President Marcos inaugurates LRT-1 extension; 5 new stations start operations

MANILA, Philippines — Five new stations of the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT 1) from Baclaran to Sucat in Parañaque City will start serving the riding public today.

President Marcos led the unveiling of the marker of the Dr. A. Santos station yesterday, which he cited as another milestone in making the country’s transport system “more seamless” and modernized.

“Our journey towards a more seamless and modernized public transportation system does not end here,” Marcos said in his speech. “We are committed to building station after station, reaching as far and as fast as our people’s needs dictate.”

The new stations under the LRT-1 Cavite Extension Project (L1CE) Phase 1 covers five stations: Redemptorist-ASEANA, Manila International Airport Road, Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange or PITX, Ninoy Aquino Avenue and Dr. A. Santos (formerly Sucat) Ave.

Among those who joined the President at the inauguration were Senators Grace Poe and Cynthia Villar, Parañaque Mayor Eric Olivarez, Metro Pacific Investments Corp. chairman, president and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan and economic affairs minister Nihei Daisuke of the Japanese embassy.

Marcos was among the first to try the new route.

The President and other guests alighted at the Redemptorist-ASEANA station.

With the completion of the new segment, LRT 1 can now serve an additional 80,000 passengers every day, according to Marcos.

“Commuters will now see a great reduction in their travel time, allowing them to spend more time with their loved ones,” he said.

Light Rail Manila Corp. (LRMC) general manager Enrico Benipayo said the new LRT 1 segment would reduce travel time from Quezon City to Parañaque City to less than an hour.

LRMC is the operator of the LRT 1. MPIC holds a majority stake in LRMC.

Marcos said he hopes Phases 2 and 3 of the project that would reach Bacoor, Cavite would be completed as soon as possible.

The Japanese government, through Official Development Assistance, is also supporting the construction of a rail yard and the introduction of new rolling stock on the LRT-1 extension.

Marcos vowed to fast-track the completion of other railway projects in the country, including the Unified Grand Central Station in Quezon City, the MRT 7 and the North-South Commuter Railway.

The President said the country should also take advantage of the Public Service Act that removes the 40 percent cap on foreign investment in railways to attract foreign investments in the transport sector.

He said the Public-Private Partnership or PPP hybrid model on L1CE serves as a perfect template for future investment.