September 8, 2025 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — After a three-year delay, the nation’s first underground railway is lastly reaching the southern district of Metro Manila, with the Consunjis successful the contract bundle (CP) for the phase to Taguig Metropolis.
Primarily based on an analysts’ briefer obtained by The STAR, D.M. Consunji Inc. (DMCI) mentioned it has gained CP 105 of the MMSP, which covers the Kalayaan and Bonifacio International Metropolis (BGC) stations.
That is the primary time since 2022 that the Division of Transportation (DOTr) is awarding a brand new contract for the subway, a delay that pushed the venture’s completion by at the least three years.
DMCI is endeavor the venture with Japanese builder Nishimatsu Development Co. Ltd., which can also be its three way partnership accomplice for CP 102 in Quezon Avenue and East Avenue. CP 105 consists of a 0.66-kilometer tunnel; a 242.2-meter station in Kalayaan; and a 436.05-meter station in BGC.
As soon as the CP is formally issued by the DOTr, DMCI mentioned it might take 67 months, or six years and 5 months, to ship the venture. The alignment beneath CP 105 is vital because it lastly crosses the subway to the south of Metro Manila.
Though the ultimate contract worth is but to be introduced, DMCI needed to outbid infrastructure big Megawide Development Corp. and its Japanese companions to win CP 105.
Final week, Appearing Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez mentioned the DOTr is now within the technique of clearing up the phrases for the remaining contracts of the subway.
All segments of the MMSP have been already awarded to contractors, aside from CPs 105 (Kalayaan to BGC), 108 (Lawton to Senate) and 109 (airport line).
Lopez emphasised the urgency of awarding the CPs this 12 months in order that the DOTr can sustain with its new deadline. The subway, costing P488.5 billion, was purported to open by 2029, however right-of -way (ROW) delays pushed the venture to so far as 2032.
The brand new transport chief mentioned the DOTr is ready for concurrence from its funding accomplice Japan Worldwide Cooperation Company (JICA) earlier than signing the CPs. As soon as JICA endorses them, the contracts may be issued to the successful bidders.
Lately, the DOTr gained momentum in dashing up the development of the MMSP, because of efforts from former transport chief Vince Dizon.
Below Dizon’s management, the DOTr resolved the ROW troubles in enterprise districts like Ortigas and posh villages like White Plains the place the subway confronted probably the most delays.
As of July, the general progress of the subway has picked as much as 51.17 %, from 44.03 % a 12 months in the past, as excavation elevated tempo in a number of segments of the venture.
The MMSP pushed up its tunneling progress to three.15 kilometers, from 1.62 kilometers, throughout the interval. Momentum can also be anticipated to be sustained with the DOTr acquiring 71.47 % of the ROW as of August, with the goal of reaching 100% by mid-2026.
The MMSP, the nation’s first underground rail, spans 33 kilometers throughout 17 stations between Valenzuela Metropolis and the Ninoy Aquino Worldwide Airport. The subway will deliver down journey time from level to level to simply 35 minutes.
DMCI is selecting up a number of contracts from the DOTr by way of joint ventures for precedence initiatives just like the MMSP and the North-South Commuter Railway.
That is turning out positively for DMCI as proven in its financials, as revenues from joint ventures went up by 27 % to P1.99 billion within the first half.
DMCI is sitting on a pipeline of ongoing and potential initiatives value P144.4 billion, overlaying 76 works in railways, roads, bridges, buildings, amongst others.
