Philippines unveils multiple transportation projects including subway, bus transit

During a meeting with prospective investors, DOTC Assistant Secretary Jaime Feliciano said the government is looking at increasing urban mass transport ridership to 2.2 million per day by 2016 or 2017 from the current level of 1.2 million per day under the government's Rail Transport Development Plan.

On top of the list, was the P135-billion Mass Transit System including a subway or underground rail system to address the growing concern on traffic congestion in the fast growing urban centers in the cities of Makati, Pasay and Taguig.

The proposed 20-km loop would consist of 16-km tunnel and 4-km elevated railway especially in the reclaimed area in Pasay City. The project would consist of 11 stations consisting of 5 underground, 4 interchanges and 2 elevated,” Feliciano said.

The DOTC is looking at forwarding the project to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) for approval in Q2 or Q3 2014 or afterwhich the government would bid out the project in Q2 2015.

The DOTC also presented the proposed $6.3 billion North-South Commuter Rail stretching 89.7 km from Malolos in Bulacan to Calamba in Laguna that could be extended to the Clark International Airport in Pampanga.

The DOTC is also looking at establishing the 28-km Manila ( Quezon Ave.) bus rapid transit worth $103 million. The bus service would start from Manila City hall to Philcoa in Quezon City and from Commonwealth to Fairview.

The agency is also set to bid out the operation and maintenance of the LRT2 being extended all the way to Masinag in Antipolo City .

Furthermore, the agency is also looking at extending the LRT1 all the way to Dasmarinas in Cavite on top of the ongoing bidding for the $144 million LRT1 Cavite extension project to Bacoor also in Cavite .