Makati subway could help ease flooding in the city, says exec

The $3.5-billion subway project in Makati could improve the city's flood control capabilities, Philippine Infradev president and CEO Antonio Tiu said on Friday.

Tiu said the subway project also opens up the opportunity for burying unsightly overhead cables.

"The subway will actually benefit the flooding because its underground, so the pumping system will have to be very efficient," Tiu said at a media forum.

"It will have a lot if side-effects that will improve the metropolis. One, is that it will improve... the clogging of the drainage. Two, it will also make all those wires and cables underground, so the scenery, the views would be better," he added.

When asked how the subway would be prepared for massive earthquakes, Tiu said train operations would likely  be suspended in the event of such disasters.

Nevertheless, he said the subway's underground tunnels were designed to provide safety in the event of other kinds of scenarios.

"The underground subway system is also an evacuation center in the unlikely event of a fire, or a bomb," Tiu said.

"It's actually very strong. It can be an extra evacuation center. for example, nuclear attack, terrorist attack, whatever, the city is actually looking at this subway station as an emergency center, as well," he added.

The Makati subway is designed to have 10 underground stations located at key destinations in such as the Ayala Triangle, Makati City Hall, and University of Makati.

The city government awarded the public-private partnership project to the consortium of Philippine Infradev (formerly IRC Properties), to be implemented via a joint venture agreement in October 2018.

The consortium counts as members Philippine Infradev and its Chinese partners Greenland Holdings Group, Jiangsu Provincial Construction Group Co. Ltd. Holdings Ltd., and China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd.

Philippine Infradev Holdings broke ground for the project in December 2018.

Makati Mayor Abby Binay said the tunnel boring machines will arrive by December this year.

There are also plans to integrate the Makati subway to MRT 3, Pasig River Ferry System, and the proposed Metro Manila Mega Subway. —NB, GMA News