NEDA approves LRT Line 1 South Extension Project and LTO Info Systems

The National Economic and Development Authority Board approved on Thursday the Land Transportation Office (LTO) Infrastructure and Information System (LTO-IIS) Project and the Light Railway Transit (LRT) Line 1 South Extension Project.

“These two projects aim to improve our transport sector. The LTO project is also one way of promoting transparent and responsive governance in government,” Socioeconomic Planning Secretary and NEDA Board Vice Chair Cayetano W. Paderanga Jr. said.

To enhance the efficiency of performing its mandate, the LTO proposed the LTO-IIS Project, amounting to P11.43 billion, including the P8.33 million estimated O&M cost throughout a seven-year period. The project, covering 300 LTO offices nationwide, involves building of an IT network for the Office. It entails, among others, development of database information system, system integration and provision of data center facility by the National Computer Center (NCC). The total project cost will be sourced from local funds, initially from the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC).

The Board also approved the P61.53 billion LRT Line 1 South Extension Project. This involves construction of eight stations with provision for two additional stations. The proposed eight stations are the following: (a) Redemptorist Station in Redemptorist St., Roxas Boulevard; (b) MIA Station near the Coastal Mall in Roxas Boulevard; (c) Asia World Station near Asia World Development in Roxas Boulevard; (d) Ninoy Aquino Station in the east side of Ninoy Aquino Bridge that passes through Paranaque river; (e) Dr. Santos Station, south of Dr. Santos Road; (f) Las Pinas Station, east of Quirino Avenue and south of Las Pinas river; (g) Zapote station, north of Alabang-Zapote flyover; and (h) Niyog Station, south of intersection of Niyog Road bypass and Aguinaldo Highway. The two provisional stations are Manuyo Uno and Talaba stations. Three stations—Dr. Santos, Zapote and Niyog Stations—will be designed as intermodal facilities so that passengers could easily transfer from these stations to other road-based transportation services.

This project will be financed through Public-Private Partnership (PPP) with P30.93-billion financing from the private sector and P30.59 billion from the government.

The NEDA Board is the governing body that sets major development policy directions for the Philippines while the NEDA Secretariat serves as its research and technical support arm. President Benigno S. Aquino III is chair of the Board while Paderanga serves as Vice Chair. The NEDA Board members are: the Secretaries of Agriculture, Budget and Management, Energy, Environment and Natural Resources, Finance, Public Works and Highways, Science and Technology, Tourism, Trade and Industry, Transportation and Communications, and Presidential Management Staff; the Deputy Governor of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas; the Chairpersons of Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council, Metro Manila Development Authority, and Mindanao Development Authority; the Governor of the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM); and the President of Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP).