DoTr seeks P3-B Bacoor station fund

The Department of Transportation (DoTr) is eyeing to secure P3 billion under the proposed 2026 national budget to build the planned Talaba Station in Bacoor, Cavite as part of the ongoing LRT-1 Cavite Extension Project.

In an interview at the sidelines of the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines Infrastructure Forum on Monday, Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon confirmed that the City of Bacoor requested the station to support its new developments.

Once funded and built by the government, the station will be handed over to Light Rail Manila Corp. (LRMC) for operations. Dizon noted that the project needs to undergo bidding and coordination to align plans with the private operator.

“The City of Bacoor requested the station, and it makes sense because it will serve their new developments. We asked the DBM for roughly P3 billion under the 2026 GAA, and we informed LRMC about it about two months ago,” Dizon said.

“It will still be bid out so plans are harmonized with LRMC, but I’m told it shouldn’t be difficult, same alignment, just adding a station between Zapote and Talaba,” he added.

Dizon said the government is aiming to complete the segment up to Zapote by 2028 and is pushing to finish both Talaba and Niog stations within the same period.

“I’m confident we’ll finish up to Zapote by 2028, and we’ll push to complete Talaba and Niog as well, two more stations by 2028,” he said. “The last section may follow a year or two later, around 2030.”

Construction of the Cavite Extension began in September 2019. LRMC has previously stated that the target completion for the entire LRT-1 Cavite Extension is by 2031.

While right-of-way issues persist in some areas, Dizon said key segments have already been cleared, and an earlier flyover concern with the Department of Public Works and Highways has been resolved through an engineering solution.

He added that while passenger projections for Talaba Station are still unavailable, demand is expected to rise with Bacoor’s continued urban growth.