Study on LRT 1 extension to Dasma completed soon

MANILA, Philippines - The government expects to complete the feasibility study on further extending the Light Rail Transit line 1 (LRT1) all the way to Dasmarinas in Cavite as part of the Aquino administration’s public-private partnership (PPP) scheme.

PPP Center executive director Cosette Canilao said the study would help determine the viability of stretching the government’s largest PPP project to Dasmarinas instead of Bacoor only. 

The Cavite extension project would increase the span of LRT-1 to 32.4 kilometers from 20.7 kilometers with a new south endpoint in Niog, Bacoor, Cavite instead of Baclaran. The extension project includes 10 stations, 10.5 kilometers of viaduct, support beams, and three intermodal facilities. 

The Cavite Extension System would be elevated and 1.2 kilometers would be at grade level serving nearly four million residents of Parañaque, Las Piñas, and the Province of Cavite. 

Canilao added that the study to further extend the mass transit system all the way to Dasmarinas would be completed soon as the rebidding for the P65 billion LRT1 Cavite extension project would push through as scheduled in April 28. 

She disclosed that another Spanish firm has expressed interest in participating in the rebidding of the government’s largest PPP project. 

A total of six groups led by the tandem of conglomerate Ayala Corp. and infrastructure giant Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) through Light Rail Manila Consortium, SMC Infra Resources Inc. of diversified conglomerate San Miguel Corp. (SMC), construction giant DMCI Holdings Inc., Malaysian-owned MTD Philippines Inc., Megawide Construction Corp., and Globalvia Inversiones of Spain have indicated interest in the tender.

The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) declared a failed bidding after only Light Rail Manila Consortium led by MPIC submitted the lone bid last Aug. 15 while SMC Infra, DMCI, and MTD Philippines pulled out of the process due to questions about the viability of the project.