Cavite folk decry scrapping of LRT South Extension project

Trece Martires City , Philippines  – More than 20,000 Caviteños, including members of sectoral and non-sectoral groups, staged a rally in front of the provincial capitol here yesterday morning to protest a recent pronouncement by the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) scrapping the extension of the Light Railway Transit (LRT) Line 1 to Cavite.

The protesters signed a manifesto of support to the provincial government’s plea to President Arroyo, through the DOTC, to implement the long-overdue project.

In an interview, Gov. Ireneo “Ayong” Maliksi said he was dismayed over the scrapping of the project.

“This project was started when I was still mayor of Imus. When I became congressman I pursued this project. I visited the offices of the DOTC and the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) and pushed the approval of this project during the time of President Joseph Estrada,” he recalled.

Maliksi said he entered into a memorandum of agreement with the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) in support of the project. “When GMA became President, the implementation agreement was signed” he said.

Maliksi said traffic conditions in Cavite have turned from bad to worse in recent years, choking the socio-economic growth potential of the province due to the delay of this vital infrastructure and transport project. 

At least more than one million commuters travel to and from Manila daily, wasting at least two to three hours in traffic. 

“The construction of the LRT 1 South Extension to Cavite has been planned for more than a decade and has been promised time and again by President Arroyo in her yearly SONA and even during her visits to Cavite during the last nine years,” Maliksi said.

Maliksi said the LRTA has already acquired properties affected by the project’s alignment, including the site for the depot.

He added that the resettlement site for the affected families is now being developed and will be ready in about four months, thus the decision to scrap the project came as a shock to Caviteños. 

Earlier, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan issued a resolution urging the President to keep her promise to Caviteños and explain why the sudden decision to scrap the project.

The LRT Line 1 South Extension project involves an 11.7-kilometer line connecting the existing line southward from Baclaran to Bacoor, traversing Parañaque, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa and Bacoor town in Cavite. 

In planned future extensions, Imus and Dasmariñas towns will also benefit from the project, Maliksi said.