FROM EDSA TO MARILAO PASSING THRU MESA DAM Gov’t to develop -B MRT 7

The national government will fasttrack the construction of the $1.4-billion Metro Rail Transit (MRT) 7.

The proposed 20-kilometer MRT 7 will run from EDSA to Marilao, Bulacan and will pass through La Mesa Dam reservoir, Fairview, Batasan, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Philcoa and EDSA-Quezon Avenue.

Transportation and Communications Secretary Leandro Mendoza underscored the viability and importance of the MRT 7 railway project by citing the more than a million commuters that the line will serve when completed.

"The railway will provide a more efficient and safer alternative mode of transportation for people and goods," Mendoza explained.

The development of MRT 7 is in support of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s agenda to modernize and to make sure efficient mass transport systems in the country.

On the other hand, DoTC Assistant Secretary Robert Castañares said that the vital part of the project is the establishment of a rail-bus transfer hub in Novaliches that would connect Line 7 to MRT 3 in EDSA and eventually LRT Line 1.

The project was proposed by a consortium of local and foreign groups to former Finance Secretary Roberto de Ocampo.

The proponent firms are El International Holdings of Hong Kong’s El Group of Companies, the Yuchengco family’s EEI Corp. and TCGI Engineers.

Also members of the consortium are US firm Tyco International Co. Ltd., through the local unit Earth Tech. and Alstom of Finance represented by its subsidiary Alstom Philippines.