President Marcos on Friday inaugurated Phase 1 of the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) Cavite Extension Project in fulfillment of a forward-looking infrastructure and transportation development vision that was first pitched in the late 1990s.
Phase 1 of the LRT-1 Cavite Extension covers five new stations—Redemptorist-ASEANA, Manila International Airport Road, Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange, Ninoy Aquino Avenue, and Dr. Santos.
During the inauguration ceremonies in Parañaque, Mr. Marcos highlighted the project’s importance, citing the new stations’ expected capacity of 80,000 additional passengers daily, reducing the travel time between Baclaran, Pasay City, and Bacoor, Cavite, from 70 minutes to just 25 minutes.
It is envisioned to serve up to 650,000 passengers daily by 2028.
The chief executive acknowledged the contributions of his predecessors—Presidents Joseph Estrada, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Benigno Aquino III, and Rodrigo Duterte—each of whom played a role in advancing the LRT-1 extension.
“This project spans five administrations. We owe this progress to their dedication,” he said.
The extension marks one step in the Marcos administration’s commitment to expanding rail infrastructure.
The President emphasized ongoing projects like the MRT-7, the North-South Commuter Railway, and the Metro Manila Subway Project, which aim to create a more seamless transport experience for millions of Filipinos.
“Our journey towards a more seamless, modernized public transportation system does not end here,” Mr. Marcos assured.
“We are committed to building station after station, reaching as far and as fast as our people’s needs dictate,” he added.
The President acknowledged that the long-term nature of these projects means some will extend beyond his administration.
It can be recalled that the project, with a reported price tag of almost P65 billion, suffered cost overruns by an estimated two to three billion pesos as a result of construction delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and pending right-of-way issues.
Despite the many obstacles, the first test run along the extension was successfully conducted using an LRTA 1100 class train on December 19, 2023.
Following the unveiling, Mr. Marcos toured the new Dr. Santos station and took a brief train ride, symbolizing the beginning of service for the new phase, which opens to the public on Saturday, Nov. 16.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline “Marcos opens LRT-1 Cavite Extension stations.”
