It was finally confirmed that the Philippines and Japan will start designing the P227 billion worth Mega Manila Subway by November according to Socioeconomic Planning Secretary, Ernesto M. Pernia.

In a statement released by Pernia during a press conference in Quezon City last week, he claimed and we quoted:

Details of the project are set to be discussed on the next National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board meeting in early September.

So far, the government is finalizing the all the required documents for the contract signing with the Japan Prime Minster, Shinzo Abe.

The proposed Mega Manila subway was one of the rail projects that the Filipino and Japanese officials mutually agreed to tackle during a previous meeting in Tokyo last March.

In June, NEDA Deputy Director General Rolando G. Tungpalan claimed that there was already a draft feasibility study for the project.

The billions-worth project was introduced as the Mass Transit System Loop or the Light Rail Transit Line 5 back in the administration of former President Benigno Aquino III.

The underground mass railway will be a 24-kilometer stretch which will connect major business districts and government centers and is expected to serve at least 370,000 passengers a day.

The completion of the project is expected to be in 2024 according to Transportation Secretary, Arthur Tugade.