LRT Cavite line progresses 50%

As of 30 June 2021, the current phase of the project already has a 57 percent overall progress rate

Construction of the P64.9-billion Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT1) Cavite Extension Project is more than halfway complete as of end-June, the Department of Transportation (DoTr) said Tuesday.

“As of 30 June 2021, the current phase of the project already has a 57 percent overall progress rate,” the DoTr said.

The transportation department noted that substantial progress was reached after “expediting the acquisition of right of way (RoW) for Phase 1 of the project.

Pre-pandemic, operator Light Rail Manila Corporation and DoTr scheduled the start of the partial operability of the train line by the last quarter of 2021.

LRT-1 Cavite Extension, a public-private partnership venture, aims to add an 11.7-kilometer Baclaran-Bacoor, Cavite segment to the existing 18.1-kilometer train line.

The new stretch will have eight stations.

1st phase covers 5 stations

The partial operability section is comprised of Phase 1 of the project which includes five stations — Redemptorist, MIA, Asia World, Ninoy Aquino and Dr. Santos.

The last three stations — Las Piñas, Zapote and Niog — are targeted to be completed and operational by 2022.

Once completed, the rail line will reduce travel time between Baclaran and Bacoor, Cavite from one hour and 10 minutes down to 25 minutes only. Train ridership is also projected to increase from 500,000 to 800,000 daily.

LRT-1 Cavite Extension, a public-private partnership venture, aims to add an 11.7-kilometer Baclaran-Bacoor, Cavite segment to the existing 18.1-kilometer train line.

“In addition, we were able to generate more than 1,600 jobs during its construction phase, and we expect more job opportunities for the Filipino people once it becomes operational,” the DoTr said. The LRT-1 Cavite Extension was first approved by the NEDA Investment Coordination Committee on 25 August 2000. It was first given the green light by the NEDA Board on 22 January 2002. RoW acquisition started in 2007, with Congress giving a budget for the project.

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF DOTR DEPARTMENT of Transportation Secretary Art Tugade stepped in mid-2016 to fast-track right of way acquisitions of the first phase of the LRT-1 Cavite Extension which is proceeding quickly and is now 50 percent complete.