Government moves up deadline for MRT-LRT loop

MANILA, Philippines - The target completion date of the P6.5-billion Metro Rail Transit-Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 1 “closing the loop” project has been pushed forward to the end of this year from the previous May 2010 deadline, an official said yesterday.

Anneli Lontoc, Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Undersecretary for land transport, said the decision to set an earlier completion target was made upon the order of President Arroyo.

“It was President Arroyo who gave the instruction to finish it by December 2009,” Lontoc told The STAR.

Lontoc said the earlier deadline seemed realistic, considering the rapid progress in the construction work being conducted by project contractor, the DMCI-First Balfour joint venture consortium.

“It’s being fast-tracked. Construction is being done 24/7,” Lontoc said.

The LRT Authority, under administrator Melquiades Robles, conducted the preparatory feasibility studies and other work required for the project. The actual construction started in July 2008.

The loop project will connect the LRT Line 1’s Monumento station in Caloocan and the MRT’s North Avenue station in Quezon City through an entirely elevated railway spanning a 5.4-kilometer stretch of EDSA.

The interconnection of the two lines will allow seamless travel all over Metro Manila through the LRT Line 1, the LRT Line 2, and the EDSA-bound MRT.

The project will include the construction of three rail stations at the Balintawak interchange, Roosevelt Avenue, and North Avenue. – Rainier Allan Ronda