LRT Line 4, 6 rolling out next year

MANILA, Philippines - The government is looking to roll out public private partnership (PPP) projects Light Rail Transit (LRT) Lines 6 and 4 by December and  the first quarter of next year.

PPP Center executive director Cosette Canilao said on the sidelines of the 4th Asia Pacific Real Estate Investment Summit Philippines the government may issue the invitation to bidders for the two railway projects by December and the first quarter next year.

“What DOTC (Department of Transportation and Communications) is targeting for Line 6 is this fourth quarter so it might be (published) around December. For Line 4, it will be probably be first quarter of next year,” she said.

Both PPP projects secured the approval of the National Economic and Development Authority Board chaired by President Aquino in September.

The P65 billion LRT Line six  project covers a proposed 19-kilometer (km) railway from Niyog, Bacoor (the terminus of the LRT 1 Cavite extension) to Dasmariñas City.

The proposed right-of-way (ROW) alignment is along the Aguinaldo Highway with seven stations such as Niyog, Tirona, Imus, Daang Hari, Salitran, Congressional Avenue, and Governor’s Drive.

Through the project, passenger mobility is expected to be improved, while vehicular traffic should be reduced in the Cavite area.

The project is also seen to promote economic development along the extension corridor.

The P43 billion LRT Line 4 meanwhile, involves the construction of the 11-km rail line running west from the SM City in Taytay to the intersection of Ortigas Avenue and EDSA.

The proposed ROW alignment covers Taytay Diversion Road and Ortigas Avenue with six stations namely: EDSA (transfer station with the Metro Rail Transit Line 3), Meralco Avenue, Pasig, Bonifacio Avenue, L Wood Road, and SM Taytay.

The project is expected to provide improved local transportation solutions and a better link to Metro Manila for the large and growing population in and around Taytay.

Taytay needs more transport options as Ortigas Avenue is currently the only main thoroughfare linking the area to Metro Manila.