The San Jose del Monte Station remains part of the MRT-7 project and has not been removed from the rail line’s approved alignment, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said.
The clarification came after reports claimed that only 13 stations would proceed, down from the original 14.
The DOTr said operations for the first 12 stations, from Sacred Heart to North Avenue, are still targeted to begin by the second quarter of 2027 as part of efforts to fast-track major transport projects for commuters.
The remaining Tala and San Jose del Monte stations are expected to be completed and opened to the public in 2028.
The agency earlier said it was considering redesigning the San Jose del Monte Station instead of relocating it, following a proposal from the local government of San Jose del Monte, Bulacan.
The 22-kilometer MRT-7 line will run through 14 stations: Quezon North Avenue Joint Station, Quezon Memorial Circle, University Avenue, Tandang Sora, Don Antonio, Batasan, Manggahan, Doña Carmen, Regalado, Mindanao Avenue, Quirino, Sacred Heart, Tala, and San Jose del Monte.
Once fully operational, the railway is expected to cut travel time between Quezon City and San Jose del Monte to about 35 minutes and serve around 300,000 passengers in its first year.
The project will also include an intermodal transport hub and a 19-kilometer highway linking San Jose del Monte to Bocaue, Bulacan.