LRT-1 Las Piñas station to proceed

MANILA, Philippines — The long-delayed construction of the Light Rail Transit 1 (LRT-1) Las Piñas station will finally begin, as the Department of Transportation (DOTr) yesterday cleared with the Villar Group of Companies issues on the donation of lands.

Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez said the Villar Group has agreed to the DOTr’s non-negotiable conditions for the donation of land where the station would be built.

He said the Villar Group agreed to grant unconditional permit to enter, to waiver subrogation against the government and cancel the mortgage on the properties to be donated.

The Villars are donating six parcels of land for the construction of the second phase of the LRT-1 Cavite Extension. However, two of the parcels for donation are mortgaged.

“This agreement will benefit the commuting public, which is our top priority. The DOTr expresses gratitude to the Villar Group of Companies for their cooperation to expedite this process,” Lopez said.

According to Lopez, the Villar Group had said that it would take six months to process the cancellation of the mortgage on the two land parcels, which measure about 4,990 square meters.

Enrico Benipayo, Light Rail Management Corp. president, stressed the government’s urgency in providing relief for passengers as thousands would have been affected if the construction of the Las Piñas station would not push through.

“On the side of the Villars, there’s a good sign that they’re talking to the grantors in good faith. With this milestone, I think a major huddle has been finished,” Benipayo said.

Lopez previously warned the Villar Group that building the Las Pinas station might be skipped if they disagreed with the terms.

DOTr said construction may begin next year after further necessary agreements are finalized and signed this month.