THE Manila Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) has committed to completing all four sections of the 11.7km Cavite extension of Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) by 2028.

The Pesos 64.92bn ($US 1.17bn) LRT-1 Cavite extension will run to Bacoor, Cavite, with eight new stations, and will reduce the journey time from Pasay City to Cavite from 1h 30min to 25 minutes.

The Philippine Star reports that LRTA administrator, Mr Hernando Cabrera, told reporters that services to Redemptorist, Manila International Airport, Asiaworld, Ninoy Aquino and Dr Santos stations are due to begin by September 2024.

The Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC) will then proceed with construction of the final three stations of the project. LRTA is in the process of acquiring the land for the final stages of extension, which will then be transferred to LRMC. Land acquisition for the first five stations from Baclaran to Sucat has been completed, along with construction of the viaduct, while construction of the stations is ongoing.

Less than 5% of the land for second phase from Sucat to Niog, Bacoor, still needs to be purchased. LRMC has already begun initial works on the final section to allow full construction to begin as soon as possible. The extension is designed for 80km/h operation and will have a commercial speed of 60km/h.

In February 2016, LRMC awarded Alstom and Bouygues Travaux Publics a €450m contract to modernise the existing 20.7km north-south line from Roosevelt to Baclaran and equip the extension, which will increase the capacity of LRT-1 from 500,000 to 800,000 passengers a day.