LRT-1 Cavite Extension: Lawmaker Urges Move to Actual Construction Amid Increased Funding

MANILA, Philippines — Commitments regarding the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) Cavite extension project should move toward actual construction, according to Las Piñas Rep. Mark Anthony Santos. He stated that the P1.17 billion allocated to the project for 2027 should ensure that residents of southern Metro Manila and adjacent towns will soon benefit from the new stations. This funding is higher than the P799.64 million allocated in 2026. "This is welcome news for the people of Las Piñas and the entire southern Metro Manila area. Additional funding means we are giving this long-delayed project a stronger push toward completion," Santos said. Two stations remain unconstructed for the LRT-1 extensions—one in Las Piñas and another in Cavite. However, hopes for their swift construction have risen after the Villar Group of Companies agreed to the agency’s terms for the Las Piñas station. Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez reported this development during a House of Representatives committee on appropriations hearing on the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) proposed 2027 budget. A week prior, Lopez had stated his agency would meet with the Villar Group regarding its donation of six parcels of land where the Las Piñas station is expected to be built. The agreement is anticipated to be signed by Thursday, September 10. Santos emphasized, "The people of Las Piñas and our neighboring communities have waited long enough. We must now turn these commitments into actual construction and finally deliver the transportation relief our commuters urgently need." The 2027 National Expenditures Program prepared by the executive branch shows a funding boost for the DOTr, with P197.3 billion allocated for the country’s rail transport program in 2027, tripling the 2026 allocation. Of this amount, P141.96 billion is designated for the Rail Transport Program, a 256.54% increase from the P55.34 billion provided under the 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA), according to Santos. Santos also expressed gratitude to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his administration for recognizing the urgency of completing the project, which had been stalled by various issues, including COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns.