Subway project ROW almost done

Right-of-way (ROW) issues plaguing the construction of the long-delayed Metro Manila Subway Project (MMSP) will be close to completion before the year ends, according to the Department of Transportation (DOTr).

- DEXTER BARRO II

Newly minted DOTr Acting Secretary Giovanni Lopez said the agency has already completed 75 percent of ROW acquisition for MMSP, including subterranean land and stations.

The DOTr is targeting to reach 95 percent of ROW by the end of the year, with a plan to hit 100 percent set for the second quarter of 2026.

Under the term of former secretary Vince Dizon, who is now heading the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the DOTr has made progress in addressing ROW issues.

Before Dizon's appointment, the DOTr faced challenges in acquiring ROW where gated villages are located, such as in Cubao, Katipunan, Bonifacio Global City (BGC), and Ortigas.

The DOTr has since resolved these issues, with only a few segments of the 33-kilometer (km) railway still requiring attention.