THE Department of Transportation (DoTr) on Thursday said it is prioritizing negotiations when dealing with right-of-way concerns for major rail projects like the Metro Manila Subway Project (MMSP).

DoTr Undersecretary for Rails, Jeremy Regino, said that expropriation will only be considered a last resort if negotiations with affected property owners fail to come to an agreement.

"We have now shortened the negotiation process. If there will be no agreement, we will have to file expropriation proceedings but without prejudice to continue with the negotiations," Regino said.

Regino joined Transport Secretary Jaime Bautista during the latter's inspection of the MMSP's Tunnel Boring Machine initial drive at the railway system's North Avenue Station on Thursday.

He emphasized that expropriation of property is not a forced occupation but rather "just compensation."

The DoTr official added that once the government is granted a writ of possession, "it does not bar the continuation and conclusion of a successful negotiation."

"We are doing our best to convince property owners, all things considered, that their concerns are already factored in," he said.

Nevertheless, Regino noted that the Metro Manila Subway's completion is still well within the DoTr's 2029 target.

The first underground railway in the country, the MMSP, is a 33-kilometer railway system that will connect Valenzuela City to Pasay City with a spur line at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 in Parañaque City.

Once operational, the subway is expected to reduce travel time from Valenzuela to NAIA from 1 hour and 30 minutes to 35 minutes, servicing 519,000 passengers daily.

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