Final phase of LRT-2 extension project starts

MANILA, Philippines — The final phase of the construction of the Light Rail Transit Line 2 (LRT-2) East extension has commenced yesterday with the railway track laying and integration of the electromechanical system (EMS) into the existing system.

The railway track laying and the EMS installation is under the Package 3 of the LRT-2 East Extension Project which was undertaken by the consortium of Marubeni Corp. and DM Consunji Inc.

The EMS is composed of the signaling system, overhead catenary system, telecommunications system, and the power supply and distribution system.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) said the final phase is expected to be completed by the fourth quarter of next year.

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said the rail line extension project would further enhance the mobility and connectivity within the Metro Manila area.

Tugade said once the project is completed, travel time from Recto in Manila to Masinag in Antipolo, Rizal would be reduced significantly.

“To give the Filipinos a comfortable life as President Duterte directed, we at the DOTr are working on ways to efficiently and effectively ferry our commuters. The LRT-2 East Extension Project ranks among such projects, for this shall ease the travel of our kababayans coming from Rizal to Manila,” he said.

“Once this is completed, travel time from Recto to Masinag will be reduced to 40 minutes compared to up to three hours travel via bus or jeepney,” Tugade said.

Marubeni and DMCI, the project’s winning contractor, have expressed their commitment to the timely completion of the project.

“Both companies aim to further contribute to the social and economic growth of the Philippines. We understand the importance of this project to the Filipino people and we will make sure that we deliver a working, high-quality track works, and a functioning EMS by the last quarter of 2020,” Marubeni Philippines and consortium spokesperson Naoto Tago said.

The LRT-2 System currently has 11 stations which traverses the east-west routes of Metro Manila. Its terminal stations are located at Santolan in Pasig and Recto in Manila.

Package 1 of the LRT-2 East Extension Project, which involved the construction of a viaduct, was completed in March 2017, while Package 2 consisting of the construction of two stations is 78 percent done as of last month, according to the DOTr.

Overall, the agency said the entire project is already 60 percent completed.

“The first two phases of the project had a smooth implementation. Today’s track laying and EMS installation signify the culmination of the project and the realization of the much-awaited answer to the clamor of the commuting public from the eastern areas of Metro Manila for a fast, affordable and convenient means of mass transit system,” LRTA administrator Reynaldo Berroya said.

The four-kilometer extension to the existing 13.8-kilometer LRT-2 line is expected to transport an additional 80,000 passengers daily from the current average daily ridership of 240,000, with two new stations namely, Emerald Station in Marikina, and Masinag Station at the Masinag Junction in Antipolo City.

“The LRT-2 extension will provide a smoother commuting experience and, ultimately, a better quality of life for people in eastern Metro Manila. We appreciate the fact that Japanese technologies are utilized toward this end and contribute to the alleviation of the traffic congestion in Metro Manila,” JICA Philippines chief Yoshio Wada said.