by: Kaye Magno

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (center), along with Valenzuela LGU led by Mayor WES Gatchalian (right most), Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Jaime Bautista (center right), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Chief Representative Sakamoto Takema (left most), and the Special Assistant to the President, Mr. Antonio Lagdameo Jr. (center left) attend the Launching of the Metro Manila Subway Project’s Tunnel Boring Machine, on its depot in Barangay Ugong, Valenzuela City, January 9, 2023. The Metro Manila Subway can accommodate up to 519,000 passengers per day in its first year of operation and is estimated to open in 2028. (Kaye Magno, Photo/Text)

by: Kaye Magno

Valenzuela City Mayor WES Gatchalian welcomes everyone to the Metro Manila Subway Project depot in Barangay Ugong, Valenzuela, on January 9, 2023. The Tunnel Boring Machine launch was graced by His Excellency Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Department of Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista, Embassy of Japan in the Philippines Deputy Chief Matsuda Kenichi, and other representatives from Japan. The subway project is a 33-kilometer rail line that will stretch from Valenzuela City to Parañaque City, reducing travel time between Quezon City and NAIA from one hour and 10 minutes to just 35 minutes. (Kaye Magno, Photo/Text)

by: Kaye Magno

Valenzuela City Mayor WES Gatchalian along with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. led the launching of the tunnel boring machine for the Metro Manila Subway Project in its depot in Barangay Ugong, Valenzuela City, January 9, 2023. The Metro Manila Subway is a 33-kilometer rail line that will stretch from Valenzuela City to Parañaque City, reducing travel time between Quezon City and NAIA from one hour and 10 minutes to just 35 minutes and is expected to open in 2028. (Kaye Magno, Photo/Text)