Construction works for the Metro Manila Subway Project (MMSP) continue to gain traction as the third Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) from Camp Aguinaldo Station starts its drilling activities with excavation expected to reach Anonas Station in six months.

The launch of the third TBM is in line with the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to fast-track the completion of MMSP for the immediate benefit of commuters.

Acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez said that with a pacing of nine-meter tunneling works daily, the machine is expected to reach Anonas Station in six months, with a parallel TBM to be launched in the next two months.

"Additional tunnel boring machines means lesser time para matapos natin ang mga proyekto. Tuloy tuloy po ang subway at hindi hihinto ang DOTr sa mga proyekto," Acting Sec. Lopez said during the TBM launch at Camp Aguinaldo Station this morning.

"Ang sabi nga po ng Pangulo ay kailangang bilisan ang projects natin kasi mass transit po talaga ang susi para maresolba ang problema ng mga komyuter," he added.

Under MMSP Contract Package 103, the third TBM starts tunneling this October from Camp Aguinaldo to Anonas Stations, while over 1,000 meters were already excavated by two TBMs from Camp Aguinaldo to Ortigas Stations.

The fourth TBM for Camp Aguinaldo station is already being assembled, while the whole MMSP line now has eight TBMs.

The 33-kilometer, 17-station subway will run from Valenzuela City to Paranaque City, ending at Bicutan Station in Taguig City with spur line at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 in Pasay City.

The MMSP is also interoperable with the North South Commuter Railway (NSCR) through FTI and Bicutan Stations, which means passengers can travel from Valenzuela all the way to Calamba without alighting the train.

Once the subway is completed, travel time will be reduced from one hour and 38 minutes to just 45 minutes from Valenzuela to Pasay, with expected ridership of 519,000 passengers daily once in full operation in 2032. Department of Transportation