Acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez has assured lawmakers that construction of the long-delayed Phase 2 of the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) Cavite Extension Project is expected to begin before the end of 2026.
Lopez gave the assurance during the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) 2027 budget hearing before the House Committee on Appropriations on Thursday, September 3.
Leading the DOTr delegation at the hearing, Lopez said the project should move into the construction phase within the year, noting that the country was already approaching the final quarter of 2026.
The ₱64.9-billion LRT-1 Cavite Extension is designed to add 11.7 kilometers of railway and eight stations connecting Parañaque to Bacoor, Cavite.
The first phase, which extends to Dr. Santos Station in Parañaque, is already operational. However, succeeding portions covering Las Piñas, Zapote and Niog have encountered delays largely due to right-of-way and land-related concerns.
During the hearing, Lopez recognized Las Piñas City Lone District Representative Mark Anthony Santos for closely following developments involving the long-awaited railway expansion.
Santos has advocated for the project for nearly six years, including during his time as a member of the Las Piñas City Council.
“We welcome Secretary Lopez’s commitment that construction will finally begin within the year. For the people of Las Piñas, this is more than a government project—it is a long-awaited promise of faster, safer and more reliable transportation,” Santos said.
A planned memorandum of agreement (MOA) involving the DOTr, Villar Group, Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) and Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC) was supposed to be signed late August but was postponed.
Lopez told lawmakers that the agreement is now expected to be signed sometime in September. He said resolving the remaining right-of-way concerns along the extension route would follow once the parties formally execute the MOA.
Santos pointed out that years of delays have continued to burden commuters from Las Piñas, Bacoor and other areas of Cavite, many of whom face long journeys amid worsening road congestion.
“Our commuters have heard promises of completion for years. What they need now is not another promise but actual construction, workers on the ground and measurable progress,” Santos reckoned.
He called on the DOTr, LRTA and LRMC to address without delay any outstanding legal, technical, right-of-way and administrative matters that could prevent the project from moving forward.
Santos also urged Congress and the public to maintain close oversight of the project to ensure the government’s latest timetable is met.
“We will hold the agencies accountable to this commitment. If construction is promised within the year, then we expect to see actual construction activities before the year ends. The people of Las Piñas deserve nothing less,” he said.
The lawmaker said the completion of the remaining stations—particularly Las Piñas, Zapote and Niog—could substantially improve mobility between southern Metro Manila and Cavite.
“For years, our people have been stuck in traffic for hours just to get to work, school and home. The LRT-1 extension can dramatically change that. But its benefits will only be felt when the project is actually built and operational,” Santos said.
He further appealed to the DOTr and other agencies involved to provide regular and transparent updates to both Congress and the public.
“This project has already lost too much time. We cannot afford another round of delays. The people of Las Piñas and Cavite have waited long enough,” Santos said.