Groundbreaking for Manila Subway delayed to mid-January —Tugade

The groundbreaking for the Mega Manila Subway is scheduled to push through mid-January next year, according to the Department of Transportation (DOTr).

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, in an interview, said that the groundbreaking for the project was pushed back to next month, due to availability issues of the people involved.

"Nadedelay dahil sa availability ng mga tao, yung mga manggagaling sa Japan. Holidays, yearend, naghahabol sila. Nakiusap kung pwede mid-January," Tugade explained.

Groundbreaking for the project was earlier scheduled for December 19, 2018, but was moved to the middle of next month.

The Philippine government and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in March signed the first tranche of a financing agreement for the first phase of the Mega Manila Subway.

The first tranche of the loan deal amounts to ¥104.530 billion or equivalent to around P51 billion.

According to the government's "Build, Build, Build" website, the subway is a 25-kilometer underground mass transportation system connecting major business districts and government centers.

It is also expected to serve around 370,000 passengers per day in its opening year. — MDM, GMA News