LRTA gets P2 billion for early works of LRT-2 extension

MANILA, Philippines — The Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) has secured P2 billion to deliver the preliminary works for a project that would extend the Light Rail Transit Line 2 (LRT-2) to the western segment of Manila.

LRTA administrator Hernando Cabrera told reporters his agency can finally pursue this year the initial works for the LRT-2 West Extension Project.

Cabrera said the LRTA has received a funding commitment of roughly P2 billion to complete the preliminary works, although the entire project would require P10.12 billion.

With the budget, the LRTA can employ a consultant who would be tasked to draw the conceptual designs of the extension. Likewise, the agency can acquire right of way (ROW) to ensure that the alignment is ready by the time construction begins.

Cabrera said his agency expects to face challenges in procuring ROW, especially in the Port Area where the last station of the LRT-2 would be situated. To secure the alignment for the project, the LRTA would have to relocate informal settlers along the way.

Similarly, Cabrera said the LRTA would work with power and water concessionaires in moving their assets that stand in the way of the extension.

“That (preliminary works) is our focus right now, so that by the time the funds are issued, we can go full blast because the alignment is cleared,” Cabrera said.

However, Cabrera noted the LRTA is open to the possibility of doing the LRT-2 West Extension Project through a public-private partnership (PPP).

He cited the case of the Light Rail Transit Line 1 Cavite Extension, which is funded by a mix of government budget, foreign loans and private financing. Cabrera said the LRTA can emulate this in the LRT-2 West Extension Project if the government is short on resources.

The LRTA has yet to obtain a multi-year contracting authority (MYCA) from the Department of Budget and Management. Once the MYCA is signed, it ensures that the project will be provided with automatic allocation in the national budget every year until it is finished.

The LRT-2 West Extension Project will expand the railway by more than three kilometers to the west of the Recto Station, adding stops in Tutuban, Divisoria and Pier 4.

The project also includes the acquisition of new trains that would support the additional ridership resulting from the extension.