DoTr still negotiating MRT-4 funding with ADB — Usec Batan

THE Department of Transportation (DoTr) said it is still in discussions with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for the funding of the Metro Rail Transit Line 4 (MRT-4).

“The discussions with the ADB are still ongoing for the (funding). Remember that the project is going to be ADB-funded, we are still in talks with them,” Transportation Undersecretary for Railways Timothy John R. Batan said in a recent interview.

The department earlier said that it is expecting higher cost for the construction of MRT-4 from the earlier approved cost of only P59 billion after it abandoned the originally proposed monorail format to a metro rail configuration.

According to the ADB website, the construction of MRT-4 is expected to begin by the second quarter of 2027 and will be completed by the first quarter of 2031. The rail line is expected to reach full operations by the fourth quarter of 2031.

ADB said the project is now at the preliminary engineering design stage for some sections while detailed engineering design stage on the other sections of the alignment.

The proposed MRT-4 project will run for about 14 kilometers, with 10 elevated stations and a depot from the Epifanio de los Santos Avenue-Ortigas Avenue junction to Taytay, Rizal. It will have 10 stations.

Once operational, the MRT-4 is expected to serve more than 400,000 passengers daily, the DoTr has said. — Ashley Erika O. Jose