Photo courtesy of Philstar

The Metro Manila Subway Project (MMSP) advances with D.M. Consunji Inc. (DMCI) securing a P16-billion deal to construct the spur line to Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3. The Department of Transportation (DOTr) awarded Contract Package (CP) 109 to the joint venture between DMCI and Taisei Corp. This contract, valued at P16.06 billion excluding taxes, also involves payments in foreign currencies. The construction aims to enhance connectivity by linking NAIA to the subway system, significantly improving commuter access to this major gateway.

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Progress on MMSP had been hampered by right of way (ROW) issues, which delayed the bidding process. The DOTr released the bidding invitation for CP 109 in May 2023 but waited until ROW obstacles were minimized to move forward. Contract Package 109 involves building tunnels and a station at NAIA, following the government's recent transfer of airport operations to New NAIA Infrastructure Corp. This segment is crucial for connecting NAIA to rail transport, bridging a longstanding gap in transport connectivity compared to other Asian airports like Singapore's Changi.

Experts and stakeholders view this development as a major step in addressing Metro Manila's chronic transport issues. The subway will enable faster travel between Valenzuela City and NAIA, cutting journey times from 1.5 hours to just 41 minutes. With a capacity to serve up to 520,000 commuters daily, the subway is projected to alleviate congestion and improve urban mobility. This latest contract is the third subway project awarded to DMCI, following previous wins for other segments within the city.

Looking ahead, the MMSP aims for substantial progress, having already reached 27.08 percent completion. Tunnels have been excavated for over 5.37 kilometers, with continued work on multiple stations. The DOTr is targeting completion of ROW acquisition, with 82.37 percent already procured. While the MMSP's expected completion date was pushed to 2032 due to earlier delays, these recent advances mark a significant move toward its realization.

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  Adapted by ASEAN Now · Philstar · 06 Apr 2026

Good! Hope this delivers on time; this is much needed. And I hope this isn't a ghost project like so many off the flood protection "projects".