PBBM launches LRT-1 Cavite Extension partial operation

 

by: Jerome Carlo Paunan 

MANILA, (PIA) — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday, November 15, inaugurated the partial operations of the LRT-1 Cavite Extension, a significant step aimed at alleviating traffic congestion and enhancing mobility for residents in the southern regions of Metro Manila. He is joined by Transportation Secretary Jaime J. Bautista in the event.

The LRT-1 Cavite Extension Phase 1 marks the first major railway project completed under President Marcos’s administration.

It is expected to significantly reduce travel time between Parañaque City and Quezon City by nearly an hour and will increase the daily ridership of LRT-1 by an estimated 80,000 passengers, adding to the current total of 323,000.

“Our journey towards a more seamless and modernized public transport system does not end here… We continue to expand and improve it,” Marcos assured in his speech.

Secretary Bautista, for his part, referred to the launch as an “early Christmas gift” for commuters, coinciding with the upcoming holiday rush.

The extension, which includes five new stations—Redemptorist-ASEANA, MIA Road, PITX, Ninoy Aquino Avenue, and Dr. Santos (formerly Sucat)—expands the rail line from 20 kilometers to a total of 26 kilometers.

Once fully operational, the entire stretch will allow for a travel time of just 25 minutes from Baclaran in Parañaque to Bacoor in Cavite.

In addition to improved transportation, the completion of the LRT-1 Cavite Extension is anticipated to create opportunities for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the cities of Pasay and Parañaque, fostering greater economic activity in the area.

The LRT-1’s historical significance is underscored by its legacy; in September 1984, former President Ferdinand E. Marcos inaugurated the original LRT-1 line from United Nations Avenue to Baclaran. At that time, he praised the project as a “magnificent addition” to the metropolis, emphasizing its benefits for mass commuters.

It can be recalled that the full commercial operations of the LRT-1, which runs from Monumento to Baclaran, commenced on May 12, 1985.

The ongoing improvements continue to reflect the government’s commitment to enhancing public transport and meeting the needs of the growing population in Metro Manila. (JCO/PIA-NCR)

(Photos: RTVM Facebook)