Ayala and Metro Pacific to tap global metro operator for PPP project

LRT Train (Invest Philippines)

MANILA – The consortium of Ayala Corp. and Metro Pacific Investments Corp. will tap a global metro operator as its technical partner in a public private partnership project for the Light Rail Transit Line 1.

France’s RATP Dev, the operator of the Paris Metro, will be tapped by Ayala-Metro Pacific group also known as the Light Rail Manila consortium.

Light Rail Manila will operate and maintain the existing LRT Line 1, under the concession agreement with a total of P35 billion investment.

An 11.7-kilometer extension will also be constructed from Baclaran to the Niog area in Bacoor, Cavite.

“The extended rail line is envisioned to help ease the worsening traffic conditions in the Parañaque-Las Piñas-Cavite corridor. It is also expected to enhance commercial development around the rail stations,” Light Rail Manila said in a previous statement.

Once completed, the project will create a total of eight new lines that will traverse the cities of Parañaque and Las Piñas up to Bacoor.

The Department of Transportation and Communications and Light Rail Transit Authority formally awarded Light Rail Manila with the project following the consortium’s lone submission of a bid with a premium of P9.35 billion.