Once upon a time, Makati envisioned a sleek, underground subway system to ease traffic and connect major city spots. But as of 2025, that dream has officially hit the brakes. Here’s why it failed—and what else is happening in the country’s transit scene.
1. A bold vision with big promises
In 2018, Makati partnered with Philippine Infradev Holdings to develop a $3.5 billion subway—spanning 10 kilometers with 10 underground stations. It was designed to carry up to 700,000 passengers daily and was scheduled to be operational by 2025. At the time, it was hailed as a pioneering move in Philippine urban transport.
2. Territorial tensions threw a wrench in the works
The big twist came in 2023, when the Supreme Court ruled that several barangays previously managed by Makati—including Cembo, Pembo, and West Rembo—actually belonged to neighboring Taguig. Problem is, those areas were vital to the subway’s route, housing its depot and multiple planned stations. Without jurisdiction, Makati lost control over major parts of the project.
3. Economic viability took a hit
Mayor Abby Binay later admitted that the loss of the Embo barangays cut off access to around 300,000 residents. That drastically reduced the subway’s projected ridership, making the multi-billion peso project financially unsound. A shorter route with fewer users just didn’t justify the investment anymore.
4. Financial fallout for the developer
Philippine Infradev Holdings took a serious blow. In 2023, they reported a staggering ₱44 billion impairment loss—₱5 billion due to unfinished construction and ₱39 billion tied to the now-unusable project rights and plans. The Makati subway became a major cautionary tale for public-private partnerships.
5. A glimmer of hope?
Despite shelving the original plan, Makati says it’s still exploring other ways to improve city transport. New public-private discussions are ongoing, though there’s no firm replacement yet for the scrapped subway.
Other subway and urban rail projects in the Philippines
1. Metro Manila Subway
This is the country’s first official subway, led by the Department of Transportation. Stretching 33 kilometers from Valenzuela to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), the project is under construction and expected to open partially by 2029. It’s backed by a ₱488 billion loan from Japan.
2. MRT-7
Currently under construction, this line will connect North Avenue in Quezon City to San Jose del Monte in Bulacan. The 22-kilometer elevated rail is targeted for partial operations in 2025.
3. Mindanao Railway Project
This is the first major rail project outside Luzon. Phase 1 will connect Tagum, Davao, and Digos, with future extensions planned to reach other parts of Mindanao. The project is delayed but still active.
4. North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR)
The NSCR is a massive 147-kilometer project that will link New Clark City in Tarlac with Calamba in Laguna. This project includes the revived PNR Clark and PNR Calamba segments and is expected to boost intercity travel.
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