DOTC eyes start of LRT-1 extension project this year

Transportation and Communications Secretary Leandro Mendoza said the Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 1 extension project from Baclaran, Parañaque City to Bacoor, Cavite could start within the year if there will be no challengers to the bid of Canadian firm SNC Lavalin International Inc. to undertake it.

In an interview, Mendoza said that the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) may be able to undertake the multi-billion project’s public offer for a "Swiss challenge" by September and that work on it could start by November.

"Its going to undergo Swiss challenge. We’ll be completing the documentation by September. And then we’re going to offer it for a Swiss challenge. By November, we’ll start the construction," Mendoza told reporters.

The original proponent for the LRT-1 extension project is Canadian firm SNC-Lavalin International Inc. which had submitted to the government an unsolicited proposal for it several years ago.

The extension project was delayed when the government and SNC Lavalin were embroiled in a legal argument involving the undertaking of a Swiss challenge for it.

The government insisted on its necessity while the Canadian firm asserting otherwise.

A Swiss challenge would allow other interested parties to submit their own bid for the project.

The LRTA (Light Rail Transit Authority) and SNC-Lavalin inked a joint venture agreement for the project on Sept. 4, 2000. The government proposed that the joint venture be submitted as an unsolicited proposal under the Build-Operate-Transfer Law.

Following this development, the government and SNC-Lavalin came up with a settlement agreement. Under this agreement, a portion of the civil works of the project will not be put up for public bidding but will be undertaken directly by SNC-Lavalin.

The LRT-1 extension will cover approximately 11.7 kilometers, of which 10.5 kms will be elevated. It will include eight new passenger stations and will have provision for two additional stations. The extension will be physically connected to and integrated with the existing LRT-1, which runs from Caloocan to Baclaran to have a continuous system and allow the trains to run from Caloocan to Cavite.

The LRT-1 extension would have an electromechanical system and 48 trains that will be compatible with those of the existing LRT line to allow trains to operate seamlessly throughout the integrated system.

The LRT-1 extension is envisioned by the government to have a second phase spanning from Bacoor to Dasmariñas in Cavite. Including the second phase, the entire LRT-1 extension is targeted to be completed in five years.