Manila: The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has successfully acquired 90.76 percent of the right-of-way (ROW) needed for the Metro Manila Subway Project (MMSP), while 56 percent of the ROW for the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) North Segment is expected to be completed by the end of 2025.

According to Philippines News Agency, this acquisition aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s directive to expedite land acquisition, ultimately benefiting thousands of commuters who will utilize these transport projects. DOTr acting Secretary Giovanni Lopez, in a recent statement, highlighted that the ROW acquisition for the MMSP was only 51 percent complete as of February last year.

The number of acquired properties for the NSCR North Segment saw a significant increase from 38 parcels in February to 1,143 by December 2025. Lopez noted that 2025 marked a pivotal year for ROW acquisition due to the accelerated land acquisition efforts aimed at benefiting commuters of both the subway and NSCR.

The accelerated acquisitions were made possible under the leadership of former DOTr Secretary Vince Dizon and current acting Secretary Lopez, who addressed major bottlenecks in the MMSP. These included challenges with Varilla Properties, properties in White Plains, Corinthian Gardens, and Metrowalk.

Furthermore, the ROW and site acquisition (ROWSA) project is being executed through key initiatives. These include the appointment of DOTr Assistant Secretary for ROWSA IC Calaguas, who is responsible for overseeing land acquisition for these projects. Additionally, ROWSA personnel increased from 200 to 900, and capacity-building and training programs were conducted to enhance their knowledge and skills.

The ROWSA for the NSCR North Segment is anticipated to be completed by mid-2026. For the NSCR South Segment, four of the 19 stations' ROW have already been cleared, specifically the EDSA, Cabuyao, Santa Rosa, and Banlic Depo stations.