Cavite extension of LRT pressed

Tourism groups have urged the Arroyo administration to start and fasttrack the construction of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) to Cavite to boost tourism in the province, whose potentials have not been fully developed.

The south extension project, a joint venture of the Light Rail Transit Authority and SNC-Lavalin Intl. of Canada, will extend the existing LRT to Parañaque City, Las Piñas City and Bacoor, Cavite. Eventually, the rail system will be extended to Imus, then to Dasmariñas, Cavite.

The Travel Cooperative of the Philippines (TCP), the country’s first cooperative of tourism-related groups, said the province has several historical, natural and religious attractions which could make it a major destination for tourists, domestic and foreign.

"The sad part, however, is that domestic tourists and foreign visitors are not flocking to Cavite because of the problem of accessibility and the horrendous traffic," TCP said.

Imus, which has many historical sites, is just more than seven kilometers away from Baclaran, but travel time to the place from Pasay City takes from two to three hours because of the heavy traffic.

"With the proposed LRT, it will just be a 30-minute ride from Baclaran to Imus," the group said.