President Marcos said that Filipino commuters will now see a great reduction in travel time in Metro Manila as he led the inauguration of the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) Cavite Extension Project (L1CE) Phase 1, marking a significant milestone in modernizing the transport system in the Philippines.

In his speech on Friday, Nov. 15, the President said the additional stations— Redemptorist-ASEANA, MIA Road, Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX), Ninoy Aquino Avenue, and Dr. Santos— will serve as vital access points for many, many commuters across Metro Manila, Cavite, and other neighboring areas.

"With the Phase 1 completion, the LRT-1 will have the capacity to serve an additional 80,000 passengers every day, significantly enhancing our current ridership," he said, noting that the average daily ridership of the LRT-1 is 320,000 individuals.

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

In an interview following the inauguration, Marcos told reporters that the L1CE Phase 1 will commence operations at 5 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 16. However, he nixed the idea of offering free rides to commuters to celebrate the opening of the five new stations.

"Hindi operated kasi ng government ito, eh. Kaya kailangan pang bayaran ang utang (This is not operated by the government. We need to pay our debt first)," he said.

Still, he invited the commuting public to ride the new train line.

"Hinihikayat ko lahat ng ating mga commuter, subukan ninyo at makikita ninyo napakaginhawa kumpara sa traffic na nararanasan natin araw-araw (I invite our commuters to try it out and experience the convenience it offers as compared to traffic we undergo daily)," the President said.

"Napakalaking mabibigay na ginhawa at mas mabilis. Makakapag-save ng time, at simple lamang ang pagsakay ng tren. Nasanay na rin naman ang mga commuter natin kaya subukan niyo lang itong bagong train line (It gives us great comfort and is faster. We'll save time and it's easy to ride the train. The commuters are used to riding the train so try out the new train line)," he added.

The five new stations of the LRT-1 will add six kilometers to the transit line, extending the total alignment of LRT-1 to 26 kilometers. This will allow passengers to traverse the alignment from Pasay City to Parañaque City in less than an hour, reducing travel time by 30 minutes. It is expected to accommodate an additional 300,000 daily commuters in the first year of its full operations.

With more passengers taking the LRT-1, it is seen that the traffic situation in the southern part of Metro Manila will improve.

During the event, President Marcos led the unveiling of the marker of the Dr. Santos station in Parañaque. He also boarded the train and alighted at the Redemptorist-ASEANA station in Pasay City.

Thanking predecessors

Meanwhile, President Marcos acknowledged his father, the late former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., for initiating the construction of Metro Manila’s first urban rail transit system.

"On this day, no one is happier than his son in seeing that his father’s foresight is being validated by another work that expands mass transit that he had built for the people that he loved," he said in his speech.

The President expressed his appreciation for his predecessors, acknowledging their efforts in advancing the L1CE project.

"The L1CE Project has been a long time in the making—spanning five administrations, starting with President Estrada, to President Arroyo, President Aquino, President Duterte, and now, to mine," he said.

"We owe this progress to the hard work and dedication of my predecessors; we must recognize their roles in helping make this dream a reality," he added.

Fast-track rail projects

In his speech, President Marcos vowed to fast-track the completion of railway projects to bring prosperity to the country's transport system and economy.

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

Marcos said the government should leverage the Public Service Act to remove the 40 percent cap on foreign investment in railways to attract foreign investments in the transport sector.

The President added the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) hybrid model on the L1CE Project serves as a template for future investments.

"With these in mind, we are pursuing more transportation projects. For the LRT-1 Cavite Extension, hangad ko na matapos ang natitirang tatlong istasyon hanggang Bacoor, Cavite sa lalong madaling panahon (I wish to complete the remaining three stations until Bacoor, Cavite, at the soonest time possible)," he said.

"Ukol sa Unified Grand Central Station sa Quezon City na magsisilbing terminal kung saan magtatagpo ang apat na linya, hangad ko na agaran itong magkukumpleto (I also wish to immediately complete the Unified Grand Central Station in Quezon City that will serve as the terminal where all four train line will meet)," he added.

Aside from these projects, Marcos expressed his intention to immediately complete the MRT-7— which covers Quezon City to Bulacan— that promises a 35-minute travel time to and from both ends to around 300,000 passengers.

He said he was also excited to receive an invitation for the opening of the first phase of the North-South Commuter Railway.

However, President Marcos recognized that some ongoing transport projects may not be completed within his leadership as these long-term endeavors extend beyond administrations.

"This is the nature of railway development and any large-scale development: this is not a short-term endeavor. It requires patience, persistence, and passion and commitment that extends beyond immediate timelines," he said

Partners

Before concluding his speech, President Marcos extended his gratitude to the people behind the success of the L1CE Phase 1 Project completion, particularly the Department of Transportation (DOTr).

He also thanked the Light Rail Manila Corp. and the financial stakeholders and contractors for providing the public with a safe and reliable transport system.

"If ease of travel is key to prosperity, then it is in the railways that we find the drivers for growth," Marcos said.

"When we connect our hubs and our heartlands through a reliable, efficient transportation system—a people’s system accessible to all—we foster a truly inclusive and connected nation," he added.