Quezon City: Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon on Thursday assured that the Metro Rail Transit Line 7 (MRT-7) will begin operation by 2027, before the end of the term of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. In an interview during the inspection of the MRT-7 Depot in Quirino Highway, Dizon said the MRT-7 has been delayed for over a decade and will finally be completed in line with Marcos' order to accelerate the project's timeline.

According to Philippines News Agency, Dizon expressed confidence that the MRT-7 will be completed within the specified timeframe, allowing the public to utilize the service by 2027. He emphasized the importance of accelerating the construction of the Common Station project to facilitate commuter transfers between MRT-7, MRT Line 3, and the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1).

Once completed, the MRT-7 is expected to reduce travel time from North Avenue in Quezon City to San Jose Del Monte in Bulacan, as well as alleviate vehicular traffic along Commonwealth Avenue. Dizon highlighted the benefits to the public, including significant time savings and reduced need for early morning commutes.

He praised the San Miguel Corporation, the project's contractor and operator, for establishing a model that could serve as a benchmark for other rail projects under the Department of Transportation (DOTr). The MRT-7 has been designed with wide train and railway tracks, free of overhead electrical lines, and features stations that are spacious and accessible for persons with disabilities (PWD), equipped with escalators and elevators.

Currently, the MRT-7 has achieved an overall progress rate of 83.08 percent and is projected to serve an estimated 600,000 passengers per day during its first year of operation.