DOTr, San Miguel ink construction deal for Manila International Airport

Groundbreaking for the new airport is set for December

FREEDOM OF CHOICE. Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade and San Miguel Corporation President Ramon Ang sign the contract to build the Manila International Airport, which Tugade says will contribute to the public’s “freedom of choice” in traveling. Photo by Loreben Tuquero/Rappler

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) and San Miguel Corporation (SMC) signed a contract for the $15-billion Manila International Airport on Wednesday, September 18, bringing the building of an alternative to the congested Ninoy International Airport (NAIA) one step closer.

The construction will be fully funded by private equity, with no government guarantee or subsidy. The 50-year concession agreement also puts SMC in charge of the airport's operations and maintenance.

During the bidding in July, no other firms challenged SMC's proposal.

The airport will be constructed on a 2,400-hectare property in Bulakan, Bulacan, allotting space for 4 runways, 8 taxiways, and 3 passenger terminals.

SMC President and Chief Operating Officer Ramon Ang said the airport was designed this way to allow for flights to land and take off simultaneously.

DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade said that the addition of this airport to the NAIA and the Clark International Airport will make way for “commercial competitiveness” and contribute to the public’s freedom of choice in traveling.

The airport is expected to accommodate 100 million passengers per year, going up to 200 million if it is upgraded to have 6 runways.

During the concession agreement signing, Tugade also announced he had signed the Notice to Proceed, allowing SMC to begin construction.

According to Ang, groundbreaking is set for December. He also said that the 4 runways will be completed in 5 years.

Road network

Ang said the DOTr agreed to enter the construction deal with SMC on the condition that the airport express and tollways would not cause more congestion along existing roads.

Regarding this, Ang outlined a planned transportation system, which involves 5 roads leading to the airport: Cavite coastal road or the Manila-Cavite Expressway, two routes in the Skyway system, and respective routes from Meycauayan and Bocaue.

He also said a train will be built to transport passengers to key areas, namely Bulacan, Quezon City, Manila, Navotas, and Malabon.

Tugade affirmed the road network will guarantee mobility and connectivity to travelers.

Flooding concerns

With regard to concerns of the construction area being prone to sinking and flooding, Ang responded that plans are in place to pump out water and suck silt from the land.

He also said that surrounding rivers, specifically Tullahan, Meycauayan, and Malolos, will be cleaned within one year. According to Ang, they have already acquired equipment for river cleaning.

He added that these efforts will be done in cooperation with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Department of Public Works and Highways, and the province of Bulacan.

Tugade said that these plans will be issued with environment clearance.

https://www.rappler.com/business/240426-dotr-san-miguel-construction-deal-manila-international-airport

DOTr, San Miguel sign agreement for Bulacan airport

CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga -- The construction of the PHP735-billion Bulacan International Airport will start by the end of this year.

This was disclosed on Wednesday during the formal signing of the concession agreement for the airport development project.

Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade and San Miguel Corporation (SMC) President and Chief Operating Officer Ramon Ang signed here the contract, which covers a 50-year concession period.

Under the agreement, San Miguel will undertake the financing, design, construction, supply, completion, testing, commissioning, and operation and maintenance (O&M) of the new international gateway.

With a design capacity of up to 200 million passengers annually and plans for four parallel runways, the Bulacan International Airport is expected to help decongest the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and complement the operations of Clark International Airport (CRK).

Tugade said the Bulacan airport aims to enhance the mobility and connectivity of air-riding Filipinos through an additional choice of gateway.

He noted that with Bulacan International Airport, Ninoy Aquino International Airport, and Clark International Airport, the riding public will have “freedom of choice”.

“It's all about comfort. It's all about convenience. It's all about putting life to the President's wish and desire for a comfortable life for Filipinos," he said.

Ang, for his part, described the project as “a game changer” that would bring more foreign tourists to the Philippines.

“Once completed, the new international gateway will help in significantly boosting tourism that will lead to creating more job opportunities,” he said.

He also expressed hope that the airport will help boost the economic growth in Central Luzon.

“This project will generate over a million direct and indirect jobs, improving the quality of life of many families, and will give rise to small industries in Bulacan and neighboring provinces,” Ang said.

