NAIA Terminal 3: Direct Subway Link Transforms Manila Transit

President Marcos Jr. breaks ground on the Metro Manila Subway’s NAIA stretch, propelling national connectivity forward.

NAIA Terminal 3: Direct Subway Link Transforms Manila Transit

By Jerome Aning – TheNATIONWEEK.com | September 16, 2026

MANILA, Philippines – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday (Sept. 16) led a pivotal moment in Philippine infrastructure, breaking ground on Contract Package 109 (CP109) of the Metro Manila Subway Project (MMSP). This launch marks the immediate construction of a dedicated underground connection directly serving Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3.

“Building a subway beneath a dense and highly developed city is no simple task. That is why CP109 will also introduce advanced engineering methods to the Philippines. Its tunnels will require the underpinning of existing expressway piers, the first application of this technology for tunnel construction in the country,” Mr. Marcos said during the groundbreaking ceremony for the future NAIA Terminal 3 station in Pasay City.

“Proven in Japan, this method will help ensure that construction can proceed safely beneath existing infrastructure while maintaining structural integrity,” he added.

The President also noted that one hundred percent of the station-area right-of-way has already been secured, allowing construction to move forward with greater certainty.

“This progress reflects the cooperation of government, the private sector, and all our other development partners,” he said.

The 2.413-kilometer subterranean railway segment, a crucial link between Taguig City and Pasay City, will feature an integrated underground station meticulously engineered beneath NAIA Terminal 3’s existing open parking facility.

With an approved total project cost of Php 488.48 billion, financed by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the expansive 33.103-kilometer subway line is poised to fundamentally transform capital transit. Anticipated travel time between Valenzuela City and NAIA Terminal 3 will dramatically decrease from over 90 minutes to just 41 minutes.

“Every minute saved on the road is time spent with loved ones, time to better ourselves, and time to be more productive citizens. That is what projects such as the Metro Manila Subway must ultimately deliver,” Mr. Marcos added.

The NAIA Terminal 3 Station, a cornerstone of the nation’s inaugural underground railway, boasts a substantial gross floor area of 19,179.50 square meters. Projections indicate this terminal link will serve approximately 70,000 passengers daily by 2035, increasing to an estimated 74,000 daily by 2045.

The complete Metro Manila Subway system, engineered for high-speed operation with 30 eight-car trainsets reaching speeds of up to 80 kilometers per hour, targets full operational completion by the third quarter of 2031.