The tunnel boring machines for the Metro Manila Subway have completed 100% of their tunneling work on two key sections, the northbound and southbound tunnels from Valenzuela to Quirino Station, and from Tandang Sora to North Avenue, marking a significant milestone in what Transportation Secretary Giovanni “Banoy” Lopez said is now visibly moving toward completion.
Lopez made the statement in an interview on DZRH News program Special on Saturday on August 29, as part of the DZRH SONA 2026 Series featuring the Department of Transportation (DOTr).
President Marcos’ Transport chief also said a groundbreaking for the NAIA Terminal 3 station, known as Contract Package 109 or CP 109, is expected to take place this month, connecting the Metro Manila Subway directly to the country’s main international airport.
“So this month po, mag-groundbreak na rin po kami sa sinasabi nating CP 109. Ito po ‘yun sa Terminal 3 ng Subway natin dito sa NAIA,” Lopez said.
Transporation Undersecretary for Railways Timothy John “TJ” Batan said the demo run for the Valenzuela to Quirino Station section of the subway is targeted for the first quarter of 2028, which would mark the first time Filipinos can ride a demonstration train through completed subway tunnels.
Lopez said the completed tunnel boring represents a point of no return for the project: the underground infrastructure is now physically in place, and the remaining work is on the stations and system installations above and around the tunnels.
The Transport chief added that the Clark to NAIA Airport Express, which uses part of the same rail corridor, will eventually allow passengers to travel directly from Clark International Airport to NAIA with only two stops—in Makati and Alabang—making the subway-airport connection part of a much larger intermodal vision.
