President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday said the government’s ongoing railway projects are part of a broader effort to improve mobility and connectivity in the country.

“Every minute saved on the road is spent with loved ones, time to better ourselves, and time to be productive citizens. That is what projects such as the Metro Manila Subway must ultimately deliver,” Marcos said in his speech during the groundbreaking of the Metro Manila Subway Project (MMSP)-NAIA Terminal Station at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 in Pasay City.

The President added that the subway project, together with the North-South Commuter Railway, MRT-7, the Common Station, and other railway projects, would help address traffic congestion, reduce travel time, and provide Filipinos with a more efficient and dependable public transport system.

“This project, along with other railway projects that we are currently undertaking, such as the North-South Commuter Railway, MRT-7, the Common Station, and our other rail projects, forms part of our broader effort to improve mobility and connectivity,” Marcos said.

“Of course, building a subway beneath a dense and highly developed city is no simple undertaking,” the President said.

Marcos noted that Contract Package 109, a project that brings that network closer to the Philippines’ international gateway, covers the construction of the underground NAIA Terminal 3 Station and its connecting tunnels between Taguig and Pasay.

“That is why CP109 will also introduce advanced engineering methods to the Philippines,” the Chief Executive said. “Its tunnels will require the underpinning of existing expressway piers, the first application of this type of technology for tunnel construction in the country.”

Marcos noted that another important milestone is that 100 percent of the station-area right-of-way has already been secured, allowing construction to move forward with greater certainty.

“This progress reflects the cooperation of government, the private sector, and our development partners,” the President added.

At the event, Marcos also thanked the local governments for bringing this project forward.

“As we break ground on Contract Package 109, let us continue this work with urgency, discipline, and excellence,” President Marcos said.

Marcos also thanked the Government of Japan and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for their longstanding support for the Metro Manila Subway.

“And to our contractors, engineers, and workers: much of what we celebrate in projects like this rests on the work that you do every day. I ask that you carry out this project safely, efficiently, and on time, with the quality that generations of Filipinos deserve,” Marcos said.

The President also noted that the whole Metro Manila Subway project has achieved nearly 60 percent overall progress, with construction activities underway across much of its alignment.

“Together, these projects will better connect communities within Metro Manila and beyond, providing greater convenience and better opportunities for our people,” Marcos said.

“Ladies and gentlemen, when we broke ground on the Kalayaan and BGC stations earlier this year, we spoke about the importance of every Filipino’s time. That remains at the heart of the work we continue today,” the President emphasized.

Among the guests who attended the event were Department of Transportation Acting Secretary Giovanni Lopez, Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito; Pasay City Rep. Antonino Calixto; and Pasay City Mayor Imelda Calixto-Rubiano.

Also present were Ramon Ang, president of New NAIA Infra Corp.; Ono Sho, Chargé d’Affaires ad interim, Embassy of Japan to the Philippines; Takashi Baba, Chief Representative of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA); Tatsuya Sugawara, Managing Executive Officer, Taisei Corporation; partners from the private sector; and other national and local government officials. Presidential News Desk