By Roy Mabasa
To address transport demand and ease traffic congestion in and around Metro Manila, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has expressed its support to the upcoming construction of the Light Rail Transit-Line 1 (LRT-1) South Extension (Cavite) Project.
Slated to begin this week, the project includes the extension of LRT-1 by 11.7 kilometers up to Cavite wherein JICA will be supporting the provision of new rolling stocks, rehabilitation of the existing Baclaran Depot, and construction of a new satellite depot in Zapote, Cavite.
The project will be using Japanese technology and products, while the civil and station works are implemented via Public-Private Partnership.
Once completed, JICA said the project will increase the capacity of LRT-1 to 800,000 passengers daily from the current 500,000.
“The expansion of LRT Line 1 is part of JICA’s continuing support to the Philippines’ growing demand for quality mass transportation system. Improving the railway system in Metro Manila and surrounding areas will also help build the north-south transport backbone, attract more investments, and help create jobs,” JICA Philippines Chief Representative Yoshio Wada said in a statement.
A 2017 JICA survey on Roadmap for Transport Infrastructure Development for Greater Capital Region showed that traffic demand in Metro Manila has reached 13.4 million trips per day, and 5.1 million trips per day in its adjoining areas that include Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna, and Cavite.
Since the ‘70s, JICA has been supporting quality transport infrastructure in the Philippines with 45 percent of its Official Development Assistance (ODA) loan portfolio channeled to improving infrastructure, including in remote areas.
JICA is also supporting the construction of the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR), the first Metro Manila Subway, and the capacity building on Philippine railway management via the Philippine Railway Institute (PRI).
These Japanese-supported transport infrastructure projects are envisioning a shift from road-based transport to rail-based mass transit to help ease the worsening traffic condition in Metro Manila brought by rapid urbanization and population growth.
Metro Manila’s urban rail systems have operated since the mid-1980s (LRT Line 1, MRT Line 3, and LRT Line 2) and transport demand has increased since.
https://news.mb.com.ph/2019/05/09/jica-supports-lrt-1s-11-7-kilometer-extension-to-cavite/
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