Officials break ground for Metro Manila Subway's Bulk Supply Substation 1

Transportation officials have broken ground for the Bulk Supply Substation 1 of the Metro Manila Subway Project (MMSP), which will serve as the backbone for the energy supply of what is touted as the “Project of the Century” that has been delayed for years.

Located in Valenzuela City, the two-storey bulk supply substation will have two transformers that will connect to the switching station of the Manila Electric Company (Meralco).

The groundbreaking ceremony on Monday was attended by Transportation Secretary Vivencio “Vince” Dizon, Valenzuela City Mayor Weslie “Wes” Gatchalian, and officials of Mitsubishi Corp.

The P488.48-billion MMSP was earlier targeted to start partial operations in 2021, but the Department of Transportation (DOTr) has since said it is on track to begin partial operations in 2028, and be fully operational by 2030 or 2031.

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The MMSP will have 17 stations – Valenzuela where the depot will be located, Quirino Highway, Tandang Sora, North Avenue, Quezon Avenue, East Avenue, Anonas, Katipunan (Camp Aguinaldo), Ortigas Avenue, Shaw Boulevard, Kalayaan Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Lawton East, Senate-DepEd, NAIA Terminal 3, FTI, and Bicutan.

The subway is targeted to cut the travel time between Quezon City and Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Pasay City, the country’s main gateway, to just 35 minutes from the present 70 minutes. —Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas/KG, GMA Integrated News