DOTr, Villar Group reach agreement on land donation for Las Piñas LRT-1 station

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) said Friday it has secured the Villar Group of Companies’ agreement to its non-negotiable conditions for the donation of two mortgaged parcels of land needed for the construction of the Las Piñas station of the LRT-1 Cavite Extension Project.

The development came after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. directed the DOTr to expedite the resolution of issues involving the project so commuters can benefit from the railway extension as soon as possible.

During a meeting with Transportation Secretary Banoy Lopez, Villar Group representatives agreed to the DOTr’s three conditions for the land donation: an unconditional permit to enter the properties, a waiver of subrogation against the government, and the cancellation of the mortgage on the properties to be donated.

“This development is good for DOTr, LRMC (Light Rail Manila Corporation, LRTA (Light Rail Transit Authority) and the Villar Group, but best for the commuting public. Itong pagkakasundo natin, talagang commuters ang pangunahing makikinabang, at ‘yun naman talaga dapat ang priority natin,” Secretary Lopez said.

The Villar Group is set to donate six parcels of land for the project, two of which remain mortgaged.

The company said the cancellation of the mortgages on the two properties will be completed within the next six months. It added that replacement properties have already been identified to facilitate the release of the lots for donation.

The Villar Group also expressed confidence that the agreements covering the land donation—including the Memorandum of Agreement, Right-of-Way Acquisition Agreement, and Deed of Donation—will be signed within the month.

Once these agreements are finalized, construction of the Las Piñas station could begin as early as next year.

“Nagpapasalamat ang DOTr sa Villar Group of Companies dahil sa inyong cooperation para mapabilis natin itong proseso. Ang laging bilin sa atin ng Pangulo, dapat mapakinabangan na ng commuters ‘yung mga transport projects natin sa lalong madaling panahon at resolbahin na rin ang mga dapat ayusin,” the transport chief said.

LRMC President and Chief Executive Officer Enrico Benipayo, who attended the meeting, said the agreement demonstrated the government’s urgency in addressing the remaining issues surrounding the station.

He said thousands of commuters could have been affected if an agreement on the construction of the Las Piñas station had not been reached.

“I see that there’s this urgency from the government to provide relief for passengers. And on the part of the Villars (Group of Companies) there’s a good sign that they’re talking to the grantors in good faith. With this milestone, I think a major hurdle has been finished,” he said.

Also present at the meeting were DOTr Undersecretary for Railways Timothy John Batan, Assistant Secretary for Railways Eduardo Danilo Macabulos, LRTA Administrator Atty. Hernando Cabrera, LRMC Chief Technical Advisor Scott Anderson, and Cavite Extension Project Execution Manager Carlos Tan.