The construction of the first five stations in Cavite as part of the extension of the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) remains on track, an official said on Tuesday, Oct. 10.
Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC) President and CEO Juan F. Alfonso said the progress rate for the project has reached 82.7 percent as of March 2023, for both civil and rail system works since it started the construction in September 2019.
Alfonso said they expect the completion of the five Cavite stations by fourth quarter of 2024.
He added that traffic in Metro Manila will continue to improve as more railroads are installed.
However, Alfonso said the right-of-way remains to be the greatest hurdle for railway construction.
“But the private sector and the government are cooperating to resolve right-of-way issues,” he said.
To date, the LRMC has invested more than PHP30 billion to construct the Cavite extension and update the LRT-1's current systems.
The 11.7-kilometer, 8-station LRT-1 Cavite Extension Project will connect Baclaran in Parañaque City to Bacoor, Cavite. The project is a joint venture of the DOTr, the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA), and LRMC.
Once fully operational, the LRT-1 Cavite Extension Project is expected to service up to 800,000 passengers per day and cut travel time from Pasay City to Cavite from an hour and a half to just 25 to 30 minutes.
The remaining stations between Las Piñas and Niog are set to open in 2027. (Trixee Rosel)