LRT-2 East extension project breaks ground

MANILA, Philippines - Officials of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) led the groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday for the Light Rail Transit Line 2 (LRT-2)  East Extension Project, which will extend the existing train line from Santolan in Pasig City to Masinag in Antipolo, Rizal.

Package 2 of the LRT-2 East Extension Project which costs P1.172 billion involves the construction of a four-kilometer extension of the LRT-2 or two additional stations to be located in front of Robinsons Metro East and Sta. Lucia in Cainta, and Masinag station situated before the Masinag Junction in Antipolo.

LRT-2 currently spans Recto station in Manila to Santolan in Pasig.

DM Consunji Inc. bagged the contract for the construction of the two stations.

Construction works are set to begin on June 6, while the target of completion is in August 2018.

Package 1 which involved the construction of a 3.793-kilometer elevated viaduct from the end-point of the existing LRT-2 at Santolan to 500 meters after SM Masinag in Antipolo, has been completed.

Package 3 which covers the design and putting up of electro-mechanical systems is set to start in October and to be completed in April 2019.

“It will be a timely addition to have both new stations in the LRT Line 2 as we acknowledge the need for greater accessibility of passengers coming from the eastern side of Metro Manila, extending to key areas of Antipolo and its nearby cities,” Transport Secretary Arthur Tugade said.

Construction of the two new stations are expected to add 80,000 passengers per day in the first five years of operation to the LRT-2’s average daily ridership of 240,000.

“This increased capacity of 80,000 daily ridership of the rail line will not only provide a means to decongest our roads, but more importantly offer better riding options to our daily commuters. As we improve the public’s general mobility, we also unburden them from traffic worries,” Tugade said.