Work starts on Light Rail extension to Cavite. Eight new stations along the 11.7 Km extension. Extension will be operational by 2021.

Mass rail.

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The much awaited extension of the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) to Cavite province kicked off finally.

Construction on the project began at last and sent a sigh of relief through the officials concerned.

As such, the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) extension to Cavite province will be ready soon. The private sector consortium declared yesterday that the extended track will start operations in early 2021.

The ceremony

The project was flagged off in the presence of Arthur Tugade, Transportation Secretary Thursday in Barangay San Dionisio, Parañaque City on Thursday. Officials of Light Rail Manila Corp (LRMC) also attended the ceremony.

LRMC earned the contract in 2014 to operate and maintain LRT-1 for a period of 32years. The extension of LRT-1 to Bacoor, Cavite by 11.7 kilometers will be ready in 2021.

Along this route, eight new stations will have the effect of reducing the travelling time for the commuters. The travel time from Bacoor to Metro Manila that now consumes 2 hours will be cut down to 40 minutes.
Rogelio Singson, President and Chief Executive Officer of LRMC elaborated on the details. The stations that will come up on this extended line are:
1. Aseana,
2. MIA,
3. Asia World,
4. Ninoy Aquino, and
5. Dr. Santos,
6. Las Piñas,
7. Zapote stations, and
8. Niog station in Bacoor.

The first four stations are Parañaque, No. 6 and 7 in Las Piñas City and the last one in Bacoor, Singson stated. If all goes smoothly, we may complete the project in mid-2020, he said.

Normally, it is the informal settlers and right of way issues that are an impediment in completion of such projects. The Local Government Units (LGUs) will have to cooperate fully, Singson stated.

Moreover, such projects involve shifting of water pipes, power cables and moving of many such installations. Metro Pacific Investments Corp. owned by Manuel V. Pangilinan and Ayala Corp. are the owners of LRMC.

Had there not been several right of way litigation, the construction would have started in 2015. Thankfully, they relocated the last families residing in the extension route were relocated finally on Thursday.
This paved the way for the ceremony and the start of the construction.

The total outlay for the complete project was estimated at P65 billion. Out of this, P35 billion is the expenditure required from LRMC. LRMC would spend P35 billion out of this and the government would shoulder the rest.

The government should pay for the rest of the cost of the project. This includes the cost for procuring 120 new rail cars as the major portion of spending.

But, this may not be a big burden as originally assumed.

That is because of assistance in the shape of a loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency. Thus, these 120 the loan from Japan will cover the delivery of the new cars from Japanese manufacturers.

Hence, a large portion of the burden will be borne by the JICA loan from Japan.

When the Light Rail Manila took over operations in 2015, there were only 77 Light rail cars in operation. By the augmentation of additional assets, the figure reached 100 operational units by the end of 2016.

Moreover, to maintain a constant chain of supplies, the Department of Transportation continues its negotiations. It is in talks with Japanese firms Marubeni and Mitsubishi and may strike a deal soon.

The two companies had provided their best quotations and negotiations are at an advanced stage.

Once operational the projects will double the capacity of the LRT-1. Thus, more than 800,000 commuters will travel daily.

In addition, this extension will also spur development in the areas of its construction.

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Umrao Singh
umraoz.wordpress.com
Written for: Lars-Magnus Carlsson.
www.thephilippinepride.com
Friday, May 05, 2017

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