Philippines breaks ground on Metro Manila Subway NAIA link

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. led the groundbreaking ceremony for a new segment of the Metro Manila Subway Project (MMSP) on September 16, 2026. The ceremony focused on the 2.413-kilometer stretch linking Taguig and Pasay, specifically the construction of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 Station.

The new station is planned to be built beneath the airport’s open parking lot and will serve as the southern terminus of the line. Once completed, the subway is expected to significantly reduce travel time between Valenzuela City and NAIA Terminal 3 from approximately 90 minutes to roughly 40 or 41 minutes.

The P488.48-billion project is financed by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Construction for this specific segment is targeted to begin in October 2026. The overall subway system, which includes 33.103 kilometers of underground tunnels, is expected to be fully operational by the third quarter of 2031.