President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. pledged over the weekend that the country’s first subway system will begin operations before he leaves office in 2028.

Marcos made the announcement during a political gathering in Batangas province, presenting the long-delayed Metro Manila Subway as a symbol of progress and modernization.

“Bago po ako matatapos bilang Pangulo, magkakaroon na tayo ng subway dito sa Pilipinas. Iyung subway, ‘yung tren na dumadaan sa ilalim ng lupa. Ngayon nakikita po natin, dati nakikita lang natin sa sine iyan. Meron na po tayo dito sa Pilipinas niyan,” Marcos said.

The 33-kilometre underground line, which will connect the cities of Valenzuela in the north to Parañaque in the south, began construction in 2019 under then-president Rodrigo Duterte. But progress has been slowed by pandemic-related disruptions and ongoing right-of-way issues.

Despite Marcos’ assurances, Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon recently signaled a more cautious outlook, stating the subway may only become partially operational by 2032—four years beyond Marcos’ term.

Funded by a loan agreement with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the subway aims to ease chronic traffic in Metro Manila, a region routinely ranked among the world’s most congested urban areas.

The project also features advanced Japanese tunneling technology, which Marcos has touted as part of his administration’s infrastructure drive.

The President’s remarks come as public frustration mounts over persistent transport bottlenecks, with renewed calls for more decisive action on long-overdue infrastructure upgrades.