The airport operations are targeted to commence in four to six years. (PNA)

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1080785

6 new railways to look out for

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has allocated P100.6 billion or 98% of its 2020 infrastructure budget to its ongoing railway projects, 5 times its railway allocation for 2019.

During the DOTr's budget briefing on Thursday, September 5, Railways Undersecretary Timothy Batan outlined the goals of the railway sector by 2022, namely increase the:

• route length of active railways (at least partially operable or fully-financed) from 1,144 kilometers to 1,900 kilometers
• number of stations from 59 to 169
• number of coaches from 221 to 1,425
• number of passengers from one million to 3 million

The need to prioritize railways was heavily felt, given the lack of any approved infrastructure projects for the maritime and road sectors, and the approval of only two projects for the aviation sector.

Despite getting the largest chunk, the railway sector still suffered a funding gap of P191 billion for foreign-assisted projects, which account for most of the railways in the pipeline.

Out of the P781 billion committed to these projects by official development assistance (ODA) lenders, Japan committed P481 billion, China, P14 billion, and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), P286 billion.

How much are each of these railway projects worth, and what is their status so far?

1. North-South Commuter Railway System (NSCR)
National expenditure program (NEP) 2020 allocation: P84.7 billion
Total project cost: P777.55 billion
Source of funding: Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and ADB
Construction timeline: Partial operations by 2021, full operations by 2023
Capacity: 350,000 passengers daily
Status: 3 civil works contract packages opened for bidding in August

The 147-kilometer, 37-station mass transportation system aims to bridge Central Luzon, Metro Manila, and Southern Luzon by integrating Philippine National Railway (PNR) Clark 1, PNR Clark 2, and PNR Calamba. It is expected to shorten travel time from North Avenue to Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 to 45 minutes.

The railway will also link the Light Rail Transit (LRT) lines 1 and 2, the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) line 3, and the forthcoming Metro Manila Subway.

It is the biggest project under the 'Build, Build, Build' program.

2. Metro Manila Subway Project
NEP 2020 allocation: P9.8 billion
Total project cost: P356.96 billion
Source of funding: ODA
Construction timeline: Partial operations by the 2nd quarter of 2022, main line completion by the 3rd quarter of 2025
Capacity: 365,000 passengers daily
Status: Groundbreaking ceremony was held last February

The 35-kilometer underground railway will span Valenzuela City to Parañaque, with a connection to NAIA Terminal 3.

By 2022, 3 stations are expected to be in operation, namely the Mindanao Avenue-Quirino Highway, Tandang Sora, and North Avenue stations.

By 2025, 15 stations will be operational, connecting Quirino Highway to NAIA Terminal 3 and cutting travel time down to half an hour with the trains running up to 80 km/h.

3. MRT3 Rehabilitation Project
NEP 2020 allocation: P5 billion
Total project cost: P21.97 billion
Source of funding: ODA
Construction timeline: Completion by December 2022
Capacity: 650,000 passengers daily
Status: Ongoing procurement of supervision consultant

The rehabilitation project will cover restoration of assets including light rail vehicles, tracks, signaling system, overhead catenary system (OCS), communications sytem, and depot and station equipment. It will also undergo a 43-month maintenance period, which already started in May 2019 and will end in November 2022.

The MRT3 has deteriorated and runs at a slower operating speed – from 60 km/h to 30 km/h – and increased gaps between trains from 3.5 minutes to 7.5-10 minutes.

The deterioration was blamed on the "compounded effect of neglect, bad maintenance practices, and failure to undertake scheduled overhaul and upgrading works" by the previous maintenance provider. This prompted the DOTr-MRT3 to enact a comprehensive rehabilitation, repair, and restoration of MRT3.

4. Mindanao Railway Project
NEP 2020 allocation: P97 million
Total project cost: P82.9 billion (a 130% increase)
Source of funding: China ODA
Construction timeline: Start by the 1st quarter of 2020, target opening by the 4th quarter of 2022
Capacity: 110,000 passengers
Status: Ongoing pre-construction works and environmental impact assessment

The project targets reduced travel time from Tagum City, Davao del Norte to Digos City, Davao del Sur from 3 hours to one hour.

The 3 cities of Tagum, Davao, and Digos entered into a memorandum of agreement with P5.6 billion allocated to the acquisition of properties and administrative costs.

