DOTr: Partial MRT-7 ops by Q2 of 2027 on track

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) remains on track to begin partial operations of the Metro Rail Transit Line 7 (MRT-7) by the second quarter of 2027, Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez said Wednesday.

“So far po, within timeline pa rin po kami at nasa target pa rin po namin,” Lopez said in a Balitanghali interview.

(So far, we remain within our timeline and are still on target.)

Lopez said they expect the MRT-7’s 12 stations to begin partial operations by the second quarter of next year.

“Sa tingin naman po, kumpiyansa kami, ’yung pagdating po ng second quarter ng 2027, ’yung sinasabi nating 12 stations ng MRT-7 at partial operations na po ’yan," he noted.

(We are confident that by the second quarter of 2027, the 12 MRT-7 stations will begin partial operations.)

The transportation chief also gave updates on several infrastructure projects expected to be completed this year.

Lopez said the Port of Lucena is expected to begin operations in August, while three additional EDSA Busway stations in Bagong Barrio, Balintawak, and Guadalupe are targeted to open before the end of the year.

He added that the Bukidnon Airport terminal is expected to be completed in December, while the new passenger terminal at Siargao Airport is targeted for completion in October.

Lopez also said Phase 1 of the Sto. Tomas-Tiaong segment of the South Long Haul Project is expected to be finished before year-end.

Subway update

Meanwhile, Lopez said the Metro Manila Subway Project remains on schedule, with 90% of its right-of-way acquisition completed as of June.

“Ang maganda po dito, 90% na po tayo as of June ’yung sinasabi nating right-of-way acquisition.”

(The good news is that as of June, we have already completed 90% of the right-of-way acquisition.)

He said tunnel excavation has been completed in both the northbound and southbound sections between Valenzuela and Quirino Station, as well as between North Avenue and Tandang Sora. Tunnel works between Ortigas, Anonas, and Camp Aguinaldo are also nearly complete.

Lopez said the DOTr is targeting a demonstration run by 2028, before the end of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s term.

“Magkakaroon tayo ng demonstration run po by 2028 bago po matapos ’yung termino ng ating Pangulo.”

(We are targeting a demonstration run by 2028 before the end of the President’s term.)

The transportation chief said the entire 33-kilometer Metro Manila Subway is expected to become fully operational by 2031 or 2032, after testing and commissioning of the railway system.

“Ang buong 33 kilometers po ng ating subway… mangyayari po ’yan around 2031 o 2032 kasi kailangan din po ng testing at commissioning ng ating mga riles," he added.

(The entire 33-kilometer subway is expected to become operational around 2031 or 2032 because the rail system still has to undergo testing and commissioning.) —RF, GMA News