MANILA, Philippines — The Quezon City government suspended the construction of a portion of the Metro Rail Transit-7 (MRT-7) being done at the Quezon Memorial Circle (QMC) Station, because the structure is supposedly encroaching the park’s integrity.

In a statement, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte said she has ordered a temporary cease and desist order on the above-ground construction of the MRT-7 QMC Station after experts said the infrastructure is affecting the surface of the QMC, which is a historical landmark.

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“We put a temporary stop to the construction of the QMC station because it would affect the landmark’s identity as a national heritage park,” Belmonte said.

“We want to look for a win-win solution that would protect our open spaces while advancing the welfare of thousands of commuters who will benefit from the mass transport project,” she added.

The QC mayor said they also sought a review of the MRT-7 construction after they found out that it exceeded the proposed floor area.

“The contractor indicated 4,997 square meters as its floor area. However, the proposed floor area is more than five times the approved figure,” she said.

She said the local government is already coordinating with the Department of Transportation, San Miguel Corporation, National Housing Authority and other stakeholders for guidance in the construction.

The MRT-7 project, which started in August 2016, is now over 50 percent complete. Once completed, the train is expected to cut travel time between Quezon City and Bulacan from two hours to 34 minutes.

Edited by EDV

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