LRT-1 extension commitments should move to actual construction

MANILA, Philippines — Commitments regarding the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) Cavite extension should move toward actual construction as the new stations have been long-awaited by people who seek faster and more efficient transportation modes, Las Piñas Rep. Mark Anthony Santos said.

In a statement, Santos said that the funding allocated to the LRT-1 Cavite Extension Project for 2027—P1.17 billion—should ensure that people from the southern part of Metro Manila and its adjacent towns would soon benefit from the new stations.

The P1.17 billion is higher than the P799.64 million given to the project in 2026.

Article continues after this advertisement

“This is welcome news for the people of Las Piñas and the entire southern Metro Manila area. Additional funding means we are giving this long-delayed project a stronger push toward completion,” Santos said.

For the LRT-1 extensions, two stations remain unconstructed—one in Las Piñas and another in Cavite. However, hopes that the stations will be built soon came after the Villar Group of Companies agreed to the agency’s terms for the construction of the Las Piñas station.

During the House of Representatives’ committee on appropriations hearing on the proposed 2027 budget of the Department of Transportation (DOTr), Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez reported this development, a week after saying that his agency will meet with the Villar Group regarding its donation of six parcels of land where Las Piñas station is expected to be built.

The agreement is expected to be signed by Thursday, September 10.

READ: DOTr: Villar group agrees to terms on LRT-1 Las Piñas station construction

Article continues after this advertisement

These commitments, Santos said, must now turn into actual construction.

“The people of Las Piñas and our neighboring communities have waited long enough. We must now turn these commitments into actual construction and finally deliver the transportation relief our commuters urgently need,” Santos said.

Article continues after this advertisement

READ: DOTr: LRT-1 Cavite extension to move forward if Villars spurn offer

Under the 2027 National Expenditures Program prepared by the executive branch, the DOTr gets a funding boost, receiving P197.3 billion for the country’s rail transport program in 2027—thrice the allocation given in 2026.

Of the P197.3 billion, the Rail Transport Program will get P141.96 billion, which Santos said is a 256.54-percent increase from the P55.34 billion provided under the 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA).

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.

Your subscription has been successful.

Santos also thanked President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his administration for recognizing the urgency of completing the project, which was stalled by several issues, including lockdowns brought by the COVID-19 pandemic. /cb