Las Piñas Lone District Representative Mark Anthony Santos has thrown his weight behind the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) urgent call for the Villar Group, spearheaded by former Senate President Manny Villar, to greenlight a critical Right-of-Way Usage Agreement (ROWUA).
The agreement is essential for constructing the Las Piñas Station of the LRT-1 Cavite Extension Project.
Santos praised Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez for his proactive stance, viewing it as a clear sign of the government’s resolve to push through with the heavily delayed transit line.
“I thank Secretary Lopez for his decisive and immediate action on this matter. This is a significant step toward finally resolving the issues that have stalled the LRT-1 Cavite Extension for years,” Santos said.
The lawmaker pointed out that the mass transit project has dragged on across five separate presidential administrations—stretching from the time of former President Joseph Estrada down to the current Marcos administration.
“Our commuters should no longer suffer because of avoidable delays. We owe it to the public to ensure that this vital transport project is completed as soon as possible,” he added.
In a formal follow-up letter addressed to Cynthia Javarez, president of Fine Properties Inc. and Golden MV Holdings Inc., Lopez stated that the government has done everything possible to secure the agreement while maintaining fair coordination regarding the station’s planned site at the C-5 Extension and Tramo Road intersection.
“Despite our continued coordination and good faith efforts, the landowners have yet to approve the draft ROWUA necessary to formalize their commitment to donate the property to the project at no cost to the government,” Lopez wrote in a two-page letter addressed to Cynthia Javarez, president of Fine Properties Inc. and Golden MV Holdings Inc.
Santos also extended his gratitude to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who ordered the DOTr to step in and clear the project’s hurdles after the local representative personally brought the matter to his attention.
“I am grateful to President Marcos for listening to the concerns of our constituents and for ordering the immediate resolution of these longstanding issues. This shows the administration’s commitment to delivering infrastructure projects that directly benefit the Filipino people,” Santos said.
Stressing that the extension has been “decades in the making,” Santos urged the private landowners and all involved entities to cooperate swiftly with state authorities to eliminate bottlenecks, control budget inflation, and finally deliver the transit system to the public.
“This project has been decades in the making. It is time for all stakeholders to work together and put the welfare of commuters above all else,” he said.