THE mass transit system will remain the ultimate cure in easing traffic in the country’s urban centers. Metro Manila takes the lead as the bulk of its 13-million population rely mainly on public transport to get to their destination.
Aside from public conveyances like buses, taxis, jeepneys and new players collectively known as TNVs, the metropolis also leans heavily on both the MRT and LRT railways for mobility.
On the forefront of revolutionizing the mass transport movement for the longest time is San Miguel Corp., whose multiple road networks highlighted by skyways around the metropolis have triggered wonders in making travel largely hassle-free.
Not content with building world-class expressways in its tireless efforts at nation-building, SMC has also ramped up its mass railway transport systems over the years.
Its latest is the Metro Railway Transit 7. Began in 2016, the 22-kilometer line from North Avenue in Quezon City to San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan, is more than 54 percent complete.
Costing more than P63 billion, the MRT 7 is among SMC’s biggest infrastructure projects that include the P735-billion Aerocity Airport in Bulacan.
When completed, the MRT 7 train line can carry 1.2 million passengers daily, back and forth, cutting surface travel time by almost two hours and sparking more productive time for manufacturing in particular and the labor force in general.
Already, the first batch of train cars from Korea’s Hyundai Rotem are expected to arrive this week. The cargo will consist of six cars, or two trainsets.
Each trainset is 65.45 meters long, well over the entire length of an Olympic-size swimming pool, which is 50 meters.
The rest of the 108 coaches of 36 trainsets are to arrive in the coming months for the expected test runs by December 2022.
“The timely arrival of these brand new, high-quality trains from South Korea—known as one of the world’s best train and rail systems builders—is such a welcome development,” said SMC President Ramon S. Ang. “Despite the pandemic, nation-building continues. San Miguel will continue investing for economic growth to sustain our country’s hopes of a brighter future.”
Ang said the MRT 7 is more difficult to build than the just-completed Skyway 3.
“This is because MRT-7 has added complexities such as electric power systems, computer and communications systems, signaling systems, and automatic fare systems, among others,” Ang said. “Despite right of way issues and pandemic restrictions, we apply 110 percent effort to minimize delays. We thank our national government, especially President Duterte, the DOTr, the DPWH, and the LGUs of Quezon City and Bulacan, for their continuing support for this project.”
Let’s raise a glass to RSA. He has proven himself as an irrepressible partner of nation building.
PEE STOP Honda, like other car companies Isuzu, Foton, BMW and Toyota, also continues to extend help to pandemic-related concerns. Honda recently donated Covid-19 packs to Laguna hospitals, namely The Medical City South Luzon and New Sinai MDI Hospital in Santa Rosa; Global Care Medical Center in Canlubang; Unihealth Southwoods Hospital and Medical Center and Perpetual Help Medical Center in Biñan; Global Care Medical Center in Cabuyao; and, Carmona Hospital and Medical Center in Carmona, Cavite…Congrats to Mitsubishi for launching recently its iconic Mirage G4. Cheers!