LRT-1 Cavite extension Phase 1 88% complete

MANILA, Philippines —The Light Rail Manila Corp. (LRMC) is close to completing the initial segment of the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) Cavite extension project.

As of June, LRMC had finished 88 percent of the first phase of the project. It aims to operate the new line by the fourth quarter of 2024.

LRMC president and chief executive officer Juan Alfonso said the completion rate covers project design and procurement processes, civil works as well as testing and commissioning.

The first section of the project adds five stations to LRT-1, extending the railway to Sucat in Parañaque.

It accounts for more than half or 6.7 kilometers of the 11-km expansion of the rail line to Cavite.

The LRMC said it has completed 59.8 percent of the Redemptorist station next to Baclaran station.

At least 66.8 percent of the Manila International Airport station has been completed; 54.6 percent of the Asia World station that will be linked to the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange; 59.3 percent of the Ninoy Aquino station and 71.1 percent of the Dr. Santos station,  the last stop in the first segment of the project.

“With this latest progress, LRMC remains optimistic it will complete the construction of LRT-1 Cavite Extension Phase 1 project by the fourth quarter of 2024,” Alfonso said.

He said the LRMC has yet to receive any of the right of way (ROW) needed for the second and final segments of the project.

The remaining portions of the extension will expand LRT-1 to Cavite, adding the Las Piñas, Zapote and Niog stations.

“We are waiting to hear from the department because (the ROW) was supposed to be turned over to us in one go. Their agreement to us is when they turn it over, it is free and clear,” Alfonso said.

The LRMC had spent an extra P4 billion for the civil works of the Cavite line of LRT-1 due to delays caused by the COVID pandemic.

Initially estimated to cost P64.92 billion, the LRT-1 Cavite Extension project will reduce travel time between Pasay City and Cavite to 25 minutes.

The project is estimated to increase the daily ridership of the railway to 800,000. –  Ghio Ong