Its project cost jumped from P35.9 billion to P82.9 billion in July to cover changes in the cost of construction works and the addition of a satellite post in Davao City.

5. PNR South Long Haul
NEP 2020 allocation: P877 million
Total project cost: P175.32 billion
Source of funding: China ODA
Construction timeline: Start by 4th quarter of 2019, partial operations by 2nd quarter of 2022
Capacity: 100,000 passengers
Status: Establishing control points

The 639-kilometer line will connect Metro Manila to the Southern Luzon provinces, shortening travel time from 12 hours via car to only 6 hours.

A loan agreement for the railway's project management consultancy was signed during the bilateral meeting between President Rodrigo Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping last August 29.

The PNR was earlier flagged for illegally using the funds for the PNR South Long Haul Railway to pay for security services costs incurred in 2017. The current organization of the PNR drew flak for its inefficiency and mismanagement. (READ: COA raises red flags over PNR 'illegal use' of funds)

6. LRT1 Cavite Extension
NEP 2020 allocation: P74 million
Total project cost: P64.9 billion
Source of funding: Public-private partnership for civil works and electromechanical system, Japan ODA for light rail vehicles and depot
Construction timeline: Partial operability by 4th quarter of 2021, completion by 2022
Capacity: 300,000 to 500,000 passengers daily
Status: Ongoing piling works since September 1

The 11.7-kilometer extension will add stations in Parañaque, Las Piñas, and Cavite and will reduce travel time from Baclaran to Bacoor from 1-2 hours to 25 minutes.

It will also allow commuters coming from the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) to travel to and from Metro Manila. Cavite 7th District Representative Jesus Crispin "Boying" Remulla had earlier moved to suspend PITX operations until the LRT1 extension is completed.

He also slammed the Light Rail Manila Corporation, consisting of Ayala Corporation, Metro Pacific Investments Corporation, and the Macquarie Group, for delays in construction of the LRT1 Cavite extension.

https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/iq/239702-new-railways-to-look-out-for

P79-billion MRT 7 halfway done – DOTR

By Emmie V. Abadilla

The P79-billion Metro Rail Transit Line 7 (MRT7) connecting Quezon City to San Jose Del Monte in Bulacan is now halfway complete, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) yesterday reported.

To be precise, the 22-kilometer rail system is 47.21 per cent finished and will be operational in 2021, reducing the two to three-hour travel time between the two points to 35 minutes.

Overall, MRT7 will service some 420,000 passengers in Metro Manila and nearby provinces of Bulacan and Rizal. It will connect with Light Rail Transit (LRT) 1, MRT 3, and the Metro Manila Subway via the Common Station, which to be built between SM North EDSA and Trinoma mall.

Construction of the project is currently in full swing, 24/7. Building the rolling stock and electrical and mechanical (E&M) works are also in progress, with 108 cars already completed todate.

Ongoing civil works include the guideway construction, underground/depressed and at-grade excavation or concreting works, and installation of coping beam, girder and trans-slabs on the elevated structures.

The project’s private proponent, San Miguel Corporation, through Universal LRT Corp BVI Ltd (ULC), hired the Hyundai Rotem-EEI consortium as engineering, procurement and construction contractor for MRT 7.

“The future of Quezon City depends on big infrastructure projects of the national government as this one,” DOTR said.

https://business.mb.com.ph/2019/09/09/p79-billion-mrt-7-halfway-done-dotr/

NLEX-SLEX connector, more MRT trains to ease Edsa traffic

By Raymond Carl Dela Cruz

Senator Grace Poe on Monday said the promised completion of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) - South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) connector road, more trains running in the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) and elevated walkways connecting buildings in urban centers would help ease traffic in Edsa.

“There are things that can help traffic move faster in EDSA and Mega Manila -- the completion of the NLEX-SLEX connector road, which hopefully by January will be completed,” Poe said during her speech at the BusinessWorld Industry 4.0 Summit.

The eight-kilometer elevated four-lane expressway connects the NLEX and SLEX through Segment 10 -- C3 Road in Caloocan City to Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) in Sta. Mesa, Manila -- and Skyway Stage 3.

