Villar: PAVI wants to extend LRT-1 up to Silang in Cavite

By VG Cabuag @villygc

Manuel B. Villar Jr. said his group wants to further extend LRT-1, initially by an additional seven stations. Villar said the project is “doable” as right-of-way acquisition “will not be a problem.”

The LRT-1 extension project currently being developed by Light Rail Manila Corp. (LRMC) will end at niog in Bacoor, Cavite.

Villar noted that Metro Pacific

Investments Corp. (MPIC) and Ayala Corp. may find it difficult to extend it further into Cavite because of right-of-way issues. MPIC and Ayala are joint venture partners in LRMC.

“I can get the right of way since I own the land where the railway will traverse. Real estate is really important,” he said, adding that he intends to develop the areas around those stations and build retail outlets. n e gotiations are ongoing for PAVI, which is led by Villar’s son Manuel Paolo, to take over the further extension of LRT-1. The result could be a joint venture with LRMC or a new partner of PAVI.

Villar said PAVI plans to extend LRT-1 by seven stations, from niog to Government’s Drive. In between are stations in nomo and Bacoor Government Centre. The train will pass through Molino.

“What I really want is to extend it all the way to Silang, closer to Tagaytay, but this will come later as Ayala and Manny [Pangilinan, chairman of MPIC] is not keen on it. They are supposed to extend all the way to Zapote but they might stop at Sucat.”

Villar said it will be expensive for LRMC to continue and it will take a