LAS Piñas Lone District Rep. Mark Anthony Santos today expressed elation over the Marcos administration’s decision to allocate ₱1.17 billion next year for the long-delayed Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) Cavite Extension Project.
Santos welcomed the proposed funding increase as a significant step toward addressing the financial and right-of-way challenges that have delayed the project, particularly the remaining extension serving Las Piñas and Cavite.
“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.
The Marcos administration is proposing ₱197.3 billion for the country’s rail transport program in 2027, more than triple this year’s allocation, as the government accelerates major railway projects.
Under the 2027 National Expenditure Program (NEP), the Rail Transport Program is set to receive ₱141.96 billion more, representing a 256.54-percent increase from the ₱55.34 billion provided under the 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA).
For the LRT-1 Cavite Extension Project, the proposed allocation is ₱1.17 billion, under the national infrastructure budget, up from ₱799.64 million in 2026.
The project involves an 11.7-kilometer extension from Baclaran to Niog Station in Bacoor, Cavite, with the remaining stations covering Las Piñas, Zapote, and Niog in Cavite.
Santos thanked President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his administration for recognizing the urgency of completing the project, while urging concerned government agencies to ensure that the funds are used efficiently and that remaining obstacles are resolved without further delay.
Initially pegged at ₱64.92 billion, the LRT-1 Cavite Extension began construction in 2019. Phase 1 was originally targeted for completion in 2022 but was delayed by COVID-19 lockdowns, resulting in an additional ₱4 billion in costs.
Santos said that despite bilateral meetings between the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and Villar-affiliated firms, including Fine Properties Inc. and Villar Land Holdings Inc., from 2021 to 2025, a critical Right-of-Way Usage Agreement remained unsigned, preventing contractors from proceeding with civil works.
However, the DOTr and Villar Group are now set to sign an agreement on September 10 aimed at resolving the land issue that has delayed construction of the railway extension.
According to the DOTr, the agreement will give the government access to land needed for a station in Las Piñas, which is part of the multi-billion-peso railway project.
Construction has been held up because the property, along with an adjacent parcel, is mortgaged to China Banking Corp. (China Bank), preventing government agencies from legally entering the site.
Under the proposed arrangement, the Villar Group will exchange the encumbered property for another parcel that has already been approved by China Bank, according to the DOTr.
Santos said the LRT-1 Cavite Extension is more than just an infrastructure project, as it will provide commuters with a faster, safer, and more reliable alternative to the heavily congested roads connecting Parañaque, Las Piñas, and Cavite.
“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,” Santos said.
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