MANILA, Philippines — Construction on the first Metro Manila subway officially began Wednesday, February 27, with the big-ticket project seen to ease traffic gridlock in the capital when completed in 2025. The big-ticket project has a total loan financing requirement of P259.6 billion, the biggest amount committed by JICA to a single country. The subway project will have 14 to 16 stations and is expected to be completed in 2025. According to Dominguez, the plan for the subway line envisions a “north zone” that will extend to Bulacan and a “south zone” that will stretch to Cavite. The flagship infrastructure project will have commercial spaces that will be leased to help pay the hefty Japanese loan and defray the cost of operating the facility.

Source: Philippine Star February 27, 2019 02:26 UTC