Makati Subway Project Faces Uncertainty Amid Territorial Dispute

The ambitious P200-billion Makati City Subway project is facing significant challenges and has been deemed no longer economically and operationally feasible. This difficulty is primarily due to a territorial dispute between Makati and Taguig, which has resulted in a Supreme Court ruling altering the project’s landscape.

The Supreme Court’s 2022 decision placed several subway stations and the train depot under Taguig’s jurisdiction. The original plans for the 11-kilometer subway, which aimed to serve approximately 700,000 riders daily, have been disrupted by this ruling. The private contractor, Philippine Infradev Holdings Inc., has suspended construction activities since 2023 and has initiated international arbitration proceedings with the Singapore International Arbitration Centre to resolve the joint venture agreement with the Makati City government.

Makati Subway Project

The original subway plan included 10 stations strategically located throughout Makati. However, the Supreme Court’s ruling meant that five stations and the train depot would fall under Taguig’s ownership, making the project economically unviable for Infradev.

Makati Mayor Abby Binay has stated that the city government is open to the arbitration process. She also mentioned ongoing negotiations with another group for a potential monorail project as an alternative. Senator Alan Peter Cayetano clarified that Taguig was never formally consulted about the subway project, while Senator Ramon Revilla Jr. expressed hope for a resolution between Makati and Taguig to allow the project to proceed.

The future of the Makati Subway remains uncertain. The arbitration process will be crucial in determining the next steps. The resolution will affect not only the involved parties but also the commuters who anticipated benefits from this infrastructure project.