THE Department of Transportation (DoTr) and power giant Manila Elector Co. (Meralco) on Thursday sealed a crucial partnership, ensuring uninterrupted electricity and reliable service for the Metro Manila Subway, the country's first-ever underground railway.

The partnership, according to Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista, will guarantee commuters uninterrupted power and reliable service from the railway system.

"I would like to thank Meralco for your support as this agreement will help the Metro Manila Subway a step closer to reality," Bautista said during the signing of the Switching Station Agreement with Deeds of Usufruct between the DoTr and Meralco.

Under the Switching Station Agreement with Deeds of Usufruct, the transport agency will provide Meralco with a switching station area of 1,743 square meters for the interconnection of the Metro Manila Subway to the energy provider's distribution network.

Once the DoTr grants lot allocation, Meralco will finance, install, operate and maintain the required facilities within the switching station for the Metro Manila Subway interconnection.

The DoTr expects to complete the first segment of the subway by 2027 and full operations by 2029.

Works are ongoing for the 36-kilometer Metro Manila Subway Project (MMSP). With 17 stations, the P488.5-billion project is expected to reduce travel time between Valenzuela City and Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 from one hour and 30 minutes to 35 minutes.

Serving around 370,000 passengers a day is anticipated in its first year of full operations, with capacity to serve up to 1 million passengers a day in later years.

The MMSP is physically interconnected and interoperable with the North-South Commuter Railway System's (NSCR) south segment, enabling a passenger to board a subway train, for example, in North Avenue Station of MMSP in Quezon City and get off at the Calamba Station of NSCR in Laguna.