With the goal of improving commuting experience of the general public.
On Wednesday, November 11, Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Vince Dizon inspected the Common Station at North Avenue, Quezon City.
During which, he announced that the Metro Rail Transit Line 7 (MRT-7) will be opening its first 12 stations in the middle of the forthcoming year.
“By June 2027, from North Avenue to Sacred Heart, tapos na,” he said.
He echoed the penultimate State of the Nation Address of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., when the Chief Executive said that Line 7 will will begin serving passengers and become the country’s first new MRT line in nearly three decades.
Initially running from North Avenue to Sacred Heart in Quezon City, the line is planned to eventually reach San Jose del Monte, Bulacan and ferry almost one million passengers daily.
Meanwhile, regarding the Common Station itself, which will be a vital link connecting various transport modes, works are underway as for the project that had been stalled for 20 years.
“We are confident na by the first quarter of 2028, mga March of 2028. Bago matapos ang termino ng ating pangulo, base na rin sa kanyang direktiba na tapusin na ito once and for all, magagamit na ng mga kababayan natin after 20 years ang Common Station na,” said Dizon.
He also emphasized that the station will connect commuters with different modes of transportation, such as the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1), Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3), EDSA Busway, and public utility vehicles via the public transport terminals at nearby malls.
Moreover, the President also directed that the walkways for commuters be elevated, eliminating the need for commuters to descend to street level and cross the actual roadway of EDSA.
“Sa’ting road sector and rail sector, kailangan ang commuting experience lahat nasa taas na… kone-konektado na lahat nang ito,” added Dizon.
In late July, former Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopex said that the Economy and Development (ED) Council have approved the variation order of the project.
“Kaka-approve lang po ng ED. Ang nangyari po kasi dito, we terminated the contract. And nung na-terminate po natin ‘yan, nakipag-usap tayo sa LRMC (Light Rail Manila Corporation) if they can continue the project by way of variation order,” he told.
He also noted that while the rest of the station is under construction, the DOTr will work to ensure commuters will have convenient transfers in between lines.
Previously, Corporation and Foresight Development and Surveying Company (BFC-FDSC) Consortium served as contractors. Citing excessive construction delays of the project, Dizon terminated the contract in 2025.
Meanwhile, the Common Station is expected to be completed by 2030.
