Train track engineers and laborers continue working on the Metro Rail Transit 7 along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City on July 8, 2023, after a brief respite from the heat due to the sudden downpour in parts of the city. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

MANILA (UPDATED) -- The MRT Line 7 will be partly operational by the fourth quarter of 2025, a Department of Transportation (DOTr) official said Tuesday.

Transportation Assistant Secretary for Railways Jorjette Aquino said the MRT-7's Quezon City portion, which consists of 12 stations, will be up and running towards the end of next year. 

Meanwhile, the Tala Station in Caloocan City will be completed by 2026.

Aquino said they hope the construction of the 14th station in San Jose del Monte in Bulacan can be finished by 2027 once alignment issues are resolved. 

The city government of San Jose Del Monte earlier proposed 3 alternative route alignments for the project.

MRT-7 may be delayed after LGU proposes route changes: DOTr

In a statement, Mayor Arthur Robes said the current plan had current and future traffic implications, and would affect the quality of living, as well as disrupt the delivery of essential services, among others.

Aquino said the DOTr, together with the private sector proponent San Miguel Corporation, will conduct a joint site inspection of these proposed realignments this June.

"After that inspection, inaasahan namin na ang San Miguel ang magkakaroon ng ridership study sa bawat option at bawat alignment para mai-presenta nila sa DOTr at makipagbigay sila ng recommendation nila kung ano sa tingin nila yung magiging mas beneficial sa mga pasahero," she said.

(After that inspection, we expect San Miguel to come up with a ridership study for each option and each alignment that they can present to the DOTr along with a recommendation of what they see as the most beneficial (route) for passengers.)

Aquino noted that one of their main considerations is accessibility.                     

"Siyempre tinitignan natin yung convenience ng pasahero. Malapit ba ito sa mga transport terminals? Para mas madaling mapuntahan," she said.

(Of course, we’re looking at what will be convenient for passengers. Will it be near other transport terminals? So that it will be easily accessible.)

Aquino added that should there be adjustments to the location of the station, it would not be too far off from the original plan.

"Hindi naman siguro totally maiiba, still within the area. Yung exact location lang e siguro magkakaroon ng displacement ng 100 meters," said Aquino.

(It probably will not be totally changed, it will still be within the area. But as to the exact location, there may have to be a displacement of about 100 meters.)

"Kung makapag-decide tayo for the location of San Jose Del Monte, hopefully by 2027, makakapag-operate yung Station 14," she added.

(If we can decide on the location in San Jose Del Monte, hopefully by 2027, we can start operations for Station 14.)

The construction of the 22-kilometer rail is 69.86 percent done as of May 2024. Once completed, it is expected to reduce travel time from Quezon City to San Jose Del Monte to just 35 minutes.

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