AS the traffic situation in Metro Manila has become a nightmare worse than that of the grim scenario painted in Elm Street, the completion of the Metro Manila Subway — the planning and construction of which has spanned three administrations and is seen extending to the next — is viewed as providing some sort of relief. It should be noted that the lack of reliable mass transportation is seen as one of the major contributing factors in the worsening of the traffic situation.
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is targeting to conduct a demo run of the Subway by the first quarter of 2028 covering the initial segment in northern Metro Manila from East Valenzuela to Quirino Avenue.
Well and good. However, seemingly unbeknownst to most people, including those at the helm of the DOTR now, there seems to have been a slight alteration in the original plan. Specifically with the planned Anonas station. Slight but with a potential major catastrophic impact.
According to sources, the original plan for the Metro Manila Subway’s Anonas Station, was the construction of an underground station near Anonas Street in Quezon City, specifically beside the World Citi Colleges, which would be adjacent to the LRT 2 Anonas Station, and for which it is designed to be directly connected.
However, based on the ongoing construction, it was diverted to several blocks away from the original proposed site, making its accessibility to commuters coming from Aurora Boulevard somewhat problematic.
And worse, it is being constructed underneath a creek, with the entrance above the same creek which has been covered with structures, hiding it from plain view. Sources said the easement of the creek has been illegally titled and distributed to informal settlers occupying the area some years back.
The construction of the subway’s Anonas Station is in itself violative of a number of laws.
Construction on top of a creek in the Philippines is illegal under Republic Act 2056, which prohibits unauthorized structures on public waterways, streams, and rivers, subjecting violators to fines and imprisonment. The Water Code of the Philippines (PD 1067) mandates 3-meter (urban) to 40-meter (forest) easements from bank edges, strictly limiting construction near waterways.
This also violates the Climate Change Act (RA 9279) and Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act (RA 10121 which mandate hazard mapping and no-build zones in areas prone to flooding or landslides. Creeks in high-risk areas may have expanded setbacks up to 50 meters or more, based on geohazard assessments by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB). For example, after typhoon Ondoy in 2009, many LGUs adopted wider buffers to reduce flood vulnerabilities.
The following laws may have also been violated:
– RA 1958 which specifically prohibits the construction of dams, dikes or any other works on public navigable waters or waterways. Violations are punishable by imprisonment (6 months to 6 years) and fines;
– PD 1067 (Water Code of the Philippines): Establishes legal easements along river/creek banks — three meters for urban, 20 meters for agricultural and 40 meters for forest areas — where building is prohibited;
– e-NIPAS Act (RA11038): Empowers the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to demolish structures built within the 40-meter easement of waterways in protected areas; and
– The National Building Code of the Philippines (RA 6541): Regulates and often restricts building permits for structures that obstruct natural waterways.
So, what are the possible consequences of the construction of the Anonas subway station on top of a creek?
It is a time bomb waiting to happen. A few years ago, there was an incident in China where many commuters in a subway station died because they were drowned when the station was flooded. The location of the Anonas Station is on top of a creek and what happened in China can similarly happen here. The surrounding electric poles with painted depth meters is evidence to the fact that the creek can swell rapidly with heavy rains and overflow its banks, resulting in sudden flash floods.
If the situation is ignored, it will result in a chaotic flooding in all areas it is connected to. The residents that will be affected by this scenario will unknowingly be the victims. And future subway commuters using the Anonas station who will literally be walking into a death trap.
If my recollection is correct, even Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte has already aired her concern regarding this matter.
But then, why was the original plan altered? The sources revealed that the construction of the Anonas subway station deviated from the original proposed site allegedly to effectively avoid a property owned by a giant property developer which is being primed to be developed into a residential condominium.
I believe the DOTr and even Congress, with its oversight function, should look into this matter. I have personally visited the proposed Anonas subway station and it appears it is indeed being constructed above the creek. This is a disaster waiting to happen.
