DOTC awards P65-B LRT-1 Cavite extension project to LRMC

The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) awarded the P 65-billion Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) Cavite Extension Project, to the Light Rail Manila Consortium (LRMC) on Friday, the department announced Saturday.

According to DOTC Secretary Jun Abaya, the riding public who live in the southern part of Metro Manila will benefit from the project greatly.

“This project will level the playing field for them, giving them convenient access to employment and educational opportunities in the metropolis,” Abaya said in a press release Saturday.

The LRMC composed of the Metro Pacific Investments Corporation and Ayala Corporation partnership will be given 20 days to submit requirements, which include the payment of 10 percent of its P9.35-billion premium bid amount.

The awarding is subject to the final decision of the Supreme Court after SM Prime Holdings Inc. obtained a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) against the project.

The project's connection of the common station of the LRT-1, Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) and MRT-7 near Trinoma mall in Quezon City was approved by the National Economic and Development Authority.

But SM Prime Holdings Inc. is contesting this location in its bid to move the Common Station next to its SM North EDSA mall.

Construction of the Common Station will be procured separately once the case is resolved. The project is expected to be fully operational by May 2019. — Andrei Medina/JDS, GMA News