By: John Dexter Tilo

Construction of the MRT-4 is set to begin in 2023, according to an official from the Department of Transportation, while full operations is targeted by 2028.

Undersecretary for Railways John Batan revealed the information during his recent interview at DZRH’s Commuter Corner, following the contract signing led by Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade early in October. He said the railway line will link San Juan to Taytay, Rizal.

"Ang construction po natin ay mag-uumpisa ng 2023. Bale po yung detailed engineering design na tinatawag natin ay mag-uumpisa na po kasunod nung contract signing kaninang hapon," said Batan. "Right of way acquisition ay mag-uumpisa sa kalagitnaan ng 2022, at tayo po ay magkaka-full operations by 2028."

(Construction will begin in 2023. The detailed engineering design as we call it will begin following the contract signing earlier this afternoon. Right-of-way acquisition will begin in 2022, and we will have full operations by 2028.)

Despite its full operations expected on a later date, Batan said that Tugade is enforcing a partial operability policy that will see some parts of the planned railway line operating before 2028.

"Tayo po ay magtatakda ng isang segment na maaari pong matapos at magamit nang mas maaga at yan po ang gagawin natin kasama po yung ating designer at kasama po ang Asian Development Bank (ADB)," explained Batan, adding that the flagship project is an official developmental assistance project with the ADB.

(We will designate a segment that can we can finish and use earlier and we will do it with our designer and the Asian Development Bank.)

The project comes amid the ongoing construction of railways across Metro Manila and surrounding provinces, aimed to alleviate the burden of commuters that have been challenged by traffic for years. Other projects underway include the Metro Manila Subway, LRT-1 Cavite extension, and the common station in North Edsa.

"By 2022 po, ito ay nasa iba't ibang punto po ng construction pero ang mahalaga po ay hindi lang po naaprubahan, hindi lang po napondohan, meron na po tayong mga contractor at meron na rin po tayong mga development partners na sigurado pong nandyan na at magpapatuloy po ng lahat ng mga proyektong ito hanggang matapos at magamit po," said Batan.

(By 2022, the projects will be in different parts of construction but what’s important is not only have approved and funded them, but we have contractors and development partners that will surely be there and continue all of our projects until they are finished and used.)

The undersecretary added that the projects will be of use to commuters in a couple of years.

"Hindi na lamang po plano, hindi na lamang po feasibility study kundi proyekto na pong magagamit," said Batan.

(They are no longer plans, no longer feasibility study, but projects that we can use.)