DOTR: 90 percent subway  right-of-way cleared

THE Department of Transportation (DOTR) has acquired a total of 90.76 percent right-of-way (ROW) and properties for the Metro Manila Subway Project (MMSP) as of December 2025, while clearing at least 56 percent of land for free and buildable right-of-way for the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) System north segment.

President Marcos Jr. has directed the DOTr to speed up the acquisition of land for the Metro Manila Subway Project and NSCR for the immediate benefit of thousands of commuters.

According to Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez, the acquired ROW properties for MMSP in February 2025 was only at 51 percent, while settling only percentof land acquisition for the NSCR North segment.

“Noong 2025, talagang banner year para sa right-of-way natin dahil mas binilisan pa natin ang land acquisition para agad na mapakinabangan ng mga komyuter itong subway at NSCR,” Lopez said.

Under the leadership of former DOTr Secretary Vince Dizon and incumbent Secretary Lopez, the DOTr has addressed MMSP’s major bottlenecks, including Varilla Properties, and properties in White Plains, Corinthian Gardens and Metrowalk.

The DOTr has accelerated the right-of-way and site acquisition (ROWSA) process through several key initiatives, including the appointment of Assistant Secretary for ROWSA IC Calaguas who oversees the acquisition of necessary lands for these projects.

The agency likewise augmented its ROWSA personnel from 200 to 900 to expedite the land acquisition process, while also holding capacity building and training programs to enhance workforce knowledge and skills.

The number of acquired properties under Secretary Dizon and Secretary Lopez for NSCR’s north segment increased substantially to 1,143 as of December 2025, from 38 parcels only in February 2025.

Secretary Lopez said that with its current progress, the DOTr can complete ROW acquisition for NSCR’s north segment by mid-2026.

For the south segment of NSCR, four out of the 19 stations ROW are now cleared namely EDSA, Cabuyao and Sta Rosa in Laguna and Banlic depot.