MRT-7 extension to 2 more Bulacan towns eyed

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is open to extending the construction of the Metro Rail Transit-7 (MRT-7) to two more municipalities in Bulacan.

During a hearing, DOTr Undersecretary for railways Cesar Chavez told the House committee on transportation that the railway could reach the populated towns of Santa Maria and Norzagaray.

Chavez was responding to a query of Bulacan Rep. Salvador Pleyto Sr. who asked if the government has the capability to serve the two towns, which are under his district.

Chavez cited three options for the proposal.

“The most realistic among these options is the possibility of extending the MRT-7. We can ask the MRT-7 developer to extend its project from San Jose del Monte to Norzagaray and Sta. Maria probably,” Chavez said.

He said the second option is to conduct “another study” – from the North-South Commuter Railway “to Balagtas connecting through your areas, which is also a densely populated area.”

“Third option, we can ask for PPP in the future,” Chavez said, referring to public-private partnership.

The MRT-7 is a proposal of the San Miguel Group under a PPP project amounting to P77 billion.

It involves financing, design, construction, operation and maintenance of the 23-kilometer elevated railway that will have 14 stations, connecting San Jose del Monte in Bulacan to the MRT-3 North Avenue station in Quezon City.