Marcos orders DOTr to resolve LRT-1 Cavite extension right-of-way issues

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has directed Transportation Acting Secretary Giovanni Lopez to immediately resolve the right-of-way issues hounding the Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 1 Cavite Extension.

Palace Press Officer Usec. Claire Castro said this in a press briefing on Thursday, noting that the President wants the LRT-1 Cavite extension project to be finished as soon as possible to aid commuters, particularly those traveling in the south metro.

“Nais ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. na matapos ang LRT 1 Cavite extension para sa ikagiginhawa ng mas maraming mananakay, kaya ipinag-utos ni Pangulo kay Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez na resolbahin sa lalong madaling panahon ang isyu ng right-of-way at station sa nasabing Cavite extension ng LRT 1 na sasakop din sa pinaplanong Las Piñas station,” Castro said.

(President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. wants the LRT 1 Cavite extension completed to aid commuters, so the President ordered Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez to resolve as soon as possible the issues on the right-of-way and stations in the said project, which will also cover the proposed Las Piñas station.

“Matagal nang nakabinbin ang nasabing proyekto at hindi dapat ang taumbayan ang magdurusa sa pag-delay nito dahil lamang sa usapin ng right-of-way,” she added.

(The project has been pending for a long time and the people should not suffer from its delays just because of issues on the right-of-way.)

The Light Rail Transit Authority earlier committed that the entire stretch of the LRT1 Cavite Extension project should be completed before the Marcos administration’s end of term in 2028.

The Phase 1 of the extension project connects Baclaran Station in Pasay City to Dr. Santos Station in Parañaque City through these five new stations: Redemptorist-ASEANA Station, MIA Road Station, PITX Station, Ninoy Aquino Avenue Station, and Dr. Santos Station.

The Cavite leg or Phase 2 and 3 of the project includes the three remaining stations that have yet to be constructed, namely Las Piñas, Zapote, and Niog.

Castro said the P64.9 billion project was financed through a hybrid scheme of the national government, official development assistance from Japan, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and the private operator of the Light Rail Manila Corporation.

She clarified that the national government is not causing the project completion delays.

“Hindi po gobyerno ang dahilan ng delay sa pag-usap ng proyektong ito. Kaya sabay-sabay nating kalampagin ang iba pang stakeholders na makipagkaisa at makipagtulungan na huwag maging balakid sa mabilisang pagtatapos ng proyekto,” Castro urged.

(The government is not the reason for the delays in this project. So let’s all call on other stakeholders to unite and cooperate so that this project will get finished and will not cause further problems.)

“Ang dapat na mangibabaw ay ang interest ng mananakay at hindi ang interes ng ilang kumpanya o pulitiko,” she added.

(What should prevail is the interest of the commuters and not the interest of some company or politician.)

The Office of the Ombudsman is reportedly investigating the allegation that Senators Mark and Camille Villar are interfering in the alignment of the LRT-1 extension project.

The Villar siblings have denied the allegation and welcomed any investigation into the matter. — JMA, GMA News