The PHP488 billion Metro Manila Subway is unlikely to be completed within the expected timeline, with partial operations projected for 2032 in the Philippines. Right-of-way issues have delayed the project, with expropriation and subterranean land cases being the only exceptions. While the government would push for progress, even opening a single station before 2028 would be difficult.
A legal opinion from the DOJ ruled that the Right-of-Way Act prevails over international loan agreements, affecting the subway, NSCR, and LRT-1 Cavite Extension. Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) guidelines require full compensation for displaced individuals before demolition, conflicting with local laws allowing staggered payments. The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has also faced opposition from private landowners and government agencies, delaying the awarding of remaining subway contract packages.
