Manila: Senator JV Ejercito on Wednesday assured the public that there would be no delays in major railway projects as he vowed to protect funding for the Metro Manila Subway Project (MMSP) and North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR). Ejercito, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, emphasized the importance of timely funding to ensure the full implementation of these projects, which are part of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s infrastructure agenda.
According to Philippines News Agency, Ejercito joined President Marcos at the groundbreaking ceremony for the MMSP Contract Package 109 (CP109) at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 in Pasay City. The 2.41-kilometer underground route will connect Taguig City and Pasay City, featuring an underground station beneath the NAIA Terminal 3 parking lot. Funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the 33.1-kilometer MMSP aims to reduce travel time between Valenzuela City and NAIA Terminal 3 from over 1 hour and 30 minutes to just 41 minutes.
Ejercito stated, "Under my leadership as chairperson of the Committee on Finance, I will make sure that there will be no more delays, and that our obligations will be met, especially for the North-South Commuter Railway and the Metro Manila Subway System." He emphasized the need to avoid past delays caused by project obligations being lodged under unprogrammed funds. Ejercito assured that foreign-assisted projects and government participation will now be prioritized in programmed appropriations.
He further explained that delays in fund release could impact contractors and suppliers, delaying the completion of major infrastructure projects. The NAIA Terminal 3 station is projected to serve about 70,000 passengers daily by 2035, with capacity expected to reach 74,000 passengers by 2045. The entire Metro Manila Subway system is scheduled for completion in the third quarter of 2031, operating 30 eight-car trainsets at speeds of up to 80 kilometers per hour.
Acknowledging the current tight fiscal space, Ejercito highlighted the need to balance accountability reforms with accelerating public spending. He remarked, "We need to accelerate spending, and our economy depends so much on public spending. That is the infrastructure. That's why I have always been pushing for infrastructure development because of its multiplier effect and long-term effect that will stimulate economic growth and spread out the development." Ejercito concluded by stressing the importance of starting to reap the economic benefits of the country's railway projects.
