After weeks of negotiations and debates, the Corinthian Gardens Association, Inc. (CGAI), representing over 300 elite residents of one of Metro Manila’s most exclusive areas, agreed to grant easements to the government for the Metro Manila Subway Project.
After weeks of negotiations and debates, the Corinthian Gardens Association, Inc. (CGAI), representing over 300 elite residents of one of Metro Manila’s most exclusive areas, agreed to grant easements to the government for the Metro Manila Subway Project. The residents settled for ₱222.2 million ($3.83 million) in compensation rather than face a prolonged legal battle with possible no compensation due to changes in the law.
On September 28, CGAI members voted to sign a “deed of easement” with the Department of Transportation (DOTr), allowing the construction of one of the 17 new subway stations within their gated community. This deal covers five road lots and one open area necessary for the country’s first underground rail system.
The agreement comes shortly after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed the Accelerated and Reformed Right-of-Way (ARROW) Act (Republic Act 12289) into law. The ARROW Act modifies prior right-of-way legislation to expedite land acquisition for crucial infrastructure projects, ending cash compensation for easements. The Corinthian residents chose to act before the law’s effective date to secure their compensation.
CGAI successfully met the required quorum with at least 318 positive votes during a special membership meeting, balancing the risks of litigation delays against the certainty of compensation.
The subway’s CP103 tunnel boring machine has begun tunneling an 850-meter stretch passing beneath Corinthian Hills and Corinthian Gardens at depths between 19 and 39 meters, affecting 69 private parcels.
The $9-billion, 33-km Metro Manila Subway Project, connecting northern Metro Manila to Ninoy Aquino International Airport, is expected to commence partial operations in 2028 with full completion in the early 2030s. The Corinthian Gardens deal marks a crucial step to keeping the project on schedule.
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