PRESIDENT Marcos yesterday inaugurated the first phase of the Light Rail Transit Line 1 Cavite Extension Project (L1CE) which is expected to cut travel time between Baclaran and Cavite to 25 minutes from over one hour.
The P77.7-billion project is set to start partial operations starting today.
The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) provided a soft loan for part of the major components for L1CE, including the supply of 30 train sets of fourth-generation light rail vehicles, expansion of the Baclaran depot in Pasay, and construction of the new Zapote satellite depot in Cavite.
In addition to providing the loan, JICA, in partnership with Japan’s highly-experienced railway operation firm Hankyu Corp. and renowned trading company Sumitomo Corp., made a strategic direct investment in the Light Rail Manila Corp. (LRMC) to acquire part of its shares this year.
The Cavite extension project had long been planned.
President Marcos acknowledged his father, former President Ferdinand E. Marcos, for initiating the construction of an elevated train system which started as a mass transit project in Metro Manila and has eventually expanded to nearby regions.
Apart from L1CE, LRT is also operating LRT2 up to Rizal while Metro Rail Transit 7, extends the urban railway system to Bulacan.
“On this day, no one is happier than his son in seeing that his father’s foresight is being validated by another work that expands mass transit that he had built for the people that he loved,” the President said as he also acknowledged the administrations of the other presidents before him for sustaining his father’s program.
“The L-1-CE Project has been a long time in the making—spanning five administrations, starting with President Estrada, to President Arroyo, President Aquino, President Duterte, and now, to mine. We owe this progress to the hard work and dedication of my predecessors; we must recognize their roles in helping make this dream a reality,” Marcos said.
L1CE covers the first five stations of the Cavite extension project which includes the Redemptorist-ASEANA, Manila International Airport Road, Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX), Ninoy Aquino Avenue, and Dr. Santos (formerly Sucat).
It is expected to serve an additional 80,000 passengers daily and reduce travel time between Baclaran, Pasay City and Bacoor, Cavite, from one hour and 10 minutes to just 25 minutes, and alleviate traffic situations in the cities of Parañaque, Las Piñas, and Bacoor in Cavite.
The entire Cavite extension project, which will add an 11.7-kilometer to the existing 20.7 km urban rail line, is expected to accommodate 300,000 daily passengers in its first year of full operations. L1ce uses 30 four-car 4th Generation (4G) Light Rail Vehicles (LRVs).
Part of the project is the expansion of the depot in Baclaran and construction of a new satellite depot in Zapote and Bacoor.
Marcos committed to make the country’s transport system more seamless and modernized.
Other ongoing railway projects are the Unified Grand Central Station, the Metro Manila Subway Project, MRT-7, the North-South Commuter Railway, MRT-4, and the Philippine National Railways South Long Haul.
JICA said the opening of the L1CE Phase 1 will provide substantial relief to road users, as more commuters shift from road-based transport to safe, reliable and comfortable public mass transportation services.
According to the 2023 TomTom Traffic Index, Metro Manila ranked as the most congested metro area among 387 cities across 55 countries worldwide.
L1CE, with its increased capacity and enhanced connectivity, aims to help alleviate these pressing traffic challenges, supporting the government’s vision of a more efficient and accessible public transportation network.
“JICA expresses its 100 percent support and commits to pursue four points — safe and reliable railway network, urban mobility modernization, modal shift, and livable urban development, with extensive experience and know-how of Japan’s railway operation. JICA and partners envisage very impactful achievements in various areas, such as clean air, climate change, investment environment, job generation, and regional development, among others,” said Sakamoto Takema, JICA Philippines chief representative.
