Old MRT-7 construction photo misused as unfinished QC infra project

A news card targeting Quezon City congressmen for allegedly misusing infrastructure funds uses an old photo of the MRT-7 construction to falsely depict an unfinished project in one of the city’s congressional districts.

The card posted on April 13 by the Davao City-based Facebook page Balitang Metro shows MRT-7’s construction site with the accompanying text:

Budget ng QC congressmen para sa imprastraktura, umabot sa bilyones — halos kalahati, hindi pa nakompleto o “unfinished” (The infrastructure budget of QC congressmen reached billions — almost half are not yet completed or unfinished)

The material misleadingly suggests that the project shown is still unfinished. In truth, it shows a portion of the MRT-7 project of San Miguel Corp. and the Department of Transportation, which would connect San Jose del Monte, Bulacan to North Avenue, Quezon City.

A Google reverse image search found the photo of the construction site for MRT-7’s station in Quezon City appeared in a Rappler article on Feb. 28, 2020.

Rappler photo editor Leanne Jazul told FactRakers that Jire Carreon took the photo during a DOTr site tour at the Quezon Memorial Circle on July 17, 2019.

Manila Bulletin published a similar photo on the same date.

The misleading graphic also incorporates a publication material originally published by Assortedge, part of an infographic based on the Department of Public Works and Highways’ Annual Infrastructure Program from 2022 to 2024. 

As of April 2025, uncompleted infrastructure projects across all six districts in Quezon City are said to amount to ₱14.3 billion. The news card features Arjo Atayde (District 1), Ralph Tulfo (District 2), Franz Pumaren (District 3), Marvin Rillo (District 4), Patrick Michael Vargas (District 5) and Marivic Co-Pilar (District 6) who are all seeking reelection in May.

Balitang Metro’s post has garnered around 1,500 reactions, 447 comments and 344 shares. (AC)