PROJECT HUB. GSIS President and General Manager Wick Veloso (second from left), MMDA chairman Romando Artes (left), DOTr Assistant Secretary Leonel Cray De Velez (third from left), and Quezon City Assistant City Administrator Alberto Kimpo (right) discuss milestones and next steps for Project HUB at the GSIS main office in Pasay City on Dec. 18, 2024. Project HUB is a directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to establish an intermodal transport facility on a three-hectare GSIS property in Quezon City by 2026 as part of administration’s innovative infrastructure solutions to address Metro Manila’s worsening traffic condition. (Photo courtesy of GSIS)

MANILA – An intermodal transport facility is expected to rise on a three-hectare property of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) located at the corner of the Elliptical Road and Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City by 2026.

GSIS President and General Manager Arnulfo Veloso said the initiative, known as Project HUB, is a directive from President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., who has prioritized innovative infrastructure solutions to address Metro Manila’s worsening traffic condition and improve connectivity.

“Guided by President Marcos’ directive, we have a unique opportunity to transform the GSIS Quezon City property into a strategic transportation hub that will improve daily commutes, addressing mobility issues with innovative, inclusive and sustainable solutions,” Veloso said Monday in a news release.

He reported that just recently, the GSIS hosted a quadripartite meeting with officials from the Department of Transportation (DOTr), Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), and the Quezon City local government to discuss milestones reached towards the realization of Project HUB, including the next steps for 2025.

Representatives from the Presidential Management Staff (PMS) were also in attendance during the Dec. 18 meeting to oversee the President’s instruction, he said.

“The meeting highlighted the collaborative efforts of four government entities to ease traffic concerns, enhance mobility, and support economic development in Quezon City and nearby areas,” Veloso added.

He said the agenda included updates on the Project HUB’s Terms of Reference from the DOTr and exchanges among stakeholders to refine the project’s details to include the immediate operation of a temporary transport facility by next year while the more detailed study and plan for the permanent transportation hub is being done.

“Collaboration is the foundation for this very important project. Together, we are not just building a transport hub –we are laying the groundwork for progress and drive our nation forward,” Veloso said.

He said the meeting concluded with all parties reaffirming their commitment to advancing the project as it aligns with the administration’s vision of sustainable and innovative infrastructure solutions sooner rather than later.

Aside from Veloso, also present during the meeting were MMDA chairman Romando Artes, DOTr Assistant Secretary Leonel Cray De Velez, PMS Director Joanna Micah Eufemio, and representatives from the Quezon City government. (PNA)