ED Council signs off on LRT-1 contract revisions

THE Economy and Development (ED) Council approved a variation order for the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) South Extension project to support the operations of the Common Station, altering some terms of the initial contract.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) said the variation order will facilitate the completion of the country’s largest rail interchange, linking LRT-1 with Metro Rail Transit (MRT) Lines 3 and 7, as well as the Metro Manila Subway.

“This is a key step toward an integrated transport system that will improve the daily travel experience for thousands of Filipinos, helping them reach jobs, schools, services and opportunities faster and more conveniently,” Economy Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan said.

According to DEPDev, the variation order covers station completion works, viaduct construction, railway systems, signaling, and the integration of the Automatic Fare Collection System.

Interim operations of the Common Station are targeted to begin by March 2028.

The ED Council also approved the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority’s Boosting Employability in Strategic Technical and Vocational Education and Training Sectors project for official development assistance loan financing.

The P15.76-billion project seeks to expand access to quality technical and vocational education and training programs and strengthen workforce readiness in high-demand sectors.

“As we aim to sustain our upper-middle income status, one critical aspect is to ensure that we equip Filipinos with the skills aligned with the needs of high-quality jobs. We will maximize this project to build our competitive workforce moving forward,” Mr. Balisacan said. 

The council also approved the Department of Energy’s P10.07-billion Philippine Geothermal Resource Derisking Facility project and the Department of Information and Communications Technology’s Philippine Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure Master Plan 2026-2033.

It cleared revisions to the Philippine Seismic Risk Reduction and Resilience Project, which were focused on plans for selected public school buildings in Metro Manila.

“Together, these initiatives strengthen the foundations of long-term growth by improving connectivity, developing human capital, enhancing clean energy, disaster resilience and advancing digital transformation,” Mr. Balisacan said. — Justine Irish D. Tabile