The partial operation of the Light Rail Transit (LRT)-1 Cavite extension is expected to begin in the fourth quarter of this year as the rail project’s first phase is now 98.2 percent completed, according to the Department of Transportation (DOTr).
In a statement Friday, June 7, DOTr Secretary Jaime J. Bautista said the LRT-1 Cavite extension will include five stations – Redemptorist Station, MIA Station, Asia World Station, Ninoy Aquino Station, and Dr. Santos Station – which will all be operational “by year-end.”
Once the five Parañaque stations are operational, Bautista said an “affordable and comfortable mobility option that is accessible to other transport hubs” will be available to commuters.
“The LRT-1 Cavite project will contribute to easing the traffic. With the operations of the project, maraming makaka-connect sa PITX (a lot of commuters will be connected to the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange). I think, that will help many passengers, as well as to the airport. With this, it will really improve accessibility and comfort to the riding public,” Bautista said.
The transport chief inspected the Dr. Santos Station in Parañaque where he explained that the the station’s intermodal connectivity will also give passengers other modes of transportation, such as modern jeepneys, tricycles, UV Express, as well as buses.
“With the intermodal setup, mas maraming choices ang mga passengers. Magkakaroon rito ng jeepney, possible buses, UV express, and even motorcycle taxis. Maraming options ang mga passengers,” he said.
Bautista was accompanied by Department of Finance (DOF) Secretary Ralph Recto, Parañaque City Mayor Eric Olivarez, Parañaque 1st District Rep. Edwin Olivarez, Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chair Romando Artes, and other transport officials.
Also present during the inspection were DOTr Assistant Secretary for Railways Jorjette Aquino, Public Works Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral, Light Rail Manila Corp. (LRMC) President and CEO Jose Ma. K. Lim and General Manager Enrico Benipayo, Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) Administrator Atty. Hernando Cabrera, and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Chief Representative Takema Sakamoto.
Recto pointed out that the opening of the rail line will be beneficial to small enterprises around the area, adding that it will ease traffic in the southern part of Metro Manila.
“Bibilis yung commuting time, makakabawas tayo sa gasolina na inaangkat natin so malaking bagay ‘yun sa gobyerno natin (The commuting time will be faster, and this will lessen the gasoline that we are importing so it’s a big help for our government),” the finance chief said.
Once fully operational, the LRT-1 Cavite Extension Project will reduce travel time from Baclaran in Parañaque to Bacoor, Cavite to 25 minutes.
The 11.7-kilometer rail extension is expected to increase its ridership from 500,000 to 800,000 passengers.