The ₱64.9-billion Light Rail Transit (LRT)-1 Cavite Extension, which was delayed for two decades, has registered a 57 percent overall progress rate as of last month, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) today (July 20) reported.
The LRT-1 Cavite Extension was first approved by t
The NEDA Investment Coordination Committee approved the project on August 25, 2000 and the NEDA Board gave it the green light on January 22, 2002.
The Right of Way (ROW) acquisition started in 2007, with Congress giving budget for the project.
Based on the 4th attempt to implement the project and its 3rd NEDA Board approval in 2013, ROW acquisition for Phase 1 should have been completed in April 2015, Phase 2 in August 2015, and Phase 3 in March 2016.
However, when the Duterte Administration came in July 2016, none of the ROW was certified as "free and clear" by the project's independent consultant.
After expediting the acquisition of ROW for Phase 1 in 2019, the DOTr, together with the Light Rail Transit Authority and the Light Rail Manila Corporation, started building the railway.
Now, it is almost 60 percent complete.
Once it ioerates, the rail line will reduce travel time between Baclaran and Bacoor, Cavite from one hour and 10 minutes down to 25 minutes and is projected to increase passenger capacity from 500,000 to 800,000 daily.
In addition, the project generated more than 1,600 jobs during its construction phase, with more to be created once it becomes operational.