"Before and Before": TriNoma–SM North Walkway Upgrade Raises Eyebrows

(SPOT.ph) Walking should be one of the simplest ways to get around, but pedestrians in the Philippines know better. One moment you’re squeezing past parked motorcycles, the next you’re stepping into heavy traffic because the sidewalk has suddenly ended. Even well-used pedestrian paths can be dark, crowded, and poorly maintained.

Case in point: the walkway connecting TriNoma and SM City North EDSA in Quezon City. After the original bridge between the two malls was dismantled to make way for the MRT-7 and the North Triangle Common Station, commuters had to use a ground-level path exposed to the elements and prone to flooding. In December 2025, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) committed to building a covered walkway to make the route more comfortable for pedestrians.

And now, the agency says the upgrade is complete. In a Facebook post on Friday, October 16, the DOTr shared photos of the newly completed walkway.

Let's just say not everyone was impressed by the big reveal.

Also read: Common Station to Start Partial Operations in Early 2028, According to DOTr

The DOTr’s post showed several side-by-side photos meant to highlight the improvements: a freshly paved concrete path, a corrugated roof, barriers, and lighting for easier nighttime use. 

However, commuters taking a closer look at the images weren’t quite convinced the changes amounted to much. Even though the walkway does have new additions, many commenters questioned the extent of the improvements, especially given the time that had passed since the project was announced in 2025.

It didn’t take long for the DOTr's Facebook post to draw thousands of reactions and comments—and very few had something good to say.

"Before and before yarn?"

"Pinost niyo pa hahahaha"

"Yan na yun? Tapos na yan? Sure na kayo?"

"Pakipost din how much budget for that"

Following the backlash, DOTr Secretary Giovanni Lopez addressed the criticism during the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines’ infrastructure forum. He explained that the DOTr did not have funds for the project, to the point where he had even appealed to San Miguel Corporation (SMC), the company behind MRT-7, for help through its corporate social responsibility initiatives.

"You know what I did? I have to admit. Nakiusap ako sa MRT-7, sa SMC. Wala akong pondo dito," Lopez said.

He also pointed to the walkway as an example of the funding challenges that the transport sector faces. Without help from private companies, he said, the government would find it harder to carry out such projects.

"If we have to be commuter-centric, dapat ito ang bigyan natin ng pansin," Lopez said.

The walkway is also expected to connect to the upcoming Common Station, which will serve passengers transferring between MRT-3, LRT-1, and MRT-7.

Also read: MRT-7’s First 12 Stations Will Be Operational by Mid-2027, According to DOTr