By Darwin G. Amojelar
The Department of Transportation said Thursday the Light Rail Transit Line-1 Cavite Extension Project is near completion after almost 20 years.
Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said the overall progress rate of the project reached 61.60 percent as of November 2021.
It said the LRT-1 Cavite Extension was first approved by the National Economic and Development Authority on Aug. 25, 2000, and recieved a budget from Congress in 2007 for right-of-way acquisition.
It said after catching up on right-of-way acquisition and its free and clear certification, and addressing a number of unresolved issues and constraints, the department, along with the Light Rail Transit Authority and Light Rail Manila Corp. started actual construction works.
LRMC earlier said it was expecting the LRT Line 1 Cavite Extension project to start operations by the middle of 2024.
LRMC said Phase 1 of the 11.7-kilometer project was 60-percent complete, with girder now covering the entire stretch of Dr. Santos Station to Pacific Ave. near Asiaworld Station.
Phase 1 covers 7 kilometers including the Redemptorist Station, MIA Station, Asiaworld Station, Ninoy Aquino Station and Dr. Santos Station.
The remaining stations between Las Piñas and Niog are scheduled to become fully-operational by 2022.
Once completed, the extension is expected to reduce travel time between Baclaran and Bacoor, Cavite to just 25 minutes, from 1 hour and 10 minutes and increase LRT-1’s capacity from 500,000 to 800,000 passengers daily.
LRMC won the bidding for the project and took over the operation of LRT Line 1 on Sept. 12, 2015. LRT Line 1 runs from Baclaran in Pasay City to Munoz in Quezon City.
