The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is evaluating a proposal by the San Jose del Monte local government in Bulacan to realign the MRT-7 project’s Bulacan station. The proposal has the potential to delay its completion.
“We are studying with San Miguel Corp. if there’s a need to realign,” Transport Secretary Jaime J. Bautista said.
According to Bautista, a realignment will change the scope and cost of the project, necessitating its return to the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) for evaluation, he added.
Nevertheless, Bautista gave assurance that the partial opening of the line from North Avenue to Lagro will begin as originally planned by the first quarter next year.
He said the construction of the Bulacan station has not yet started and is still two years off.
The DOTr earlier said the MRT-7 project has reached 69.68 percent completion as of April 2024.
“I saw full-speed construction and I’m very happy that they are completing the Quezon City leg which will be operational at the end of 2025,” Bautista said.
According to Bautista, completing the project is very important because it serves 300,000 passengers on its first year of operations.
Trips from Quezon City to San Jose Del Monte in Bulacan will only take 35 minutes, down from two to three hours at present.
The Marcos administration has identified the MRT-7 project, which runs from Quezon City to San Jose del Monte City in Bulacan, as one of 194 high-impact flagship projects under its “Build Better, More” program crucial to improving the quality of life of Filipinos.
The MRT-7 project will have 14 stations, namely: Quezon North Avenue Joint Station; Quezon Memorial Circle; University Avenue; Tandang Sora; Don Antonio; Batasan; Manggahan; Dona Carmen; Regalado; Mindanao Avenue; Quirino; Sacred Heart; Tala; and San Jose del Monte.
It can accommodate 300,000 passengers on its first year of operations, and up to 850,000 passengers daily on its 12th year.
The project will also feature an intermodal transportation hub catering to other types of public transportation as well as a 19-kilometer highway from San Jose del Monte to Bocaue, Bulacan.
