LRTA, Villar Group Sign MOA for LRT-1 Las Piñas Station Right-of-Way

The Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) has signed a memorandum of agreement with the Villar Group for the donation of right-of-way to continue the construction of the Las Piñas Station of the LRT-1 Cavite Extension project. Under the agreement, the Villar Group will hand over 4,465 square meters of land to the government for the station. "This donation will allow the government to save a significant amount of public funds. More importantly, it will help us move the project forward and complete it much sooner," said LRTA Administrator Hernando Cabrera, who signed the MOA. Last July, the Villar family announced their intention to donate the land needed to resolve the right-of-way (ROW) issues hounding the Las Piñas alignment of the LRT-1 Cavite Extension. This announcement came amid reports that the Office of the Ombudsman was investigating allegations that Senators Mark and Camille Villar—children of billionaire property developer Manny Villar and former senator Cynthia Villar—were interfering in the alignment of the LRT-1 extension project. The siblings denied the allegation, with Mark Villar stating he would welcome "any legitimate investigation." Timetable The LRTA has committed to finishing the entire stretch of the LRT-1 Cavite Extension project before the Marcos administration's term ends in 2028. Phase 1 of the extension project, which is already commercially operational, connects Baclaran Station in Pasay City to Dr. Santos Station in Parañaque City through five stations: Redemptorist-ASEANA Station, MIA Road Station, PITX Station, Ninoy Aquino Avenue Station, and Dr. Santos Station. The Cavite leg or Phase 2 and 3 of the railway project includes the three pending stations that have yet to be constructed: Las Piñas, Zapote, and Niog. The LRT-1 Cavite Extension project is being financed through a hybrid scheme of the national government, official development assistance from Japan, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and the private operator of the Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC). The P64.9-billion project was awarded to LRMC in September 2014 but was only taken over by the private partner in September 2015. Under the agreement, the LRMC will manage the LRT-1 for 32 years, during which it will also extend the line by 11.7 kilometers to 32.4 km from the current 20.7 km. The Department of Transportation (DOTr) said that the LRT-1 Cavite Extension Project, once completed, will serve another 300,000 daily riders, and cut travel time from Baclaran in Parañaque to Bacoor in Cavite from one hour and 10 minutes to 25 minutes.