By Wilnard Bacelonia
MANILA – Senators Ramon Revilla Jr. and Alan Peter Cayetano on Friday called for a resolution to the PHP200-million Makati City subway impasse, a project now deemed by the private contractor as not economically and operationally feasible due to the territorial dispute with Taguig City.
Philippine Infradev Holdings Inc., the project’s private partner, announced this week that the subway venture had become untenable, citing uncertainties around financial and operational feasibility after a 2021 Supreme Court ruling awarded several villages of Makati, some of which are part of the subway alignment, to Taguig.
Revilla, in a Viber message to journalists, described the development as “unfortunate,” citing its impact on residents who had long hoped for improved mass transportation.
He urged the local governments of Makati and Taguig to work together to salvage the project, which was launched in 2018 under a public-private partnership led by the Makati government.
The project’s complications may stem from contractual obligations made prior to the High Court’s 2021 ruling, he said, citing that these preexisting commitments might now be inequitable for Taguig to assume without compensation.
“At the end of the day, this is a contractual matter between the local government of the City of Makati and its chosen builder. We are hoping for a resolution benefitting the public,” he added.
Cayetano, whose family has long held leadership roles in Taguig, clarified that the city was never consulted about the project and has not opposed it.
“There has never been a dispute from Taguig’s side. In fact, we were never formally consulted about it to begin with,” he said.
He echoed concerns over the project’s suspension, saying it had potential to ease Metro Manila’s urban mobility issues.
“Taguig has always been open to projects that provide real benefits to the public and this includes the proposed subway,” he said. (PNA)
