Landowners affected by subway project received payment – DOTr

December 21, 2019

Several checks and deeds of absolute sale were distributed and signed on Saturday by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and landowners - marking the beginning of clearing works for the Metro Manila Subway Project (MMSP).

DOTr said landowners of those areas required for the underground subway project received checks as compensation and standard mode of payment. The recipients have previously agreed to the DOTr's offer to buy their lot.

Meanwhile, other landowners signed their deeds of sale which certify the transfer of their properties to the government for the construction of the underground subway.

According to DOTr Undersecretary for Railways Timothy John Batan, the land of the affected citizens were brought "based on the current market value as appraised by Land Bank."

He added that out of the 460 lots required for the project, 364 have been acquired and bought from the landowners. These includes the 211 landowners who have already accepted the deal and the 74 who are still completing necessary documents.

During the ceremony, testimonies of affected informal settlers were also presented.

About 178 of 183 total informal settlers that reside in the subway's path were relocated since the groundbreaking ceremony in February. From Barangay Ugong, the informal settlers were relocated to Barangay Bignay.

Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), one of the main partners of DOTr under Japan's Official Development Assistance to the Philippines, oversees the relocation program for the project.

JICA Senior Representative Kiyo Kawabuchi said they focus on the "delicate balance between the benefit of the country's infrastructure development and social and environmental cost of (the) project."

“This gathering today is the primordial trigger to be able to start the subway. That is why this gathering is important," Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said.

"There are no project which will be implemented if the issues in the project's path is not resolved. This day somehow signals the coming of the subway," he added. Cristina Eloisa Baclig/DMS