The Makati City government and a private consortium expect to begin construction of the $3.7-billion (about P200 billion) subway system in the country’s financial district in December.

The bidding process for the 10-kilometer underground train line will be completed next month, according to Mayor Abby Binay

In a statement on Thursday, Binay said the city government would not spend a single centavo on the project and only contribute land that it currently owns.

Linking key points

Scheduled to be finished in 2025, the intracity subway will have 10 air-conditioned stations and can accommodate more than 700,000 passengers daily.

Makati has a daytime population of around 4.5 million.

The future rail line will complement the other mass transport systems such as the Metro Rail Transit-3 on Edsa, the Pasig River Ferry System and the proposed Metro Manila Mega Subway.

City Hall sources said among the proposed locations for the stations are Ayala-Edsa, Ayala-Paseo de Roxas, Makati Fire Station, Makati City Hall, Rockwell, University of Makati, and Ospital ng Makati. They could still change subject to further negotiations.

PPP proposal

Binay said the unsolicited public-private sector partnership (PPP) proposal and draft joint venture agreement submitted by a consortium of foreign and local companies led by listed firm IRC Properties Inc. have been granted “original proponent status.”

The mandated Swiss challenge is scheduled to be completed on September 24, Binay said, adding that the Makati government invited other prospective bidders to make offers but the original proponent had the right to match the best offer.

‘Legacy’

Binay, who will be seeking reelection next year, said she wanted to make the subway her “legacy” before she steps down as mayor.

“This mass transport system is Makati’s most ambitious PPP project to date. It’s part of my vision to make Makati the country’s first digital city—a city that is future-proof, connected and innovative without losing its cultural heritage and identity,” she said.

According to an earlier Inquirer report, the IRC consortium includes the Greenland Holdings Group, Jiangsu Provincial Construction Group Co. Ltd., Holdings Ltd. and China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd. —DEXTER CABALZA