PRESIDENT Marcos Jr. has directed Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Giovanni Lopez to immediately address and resolve the issues and longstanding concerns affecting the construction and operations of the Cavite segment of the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) Cavite Extension Project.
The President instructed Lopez to work closely with concerned agencies and stakeholders to remove bottlenecks, settle pending issues, and facilitate the continuous implementation of the much-delayed, multi-billion-peso infrastructure project.
The directive came following a letter sent by Las Piñas Rep. Mark Anthony Santos to the President outlining concerns that continue to hamper the project’s progress.
The President’s order aims to expedite the resolution of obstacles that have delayed the project and ensure the timely completion of a vital transportation initiative expected to benefit thousands of commuters traveling between Metro Manila and Cavite.
With a total project cost of P64.915 billion, the LRT-1 Cavite Extension is being financed through a hybrid arrangement consisting of P17.80 billion in official development assistance (ODA) from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
Another P39.57 billion from private sector operator Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC), and P7.55 billion from the national government.
In his letter, Santos informed the President that the C-5 Quirino Flyover in Las Piñas City has become the center of a major infrastructure conflict because it obstructs the alignment of the LRT-1 Cavite Extension, resulting in years of construction delays.
Completed by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in April 2024, the P300.39-million flyover was built on the originally planned right-of-way of the LRT-1 extension project.
The flyover was constructed during the tenure of then DPWH Secretary and now Senator Mark Villar. Santos and several transport officials have described the project as a “blunder” and have raised the possibility of partially dismantling the structure.
According to them, the existing design prevents the train tracks from passing through or underneath the flyover, contributing to multi-year delays in Phase 2 of the LRT-1 extension and pushing back the operational target for the Las Piñas and Zapote stations to 2028.
The lawmaker also cited the lack of coordination between government agencies, particularly the DPWH and the DOTr, for failing to resolve the alignment conflict before the flyover’s construction.
The issue has likewise drawn broader political scrutiny involving allegations related to real estate interests along the C-5 corridor. Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla ordered an investigation into claims that members of the Villar family, particularly Senators Mark Villar and Camille Villar, may have influenced the alignment of the LRT-1 extension to pass through areas near their private properties instead of following the original route.
Senators Mark and Camille Villar have publicly denied the allegations and have expressed their willingness to cooperate with any legitimate investigation.
Quoting allegations raised during the controversy, Remulla said: “There’s an alignment in Sucat, Parañaque where the project stopped because they allegedly want it along C-5, where they have properties.”
For his part, Santos claimed that the Villar family’s vision of linking Metro Manila to the emerging 3,500-hectare Villar City was among the issues raised in discussions surrounding the project’s alignment.
In August last year, Santos filed House Resolution No. 19 urging the House Committee on Transportation to investigate the matter and recommending the demolition of a portion of the P300.39-million C-5 Quirino Flyover.
He argued that dismantling the problematic segment would be more practical than requiring the government to spend an additional P1 billion to redesign and realign the remaining stations.
He noted that Phase 2 of the LRT-1 Cavite Extension, which includes the Las Piñas and Zapote stations, “has been stalled for years and remains at a standstill to this day.”
In November 2024, the DOTr opened the first five stations of the LRT-1 Cavite Extension: Redemptorist-Aseana, MIA Road, PITX, Ninoy Aquino, and Dr. Santos stations, extending the LRT-1 line beyond Baclaran.
The succeeding phases of the project will extend service through Las Piñas and eventually terminate in Bacoor, Cavite, further enhancing connectivity and mobility for residents and commuters in southern Metro Manila and Cavite.
