The Department of Transportation (DOTr) announced it has secured the Villar Group of Companies’ agreement to the former’s non-negotiable terms for the donation of the two mortgaged parcels of land needed for the construction of the Las Piñas station of the LRT-1 Cavite Extension Project. The necessary agreements are expected to be finalized and signed this month.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. directed the DOTr to fast-track the resolution of issues surrounding the project to ensure that commuters can benefit from it at the earliest possible time.
In a meeting with Transportation Secretary Banoy Lopez on Friday, representatives of the Villar Group of Companies agreed to DOTr’s three non-negotiable terms for the donation of the land: the granting of an unconditional permit to enter, the waiver of subrogation against the government, and the cancellation of the mortgage on the property to be donated.
“This development is good for DOTr, LRMC (Light Rail Manila Corporation, LRTA (Light Rail Transit Authority) and the Villar Group, but best for the commuting public. Itong pagkakasundo natin, talagang commuters ang pangunahing makikinabang, at ‘yun naman talaga dapat ang priority natin,” Secretary Lopez said.
Six parcels of land are to be donated by the Villar Group, two of which are mortgaged.
The Villar Group said the cancellation of the mortgaged properties will be processed within the next six months. It also said the replacement of properties for the two mortgaged parcels of land has already been identified to facilitate the release of the land to be donated.
The company expressed confidence that the necessary agreements for the land donation including the Memorandum of Agreement, Right-of-Way Acquisition Agreement, and Deed of Donation will be signed within the month, paving the way for construction works to commence as early as next year.
Lopez expressed his appreciation to the Villar Group of Companies for their cooperation to fast track the process. “The President has consistently instructed us to ensure that commuters can benefit from our transport projects as soon as possible, while also resolving the issues that need to be addressed,” the transport chief said.
Meanwhile, LRMC President and Chief Executive Officer Enrico Benipayo, who was also present at the meeting, witnessed the government’s seriousness and urgency in resolving the remaining issues, noting that thousands of commuters would have been affected had the agreement to build the Las Piñas station was not reached.
“I see that there’s this urgency from the government to provide relief for passengers. And on the part of the Villars (Group of Companies) there’s a good sign that they’re talking to the grantors in good faith. With this milestone, I think a major hurdle has been finished,” he said.
Also present in the meeting were DOTr Undersecretary for Railways Timothy John Batan, Assistant Secretary for Railways Eduardo Danilo Macabulos, LRTA Administrator Atty. Hernando Cabrera, LRMC Chief Technical Advisor Scott Anderson, and Cavite Extension Project Execution Manager Carlos Tan.
