Manila Subway: Boring of East Avenue to Ortigas tunnel in full swing

Manila: The Metro Manila Subway Project (MMSP) is charging forward with full steam despite right-of-way (ROW) hurdles.

The tunneling is going strong, with several behemoth Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) busy digging underground across Manila.

The third TBM just kicked off work at the Camp Aguinaldo Station and is on track to reach Anonas Station in about six months, digging at a solid pace of 9 metres a day.

33-km subway

Overall, the subway will run 33 km with 17 stations, slicing travel time drastically across Metro Manila.

As of December 2024, about 18.24% of the entire subway construction was complete.

Transportation officials plan to eventually deploy up to 19 TBMs to speed up excavation and tunnel works.

Some of the early packages, like CP101 in the north, already successfully broke through tunnels using TBMs sustained by advanced continuous tunnel conveyors supplied by TERRATEC, which helped remove enormous amounts of excavated soil smoothly.

An armed forces official highlighted how the subway will not only ease congestion but also support emergency response by providing reliable mass transit access for soldiers and families.

Right-of-way snags

Despite the sparkle, the project timeline faces delays due to right-of-way (ROW) issues common in mega infrastructure projects in the Philippines.

Originally planned for partial operations by 2025 and full completion by 2027, these deadlines have been pushed back, with full operations now expected by 2029 or later, and partial operations anticipated around 2032.

The work sites — including massive pits with TBMs visible — are bustling in areas like Valenzuela and Quezon City, showing tangible progress on stations and tunneling.

Tunnel boring machines keep carving through Manila’s underground as the country’s first subway inches closer to reality, promising to revolutionize urban transport for over half a million daily commuters.

Steady progress, lots of TBMs digging deep, some delays due to ROW, but unmistakable momentum toward creating Metro Manila’s “crown jewel” of mass transit.

​After years of delays mainly due to RoW issues and the pandemic, full-scale construction activities picked up momentum in 2025.