By Robina Asido

The partial operation of the first subway in the Philippines was once again delayed for three more years as Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon admitted that the earliest possible schedule wpuld be moved to 2032.

In a radio interview, Dizon admitted that due to delays the Metro Manila Subway Project, funded through Japan's Official Development Assistance, cannot be open for partial operation within the term of the present administration.

"For the subway, there were a lot of delays there... The delay is long and I am not the kind of person who will promise something that will not happen. I think it cannot start its operation by 2028. Maybe the earliest for the partial operation is by 2032 but we really need to speed it up," Dizon said.

Dizon said the delays in the 33 kilometer subway were caused by many issues including delays between Department of Transportation engineers, contractors and others.

"There are a lot of issues that caused the delays but we are now trying to address that," he said.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, then Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade targeted the partial operation of the subway before the end of 2021 months earlier than the first target of February 2022.

The project is far behind its initial schedule as it was supposed to be fully operational by 2025.

Due to delays citing the issues related to the right-of-way, Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista who was appointed under the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos announced that the opening of the partial operation of the subway was moved to 2029.

The construction of the Metro Manila Subway project began following the ground breaking ceremony in Valenzuela in February 2019.

The project which is funded by Japan and the Philippine government cost a total of P488.5 billion of which P370.7 billion will be financed through an ODA loan from JICA, while P117.7 billion will be covered by the Philippine government. DMS