Cosette Canilao, head of the public private partnership (PPP) Center, said in Manila on 18 March 2014 that among the projects to be presented to drum up interest from stakeholders is the Mass Transit System Loop, a 12km underground rail that will connect Bonifacio Global City, Makati Central Business District, and the Mall of Asia in Pasay City.
Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya earlier said a feasibility study on the subway line would be financed by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Canilao said the DOTC forum ‘Invest Transpo PH’, will target infrastructure and construction companies, airport operators, rail operators, and financing companies and aims to highlight investment opportunities under the PPP program of the Aquino administration.
"The DOTC will conduct a market sounding for the rest of the airports and some of the rail projects that they are doing right now," she said.
The forum will be held on 20 March 2014.
A JICA study showed that at least 200km of railroad and over 100,000km in road network are needed to address the congested metropolis.
With Metro Manila’s rapidly urbanising cities, the DOTC plans to implement the project to improve inter-city linkage by providing a higher capacity public transportation system that would facilitate fast and convenient mobility of goods and services.
Given Metro Manila’s current infrastructure, it was also determined that the rail line of approximately 12km would need to run mostly underground, making this the first subway in the country.
