located in Taguig.
It is expected that the new Senate complex, located at Fort Bonifacio, will be completed by the third quarter of 2021.
Moreover, they'll also build up the subway's depot site in Barangay Ugong, Valenzuela, the East Velnzuela station.
As per Libiran, for both the metro manila subway and the planned Philippine national railways Calamba line under the north-south commuter railway, Bicutan would be the site of a "common station."
Current stations included in the subway project include:
- FTI,
- Bonifacio Global City,
- Kalayaan Avenue,
- Shaw (formerly Ortigas South),
- Ortigas (formerly Ortigas North),
- Katipunan,
- Anonas,
- East Avenue,
- Quezon Avenue,
- North Avenue,
- Tandang Sora, and
- Quirino Highway
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The advancement of the Philippines in transportation will make a big impact on what will be the future in terms of traffic will be. May this be the result of fewer private vehicles on the road? Would they be able to execute and maintain it successfully?
What are your thoughts? Moreover, do you think the Philippines is on the right track that the Metro Manila Subway is to open partially?
Source/s: ABS-CBN News
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