Joselito Malig

Article (news)

Andrea Taguines

ABS-CBN News

MANILA - The Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC) on Thursday confirmed that it has submitted a proposal to take over the construction of the long-stalled Unified Grand Central Station (UGCS), which aims to link the LRT-1, MRT-3, and eventually the MRT-7 and the Metro Manila Subway.According to LRMC President and CEO Enrico Benipayo, the proposal is currently undergoing the formal approval process.“We submitted a proposal to the government to step in under the envelope of our concession agreement because it allows us to continue the common station. It’s going through the approval process but in principle, it has been agreed. I think it’s just a matter of time,” he said during the opening of an air-conditioned waiting room for passengers at the LRT-1 Baclaran station in Pasay City.Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Giovanni Lopez previously said that the agency was talking to LRMC and Sumitomo to resume construction works, nearly a year after it officially terminated its contract with the BF Corporation and Foresight Development and Surveying Company Consortium due to “excessive construction delays.”Lopez said the DOTr is coordinating with the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) to process a “variation” of LRMC’s existing concession for the LRT-1 extension, which would allow work on the UGCS to proceed under an updated cost structure and an extended concession period.“Just to expedite the process, we do a variation for the same proponent,” Lopez said on the sidelines of the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) General Membership Meeting in early April.He added that the goal is to complete the common station by the second quarter of 2027.“Why? For the simple reason that the partial operation of MRT-7’s 12 stations can also start on 2nd quarter of 2027. Masasayang po yung proyektong MRT-7 if there’s no connectivity to our MRT-3 and our (LRT) Line 1,” he said.Benipayo said LRMC is determined to meet that timeline, highlighting how the project would make commuting easier for passengers.“This is an interim setup that we will be implementing. Hopefully we realize it very soon in 2027, just in time for the opening of the MRT-7… You don’t have to go down the LRT station, take a different mode of transport to transfer to MRT-3. This time it’s a seamless passenger transfer,” he said.Lopez said the common station is expected to serve up to 1.5 million passengers daily once operational.<div> </div><div>50% FARE DISCOUNT AT LRT-1?</div>Meanwhile, Benipayo said LRMC is also in talks with the government on implementing a 50 percent fare discount to encourage more commuters to take the train amid the ongoing fuel crisis.Similar discounts are already being implemented on MRT-3 and LRT-2.“We’ve had some discussions already with the grantors, so we’re waiting to finalize the coordination. But I think the intention of the grantors is for LRT-1 to implement the same 50% discount,” he said.

The Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC) on Thursday confirmed that it has submitted a proposal to take over the construction of the long-stalled Unified Grand Central Station (UGCS), which aims to link the LRT-1, MRT-3, and eventually the MRT-7 and the Metro Manila Subway.

The Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC) on Thursday confirmed that it has submitted a proposal to take over the construction of the long-stalled Unified Grand Central Station (UGCS), which aims to link the LRT-1, MRT-3, and eventually the MRT-7 and the Metro Manila Subway.

LRT-1 operator set to take over construction of stalled common station project

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LRT-1 operator set to take over construction of stalled common station project

Andrea Taguines,

ABS-CBN News

Published April 23, 2026 11:25 PM PHT

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Updated April 24, 2026 03:42 PM PHT

Read More:

Common Station

Unified Grand Central Station

Light Rail Manila Corporation

MRT-7

DOTr

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