The P64.9-billion Light Rail Transit (LRT)-1 Cavite Extension, which was delayed for two decades, is 61.60 percent complete as of December 2021, according to the Department of Transportation (DOTr).
**media**
The National Economic Development Authority (NEDA)- Investment Coordination Committee ( ICC) approved the LRT-1 Cavite Extension project in 2000 and Congress gave it a budget allocation for right-of-way acquisition in 2007.
However, as of June 2016, not a single post has been built, and not a single train has even been ordered, said DOTr. Worse, no required right-of-way has been certified "free and clear" by the project's independent consultant, it added.
In 2019, after catching up on right-of-way acquisition, as well as addressing a number of unresolved issues and constraints, the DOTr, together with the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) and Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC), started actual construction works for the project.
Once completed, this extension will reduce travel time between Baclaran and Bacoor, Cavite to 25 minutes, from one hour and 10 minutes.
It will also increase LRT-1's capacity from 500,000 to 800,000 passengers daily.
In addition, the project generated more than 1,600 jobs during its construction phase, with more to be created once it becomes operational, said the DOTr.