LRT 1 operator says P5 fare hike to fund Cavite extension

The operator of LRT 1 on Thursday it was seeking a P5 increase in fares to fund the extension of the capital's oldest light rail system to the Cavite suburbs.

Light Rail Manila Corp (LRMC) said extending the railway from Baclaran in Parañaque City to Bacoor, Cavite would cost P30 billion.

The fare increase will give banks the confidence to lend to the LRMC, knowing it could recover its investment, the company said.

Once built, the Cavite extension will let people travel from Baclaran to Sucat in 15 minutes, to Las Pinas in 20 minutes, and to Bacoor in 30 minutes, LRMC said.

The extension will stretch LRT-1 over 33 kilometers, from Roosevelt in Quezon City to Niog, Bacoor City in Cavite.

LRMC is a joint venture company of Metro Pacific Investments Corp’s Metro Pacific Light Rail Corp, Ayala Corporation’s AC Infrastructure Holdings Corp, and the Philippine Investment Alliance for Infrastructure’s Macquarie Infrastructure Holdings.

Two Pasig River bridges to start construction next week

THE Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said it is set to begin construction on two China-funded bridges along the Pasig River next week.

DPWH Secretary Mark A. Villar told reporters during an inspection of the site on Wednesday that the department has scheduled for next week the groundbreaking for the Binondo-Intramuros and Estrella-Pantaleon bridges.

“Next week we will be groundbreaking with President Rodrigo R. Duterte. After groundbreaking, construction will commence,” he said.

The Estrella-Pantaleon bridge spans 506.46 meters, while the Binondo-Intramuros bridge is planned for 734 meters.

Mr. Villar said construction of the two four-lane bridges is priced at about $70 million.

“The two China Grant-Aid Bridges are financed by the People’s Republic of China through a bilateral cooperation with the Republic of the Philippines,” DPWH said in a statement.

The DPWH has set a two-year construction period for the project.

“You will observe now that Del Pan and the bridges across Pasig are quite congested. (The new bridges) will ease it up by creating additional access points here in Binondo and Intramuros in Metro Manila,” Mr. Villar said.

He noted this project is part of the Metro Manila Logistics Master Plan that aims to construct 12 bridges in addition to the 30 existing bridges over the Pasig River to decongest roads. — Denise A. Valdez