The project is expected to be traversed by those going through Metro Manila from the north to the south and vice versa, which would effectively relocate a significant portion of vehicular traffic on Edsa.

Another big-impact project, she said, was increasing the number of trains running in the MRT-3, which is yet to be fully realized.

“We’ve been promised many times that the trains that were imported from Dalian will be working soon, but out of the 16 trains, only two or three are working after five years,” Poe said.

An PHP18-billion comprehensive rehabilitation of the MRT-3 is currently ongoing, which the Department of Transportation hopes would increase the ridership of the MRT-3 from the daily average of 320,000 to 650,000 by its expected completion on July 2021.

Sumitomo-MHI TESP, the contractor and maintenance provider of the MRT-3 project, will also overhaul all light rail vehicles of the rail transit, replace mainline tracks to increase its operating speeds, rehabilitate power and overhead catenary systems, among other upgrades.

Walkways, innovative transport systems

Aside from motorized mass transportation, the senator also highlighted conventional walkways as an effective solution to congestion in the metro.

“If the government would mandate that, if you build certain buildings in a financial center or a business center, you should already have elevated walkways to connect to other buildings,” Poe said.

She emphasized that these mass transport systems would be more effective than regulations on innovative transport systems such as transport network companies (TNC) like Grab and Angkas.

“Yet the initial reaction of some people, such as the LTFRB (Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board), was to treat the TNCs like taxi operators and regulate their supply and price,” Poe said.

The senator said passenger rights and innovations must be carefully balanced because “nothing chokes an enterprise more than excessive regulation.”

She added that the Philippines’ mass transportation is not yet fully available, thus, “the state is obligated to explore new modes of transportation for the sake of our commuters.”

During the summit, experts from both the government and private sectors tackled the fourth industrial revolution brought by such innovative technologies as learning robots through artificial intelligence, Internet of things, 3D-printing, among others. (PNA)

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1079978

Metro Pacific offers to extend Cavitex to Tanza

Cavitex Infrastructure Corp., a unit of Metro Pacific Tollways Corp., is set to submit this month a proposal to the Toll Regulatory Board to extend the Manila-Cavite Expressway from Kawit to Tanza in Cavite province for P30 billion.

“We hope to get a resolution from Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) and then after that we will jointly submit together with PRA to TRB within September,” said CIC president and general manager Robeto Bontia.

He said PRA would hold a special board meeting on September 11.

The company plans construct Segment 5 of Cavitex―a 22-kilometer road that will link Kawit to Noveleta to Sanglely and Sangley to Tanza in Cavite.

It plans to start construction of the first phase of the project, an expressway going to Sangley, by early 2021.

Cavitex is a 14-kilometer expressway linking Manila and Cavite province.

MPCala Holdings Inc., a unit of MPTC, earlier said the Laguna segment of the P35.4-billion Cavite Laguna Expressway was set to open to motorists by next month.

The first segment starts at the Mamplasan Barrier and passes through Laguna Technopark Interchange, Laguna Boulevard Interchange all the way to Santa Rosa-Tagaytay Interchange.

The construction of the Cavite side is expected to be completed by 2022.

MPCALA tapped Leighton Holdings of Australia to build the Cavite side and local contractor DMCI Consunji Inc. to construct the Laguna segment.

The Cavite segment comprises 27 kilometers of the 45-kilometer Cavite-Laguna Expressway.

The Cavite segment starts from Kawit, Cavite and traverses the Imus Open Canal, Governor’s Drive, Dasmariñas, Aguinaldo Highway and Silang which will connect to the Laguna segment from Sta. Rosa exiting to Mamplasan toward South Luzon Expressway.

http://manilastandard.net/business/corporate/304420/metro-pacific-offers-to-extend-cavitex-to-tanza.html

Work on Tagaytay toll road likely to start early next year—DPWH

The Public Works Department said it expects to start the construction of the P22.4-billion Cavite-Tagaytay-Batangas Expressway project early next year.

“Hopefully by fourth quarter, we get approval from NEDA Board.  Then Swiss Challenge. So we can start early next year,” Public Works Secretary Mark Villar said.

The agency last year granted the original proponent status to Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. for the construction of CTBEX.

