PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte's administration is on track to finish the construction of the 11.7-kilometer Light Rail Transit (LRT) - Line 1 by 2021, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said Wednesday, August 14.

Transportation Undersecretary for Railways Timothy Batan gave the assurance in a Palace press briefing, after Cavite Seventh District Representative Jesus Crispin Remulla blamed the Ayala consortium for the delay in the construction of LRT-1 Cavite extension.

"It's (LRT-1 Cavite extension project) 19 years delayed. Project is finally on track," Batan said.

"Fourth quarter [of] 2021, tapos 'yun (it's already completed). So finally, after 19 years, we are seeing actual construction works in progress in this LRT-1 Cavite extension project," he added.

The Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC), which is a consortium of Ayala Corporation, Metro Pacific Investment Corporation, and the Macquaire group, took over the operations, maintenance, and extension of the LRT-1 in September 2015.

The construction of LRT-1 Cavite extension is part of the concession agreement with the LRMC.

The extension, which will transport commuters from Baclaran to Cavite, will cover eight new stations.

The stations that are expected to be opened are Redemptorist, Naia Avenue, Asia World, Ninoy Aquino, Dr. Aquino, Las Piñas, Zapote, and Nigod.

The project is seen to increase its daily ridership to 800,000 from the current 500,000.

Batan noted that the piling works for the LRT extension would begin in October this year, while the launching of a girder for the project will be in March next year. (SunStar Philippines)