NEDA OKs LRT 1 Cavite extension

MANILA, Philippines - The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board approved yesterday the P60-billion extension of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 1.

“We’ll start bidding in several weeks,” Transportation and Communications Secretary Manuel Roxas II tweeted yesterday. He could not be reached as of press time for more details on the project.

NEDA deputy director general Rolando Tungpalan said in a telephone interview yesterday that the project will extend the rail line 12 kilometers, from Baclaran to Bacoor, Cavite. The LRT 1 currently runs from Roosevelt, Quezon City to Baclaran.

“This project is going to be structured along those lines, along a (public-private partnership) model,” he said.

Roxas said earlier that once completed, the line will serve about 40,000 passengers per day.