CTBEX is a 50.4-kilometer expressway that will connect Cavite and Batangas, with a spur road to Tagaytay City and ultimately terminating in Nasugbu and another spur road to Tuy, Batangas.

CTBEX would decongest about 23,000 vehicles daily from existing thoroughfares.

The project will start at Silang East Interchange of the Cavite-Laguna Expressway. The alignment will traverse the towns of Silang, Amadeo, Mendez, Alfonso and Tagaytay in Cavite and Nasugbu in Batangas.

MPCALA  Holdings Inc., a subsidiary of MPTC is also constructing the P35-billion Cavite-Laguna Expressway―a four-lane, 47-kilometer closed-system toll expressway connecting Cavitex and South Luzon Expressway.

The expressway will start from Cavitex in Kawit, Cavite and end at SLEX-Mamplasan Interchange in Biñan, Laguna.

Parent Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. is building the NLEX-SLEX Connector Road, an 8-kilometer, four-lane toll road linking the North Luzon Expressway and South Luzon Expressway, passing through Metro Manila and using the existing Philippine National Railway alignment as the route.

The MPIC Group operates North Luzon Expressway, Subic-Tarlac Expressway, and Manila-Cavite Toll Expressway.

http://manilastandard.net/mobile/article/304190

DOTr seeks P2.9 billion to augment 2020 budget

By Charissa Luci-Atienza

The Department of Transportation is seeking additional P2.9 billion to fund its priority projects, including the development of four airports, the construction of the Pagasa Island port, and the implementation of the public utility vehicle modernization program.

DOTr Undersecretary for Finance Garry de Guzman presented to the House Committee on Appropriations the agency’s “wish list”, citing the need to augment their proposed P147-billion budget for 2020, which is more than double than this year’s P67.67 billion budget.

“Our total additional funding request for 2020 is P2.9 billion, augmentation for DOTr projects,” he told the panel.

He identified the DOTr’s list of priority projects which were unfunded under their proposed 2020 budget.

De Guzman said the aviation sector needs P865 million for the development of airports and upgrading of airport facilities.

Of this, P100 million will be allocated for the development of Laguindingan Airport, P75 million for Virac Airport, P75 million for Ormoc Airport, and P100 million for the Antique Airport “to decongest the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA),” he said.

The DOTr is also seeking P227.5-million funding for the Pagasa Island port, P72 million for the establishment of the K-9 Academy, P691 million for the public utility vehicle modernization program, and P201.9 million for the Inter-agency Council for Traffic.

Under their proposed additional funding requests, P486.5 million will be allocated to the maritime sector and P1.5 billion for the road sector.

De Guzman said they need another P62 million for the creation of the Philippine Railway Institute.

During the briefing, he disclosed P108 billion has been allocated to fund the DOTr’s infrastructure projects, 99 percent of which or P106.7 billion will benefit the railway sector.

Makati City Rep. Luis Campos Jr., the vice-chairperson of House Committee on Appropriations, has noted that P106.7 billion to build, renew, and upgrade railways for next year “is five times the P19.9-billion allocation this year for the same purpose.”

Of the 106.7 billion budget for the railway sector, P84.8 billion will go to North-South Commuter Railway System, the 147-kilometer, 36-station elevated railway project that will run from Calamba, Laguna to New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac.

The railway will also provide a direct link to Clark International Airport in the cities of Angeles and Mabalacat in Pampanga.

The DOTr’s allocation for the Railway Construction, Rehabilitation and Improvement Program in the proposed P4.1-trillion national budget for 2020 also includes P9.8 billion for the Metro Manila Subway Project Phase 1; P5 billion for the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) Line 3 Rehabilitation Project; P878 million for the South Long-Haul Project that will link up Metro Manila, Calabarzon, and Bicol and cut travel time between Manila and Legazpi City to just six hours, from 13 hours;  P97 million for the Mindanao Railway Project; and P74 million for the LRT Line 1 Cavite Extension Project.

https://news.mb.com.ph/2019/09/05/dotr-seeks-p2-9-billion-to-augment-2020-budget/

Tunnel digging for Metro Manila subway to start November

Contractors will start digging for the Metro Manila Subway before the year ends, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said.

Transportation Undersecretary Timothy John Batan told lawmakers during the agency's budget hearing that digging for subway stations is set to start by November or December this year, following an eight-month design study for the project.

