Senator Grace Poe on Tuesday called on the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to accelerate the completion of the MRT-7 project and provide commuters with relief amid the expected traffic congestion from the upcoming EDSA repairs.
“Everyone in Metro Manila is waiting to get on board. We hope the MRT-7 project will soon be a reality,” she said.
The Senate Committee on Finance chairperson said the railway could help reduce the number of private vehicles on the road, easing congestion by encouraging motorists to leave their cars at home.
The 22-kilometer MRT-7 will connect North Avenue in Quezon City to San Jose del Monte in Bulacan and will have 14 stations. Once operational, the entire trip is expected to take just 35 minutes.
The project is targeted to be completed by 2026, with San Miguel Corp., led by Ramon Ang, in charge of construction, operations and maintenance.
In 2014, Poe rode the MRT-3 during rush hour to experience the long queues and delays firsthand ahead of a Senate inquiry on railway issues.
The senator lined up at North Avenue Station and endured a one-and-a-half-hour journey to Taft Station due to technical problems.
Since then, she has led multiple legislative investigations on railway operations and contracts as chair of the Senate public services panel.
“The path to get a train ride in Metro Manila is not as straight as its tracks. It takes a long and winding cue, climbing steep stairs and squeezing oneself in a tight coach,” she described.
“This should not stop us from working to have a better train system and facilities. The Filipinos deserve a dignified ride,” Poe said.
