The Makati Intra-city Subway is an planned underground rapid transit line to be located in Makati, Metro Manila, that will link establishments across the city's business district. It will be built under a public-private partnership program between the Makati City Government and a private consortium, led by Philippine Infradev Holdings. Proponents of the subway are expected to begin construction by December 2018, and Makati MayorAbigail Binay projects completion by the year 2025. The subway will cost $3.7 billion and is expected to accommodate 700,000 passengers daily. It will also have ten stations, with connections to the existing Line 3, the Pasig River Ferry Service, and the approved Line 9.
History
Early planning
Preparatory work officially began on December 12, 2018, following a ceremonial drilling ceremony at the front of the Makati City Hall, which is near the site of one of the proposed stations of the subway. The signing of the memorandum of understanding between the Makati City Government and a consortium consisting of Philippine Infradev and Chinese firms Greenland Holdings Group, Jiangsu Provincial Construction Group Co. Ltd., Holdings Ltd. and China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd was also held on the same day. Preparatory work included soil testing and feasibility studies of the proposed locations for the subway line's stations. As of June 2019, the locations of 8 out of the 10 proposed stations have been finalized. The two proposed stations along Ayala Avenue are yet to be finalized due to "non-response" from its owners. The proponents have stated that they may divert the subway towards PNR Buendia Station or the Mile Long property in Legazpi Village instead. In the interim, the first station would be in the current location of the Makati Central Fire Station, which will be demolished, then towards a Lucio Tan owned property near Circuit Makati,and Makati City Hall. The remaining stations would be located near Century City, Rockwell Center, Makati Bliss Housing in the Guadalupe area, University of Makati, Cembo and the final station will be in the vicinity of Ospital ng Makati. By July 2019, soil testing related to the subway was completed and the Philippine Infradev and the Makati City Government signed a joint venture agreement regarding the project. As of October 2019, the plan to move the terminus of the line to the Mile Long property being redeveloped by the national government along Amorsolo Street has been finalized. Favorable soil test results and the route diversion meant that the cost of the project might go down to as low as $2.5 billion. A joint venture with Megaworld Corp. was formed to build a common station located in Guadalupe for the subway system and for the planned SkyTrain. In a disclosure to the stock exchange, the Philippine Infradev wholly owned subsidiary, Makati City Subway Inc. has received the term sheet from Megaworld. The joint venture will build access and connections to the Line 3 Guadalupe Station and the Pasig River Ferry. Philippine Infradev executed an agreement with China Construction First Group Corp. Ltd. to build a transit-oriented development. Under the agreement, CCFG is responsible for the construction, materials, manpower, equipment and other requirements to complete the project, according to Infradev. Construction will last for 42 months.
Construction
Actual construction of the subway is yet to begin. A tunnel boring machine from China to be used in building the subway is expected to be delivered by December 2019. Philippine Infradev Holdings, Inc. received an environmental clearance from the Department of Environmental and Natural Resources and is looking to begin construction before the year ends. If pushed through, the subway may be completed at 2024, a year ahead of schedule. On July 23, 2020, land acquisition for the project has begun with 55 land owners being given ₱1,000,000 each as initial pay for selling their lots to Makati Subway, Inc. The owners will be later given a grand total of ₱1.18 billion.
Fares and ticketing
The upcoming line will use a distance-based fare structure and will be charged 20% to 25% higher than the fares of Line 1 and Line 3. A 25 percent premium will bring the subway's rate to about ₱38 for 10 stops.
Expansion
In the aftermath of the 2019 elections, Antonio Tiu, President of Philippine Infradev has stated that he is open to initiate and enter a similar partnership deal with Makati's neighboring cities for the expansion of the subway system. The cities of Manila, Mandaluyong, San Juan, Pasay, and Pasig were specifically mentioned by Tiu. With the finalized move of the terminus to the Mile Long property, Tiu has started negotiations with the Calixto siblings, Mayor Emi and Congressman Tony, of Pasay to extend the line up to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, which is only three kilometers away from Mile Long and is slated for redevelopment.
