The Department of Transportation (DOTr) will lay down its non-negotiable terms before the Villar Group of Companies to expedite the latter’s donation of 6 parcels of land where the Las Pinas station of the LRT-1 Cavite Extension Project will be constructed, Transportation Secretary Banoy Lopez said Thursday.
Secretary Lopez said that the government will present three key conditions during its meeting with the Villar Group next week.
First, to give DOTr an unconditional permit to enter; second, that it will be part of the deed of donation and that the government should be free from all liabilities, no subrogation; and third, the cancellation of the mortgage on the land to be donated.
“It’s a take it or leave it offer. Ang take it or leave it [terms] is that they have to decide. Kaya sinasabi ko na po ito ngayon, para next week kapag natuloy na ‘yung meeting namin, they can either decide na or ayaw nila,” Secretary Lopez said in a radio interview.
Secretary Lopez said the government will proceed with the construction of Zapote, Niog stations if no agreement is reached.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered the DOTr to resolve the issues surrounding the project for the benefit of the commuters.
The transport chief noted that the DOTr requires 8,389 square meters of land to construct the Las Pinas and Zapote stations. About 4,990 square meters of which are supposed to be donated by the Villar Group for the construction of the Las Piñas station.
However, two of the six parcels of land from the Villar Group are under encumbrance.
“Based sa report, dalawa lang po. May isa po ‘yung sinasabi nating malaki na naka-sanla, more or less 2,000 or 3,000 [sqm] ‘yung kailangan natin dun sa Chinabank. At ‘yung isa po ‘yung hiningi namin by way of donation ang kailangan natin is 90 square meters for a viaduct. ‘Yung dalawa lang po,” Secretary Lopez explained.
“The only way for the government to agree to this location is for Villar Group to donate it. That’s the only way,” Secretary Lopez said.
The transport chief went further and asked for more proof of Villar Group’s willingness to donate.
“Sabi nila they’re going to donate it. Ang sabi namin ibigay niyo na yung mga papeles para makita namin kung good faith talaga yung pagbigay niyo sa gobyerno,” he added.
Should the Villar Group refuse the government’s terms, Secretary Lopez said he will order to proceed with the construction all the way to Zapote and Niog Stations in Bacoor, without the Las Piñas station.
“Kasi once they will refuse the offer of the government—‘yung tatlo na non-negotiable sa DOTr at saka sa LRTA (Light Rail Transit Authority) —- ito po, wala po problema sa alignment, okay na po tayo. Istasyon na lang ang problema. Kapag hindi ‘ho pumayag ang Villar group of companies, ipapatuloy ko po ‘yung construction all the way to Zapote at saka Niog. Iiwanan ko po ang Las Piñas, saka na lang ‘yan. Kasi it would be unfair to the community of Zapote and Bacoor to be held hostage by the issue on Las Pinas. Secretary Lopez stressed.
