It is estimated to reach Anonas station in six months.
In a post on Tuesday, October 7, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said that the construction works for the Metro Manila Subway Project (MMSP) remains in full swing as the third Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) begins drilling activities.
The said TBM, the third for the underground segment of the line, started excavating from the Camp Aguinaldo station in Quezon City and is expected to reach Anonas Station in six months—given the pacing of nine-meter tunneling works daily.
The transport department noted that the launch of the third TBM is in line with the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to fast-track the completion of MMSP, which is expected to be fully operational in 2032.
Acting Transportation Secr. Giovanni Lopez noted that a parallel TBM will be launched in the next two months.
“Additional tunnel boring machines means lesser time para matapos natin ang mga proyekto. Tuloy tuloy po ang subway at hindi hihinto ang DOTr sa mga proyekto,” said Lopez.
Under MMSP Contract Package 103, the third TBM starts tunneling this October from Camp Aguinaldo to Anonas, while over 1,000 meters were already excavated by two TBMs from Camp Aguinaldo to Ortigas.
The fourth TBM for Camp Aguinaldo station is already being assembled, while the whole MMSP line now has a total of eight TBMs, according to the DOTr.
The 33-kilometer, 17-station subway will run from Valenzuela City to Paranaque City, ending at Bicutan Station in Taguig City.
There will be a spur line to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 in Pasay City.
The subway will also interoperable with the North South Commuter Railway (NSCR) through FTI and Bicutan stations, which means passengers can travel from Valenzuela all the way to Calamba without alighting the train.
Once the subway is completed, travel time will be reduced from one hour and 38 minutes to just 45 minutes from Valenzuela to Pasay, with expected ridership of 519,000 passengers daily once the full operations begin.