DOTC mulls extension of LRT2 to Port Area

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) is planning to extend the Light Rail Transit line 2 (LRT2) all the way to Port Area from Recto to cater to more passengers especially with the completion of the P200-million passenger terminal in Manila North Harbor.

In an interview with reporters, Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya said the proposed extension of LRT2 would be on top of the P9.7-billion extension to Masinag in Antipolo City.

 â€œThe department is currently undertaking the feasibility study of extending LRT2. The termination point of LRT2 right now is in Recto, we are studying the feasibility of extending this to the Port Area,” Abaya said.

Details of the project including the cost, he explained, would be determined after the completion of the feasibility study being conducted by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

According to Abaya, the proposed extension would help create opportunities for people living in the North Harbor area particularly in Tondo as the mass transit facility would give them easy access to a cheaper mode of transportation.

 â€œAs I said the poverty incidence in Tondo is quite high and having a mass transit to serve them opens opportunities for them,” he added.

Abaya said a previous feasibility study showed that the proposed extension of the LRT2 to the Port Area was not viable.

However, the DOTC chief said the proposed extension of the LRT2 all the way to the Port Area would be viable if other infrastructure projects are considered including the roads being built by San Miguel Corp. (SMC) and Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) to connect North and South Luzon expressways.

He also cited the proposed P60 billion extension of the LRT1 from Baclaran all the way to Niog in Bacoor, Cavite. The DOTC is set to rebid a P30 billion contract to operate and maintain the LRT1 extension project in the first quarter of next year after a failed bidding last Aug. 15.

“An initial study showed the link per se is not viable. But with other projects including the LRT1 extension to Cavite and the connector roads, the viability will be improved. Interconnectivity is very important,” he said.

The DOTC chief said Malacañang has already approved the P26 billion connector road of SMC’s Citra Central Expressway Corp. under the Metro Manila Skyway stage 3 project while the government through Philippine National Construction Corp. (PNCC) is finalizing its joint venture with MPIC for its own version of P23 billion connector road.

The DOTC is now undertaking the post qualification of the bids for the P350-million feasibility study for the 4.14-kilometer extension of the LRT2. The project involves the eastward from the existing Santolan Station at Marcos Highway, terminating at the intersection of Marcos Highway and Sumulong Highway in Antipolo City.

The LRT2 east extension plan entails the extension of the existing 13.8-kilometer LRT-2 from Recto to Santolan. Two additional stations would be constructed including the Emerald Station in front of Robinson’s Place Metro East in Cainta, Rizal and the Masinag Station.