DOTr breaks ground on common station
In his speech during the groundbreaking ceremony on Friday, September 29, 2017, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade assured the public that the Duterte administration will finish the common station project. DOTR's Official Twitter Account
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Transportation on Friday led the groundbreaking for a common station to provide seamless transfer of passengers from one railway line to another as well as a convenient walk for platform transfers.
The common station, which is estimated to cost P2.8 billion, will link the LRT-1, which runs from Roosevelt station in Quezon City to Baclaran station in Parañaque, the MRT-3 running from North Avenue station in Quezon City to Taft Avenue station in Pasay, and the MRT-7 currently being built from North Avenue in Quezon City to San Jose del Monte in Bulacan.
Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade earlier said a joint manifestation has been filed before the Supreme Court to address the temporary restraining order obtained by SM Prime Holdings Inc. (SMPHI) on the common station.
In his speech during the groundbreaking ceremony, Tugade assured the public that the Duterte administration will finish the project.
“Wag po ninyo ako pasalamatan. Ang unang-unang dapat pasalamatan ay ang mga pribadong kumpanya na kung saan itinabi nila ang kanilang mga interes pang-kumpanya upang makiisa sa bayan,” he said.
“We celebrate as we groundbreak, but groundbreaking is one thing, finishing the project is another,” he added.
Last January, a memorandum of agreement was signed by Tugade, Public Works Secretary Mark Villar and Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) administrator Reynaldo Berroya with SMPHI, LRT-1 operator Light Rail Manila Corp., San Miguel Corp., which is building MRT-7, and North Triangle Depot Commercial Corp., to end the deadlock spanning nearly eight years for the common station.
The common station covers 13,700 square meters and will be located between SM North EDSA and Trinoma mall in Quezon City.
The DOTr said the common station is expected to be completed by April 2019.
Construction of the common station had been put on hold due to legal issues.
In 2014, the SMPHI obtained a TRO from the high court to prevent the then Department of Transportation and Communications from transferring the common station near Trinoma.
The SMPHI had entered into an agreement with the LRTA in 2009 to put up the common station in front of SM North EDSA.
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