Villar land donation expected to boost impact of LRT-1 Cavite Extension — Manny Pangilinan

MANILA — The Villar Group’s donation of land for the LRT-1 Cavite Extension will help resolve right-of-way issues that have delayed the railway’s remaining stations, Metro Pacific Investments Corp. Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan said.

The donation is expected to advance construction of the Las Piñas section and improve access to employment opportunities for commuters living south of Metro Manila.

“I think it will help out the population in the outlying areas if you have good public transportation because the jobs are here in Manila, right?” Pangilinan said.

“When you live close to the jobs, you save on expenses. But you need to have good public transportation,” he added.

MPIC holds a major stake in Light Rail Manila Corp., the private concessionaire that operates and maintains LRT-1.

Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez earlier said the Villar Group had agreed to donate six parcels of land to the Department of Transportation for the project’s Las Piñas segment.

Two of the properties remain mortgaged, but the Villar Group has committed to canceling the mortgages within six months. Replacement properties have been identified to facilitate the release of the donated land.

The group expects to sign the memorandum of agreement, right-of-way acquisition agreement and deed of donation within the month. It said completing the agreements could pave the way for construction to begin next year.

The Light Rail Transit Authority has committed to completing the entire Cavite Extension before 2028.

The extension’s first phase, which expanded LRT-1 service from Pasay City to Parañaque City, is already operational. The remaining phases include the Las Piñas, Zapote and Niog stations, which will extend the railway farther south toward Cavite.

Once completed, the project is expected to provide commuters from southern Metro Manila and nearby Cavite with a more direct public transport link to major business and employment centers in the capital.

-Paraluman News