MANILA - The proposed Metro Manila subway has been approved by a body chaired by President Rodrigo Duterte, one of his economic managers said Wednesday.

Construction on the P355.6-billion subway, one of the centerpieces of the President's P8-trillion infrastructure program, will begin early next year, said Socioeconomic Planning Sec. Ernesto Pernia.

• Mega Manila subway to partially open within Duterte term

Pernia said the subway would "significantly improve" transportation in the capital, where an estimated P2.4 billion is lost everyday due to traffic jams.

The subway, partly funded with aid from Japan, will run from Mindanao Avenue in Quezon City to Food Terminal Inc. in Taguig and may be extended to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.