"The detailed engineering design of our contractor has been ongoing from February to October. Patapos na po sila. By November-December this year, mobilize ng equipment, hukay na po tayo sa subway project natin [we'll start digging for the subway project]," Batan told members of the House appropriations committtee on Thursday.

The subway project stretches 36 kilometers long and covers seven cities and 15 stations. It will start in Quirino Highway in Quezon City all the way to Terminal 3 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay City. It is funded through the Japan International Cooperation Agency worth ₱357 billion.

Batan said they are looking to start partial operations of the new railway as early as end-2021, initially by ferrying passengers across three stations: Tandang Sora, Mindanao Avenue, and North Avenue, all located in Quezon City.

Tunnel boring machines have arrived in the country and will be assembled for the digging phase.

Once fully operational by 2025, the project is expected to cut travel time end-to-end to 30 minutes from the current two to three hours. It is expected to serve 300,000 passengers daily.

Emergency powers

Meanwhile, DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade made a fresh pitch for Congress to grant emergency powers to solve the ever-worsening traffic congestion in the capital.

Back in 2016, Tugade requested for special powers that would delegate him as traffic chief over the next three years. He will oversee and control all efforts to manage traffic and transportation specifically in Metro Manila, Metro Cebu and Davao City, including the creation of a unified traffic system for each metropolitan area.

The measure cleared the House but failed to do so in the Senate. However, Tugade is not giving up.

"Kung walang emergency powers, kung susundin yung proseso sa procurement at bidding, mabagal ho [If we don't have emergency powers and we follow the process of procurement and bidding, it will be slow]," Tugade told members of the committee.

"Because of the uniqueness of situation, we need a unique solution... Kailangan natin 'yan for the enjoyment for the materiality of time. We believe in our project and we need the time to be able to put this in motion," he added.

But Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman rejected Tugade's proposal, saying that existing laws already allow leeway to cut short bureaucratic processes as needed.

The DOTr asked for a ₱147-billion budget for 2020, double its current funding. The agency said ₱108 billion is earmarked for infrastructure, with bulk of the funds meant for railway projects.

The DOTr expects to open the Mindanao Railway by 2021, and the new segment of the Philippine National Railways linking Clark, Pampanga to Los Banos, Laguna by 2022.

https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2019/9/5/Metro-Manila-subway-digging-November.html

LRT 1 Cavite extension project finally starts

Extended rail line seen cutting travel time from Pasay to Cavite to 25 mins

After 19 years, the piling works for the Light Rail Transit (LRT) 1 Cavite Extension Project have finally started after successfully clearing the right-of-way (ROW) problems that marred the project in Parañaque City, according to the Department of Transportation (DOTr).

Link Pasay to Cavite

This signals new movement in the upcoming transit line, whose delayed implementation was brought up during a Senate inquiry in August amid the bungled, disjointed traffic measures implemented by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.

The extended rail line will link Pasay City to Cavite and reduce travel time from 2 hours to only 25 minutes and is seen as a crucial node in rationalizing routes to and from the south, especially after the completion of the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange.

The piling works involve the construction of the supporting piers for the elevated railway structures which will start at Dr. Santos Station in Parañaque, the DOTr said.

Sixty-seven piers from Dr. Santos to Ninoy Aquino station already begun construction since Sept. 1, and will be followed by 40 piers to AsiaWorld and 22 piers from Redemptorist Road to the existing LRT 1 Baclaran station.

Construction of the 74 piers from AsiaWorld to Redemptorist, meanwhile, will start on March 2020.

Together these five stations make up the first phase of the project which is expected to operate partially by 2021. The rest of the line to Niog, Bacoor, is expected to be up and running by 2022.

Simultaneous piling

To speed up construction, the DOTr said it would conduct piling works simultaneously in areas where ROW has already been cleared.

Remaining ROW obstructions under Package 1 include auxiliary facilities (traffic lights, plant boxes, drainage lines) that would be cleared with the help of the local government of Parañaque.

Last month, Transport Undersecretary for Roads Mark de Leon told senators that the LRT 1 Cavite Extension project was delayed because of ROW issues.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1160559/lrt-1-cavite-extension-project-finally-starts