Metro Manila subway hits 50% completion

The Metro Manila Subway, one of the Philippines’ most ambitious infrastructure projects to date, has reached 50 percent completion, according to the latest government update. This milestone marks significant progress toward modernizing the country’s mass transit system and easing chronic congestion in the capital.

The 33-kilometer underground railway will span 17 stations across eight cities, including Valenzuela, Quezon City, Pasig, Taguig, Parañaque, and Pasay. Designed to connect key business districts—Ortigas Center, Bonifacio Global City, and Makati—the subway aims to serve over 500,000 passengers daily.

Each 8-car trainset is expected to carry up to 2,200 passengers, running at speeds of 80 kilometers per hour and arriving every five minutes during peak hours. Once operational, the line will reduce travel time from Valenzuela to NAIA from the current 90 minutes to just 35.

Partial operations are targeted for 2029, with full operations projected between 2030 and 2031. A spur line will connect the subway directly to NAIA Terminal 3, providing integrated airport access.

Funded with Japanese assistance through official development loans and constructed with Japanese technical expertise, the project is a key component of the government’s “Build Better More” agenda. Officials say it is expected to catalyze economic growth and boost property values in areas surrounding the stations.

As the country’s first underground mass transit system, the Metro Manila Subway is set to transform how Filipinos travel—reducing road congestion, supporting environmental goals, and laying the groundwork for a more connected urban future.