President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has directed the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to immediately resolve the right-of-way issues delaying the P64.19-billion Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) Cavite Extension project.

The directive came after Las Piñas Rep. Mark Anthony Santos raised concerns over delays caused by the C-5 Quirino Flyover in Las Piñas City, which he said obstructs the alignment of the railway extension.

Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said the President has instructed Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez to address the right-of-way concerns as soon as possible.

"Matagal nang nakabinbin ang nasabing proyekto at hindi dapat ang taumbayan ang magdurusa sa pag-delay nito dahil lamang sa usapin ng right-of-way," Castro said.

She added that President Marcos wants the project completed at the soonest possible time to ease the daily commute of the public.

"Mabilisang pagtatapos ng proyekto ang nais ng Pangulo para sa ikagiginhawa ng taumbayan. Pinondohan ito ng P64.19 billion sa pamamagitan ng isang hybrid scheme kung saan kasama ang national government, Official Development Assistance mula sa Japan, Japan International Cooperation Agency at ang private operator na Light Rail Manila Corporation," Castro said.

She stressed that the government is not responsible for the project's delays and urged other stakeholders to cooperate.

"Kaya sabay-sabay nating kalampagin ang iba pang stakeholders na makipagkaisa at makipagtulungan na huwag maging balakid sa mabilisang pagtatapos ng proyekto. Ang dapat na mangibabaw ay ang interest ng mananakay at hindi ang interes ng ilang kumpanya o pulitiko," she said.

The 11.7-kilometer LRT-1 Cavite Extension will extend the existing railway line from Baclaran to Cavite.

Once fully operational, the project is expected to cut travel time between Metro Manila and Cavite from around one and a half hours to 25 to 30 minutes.

Light Rail Manila Corporation earlier said the extension is targeted for completion by 2031.

The project is divided into three packages and is expected to increase daily LRT-1 ridership by about 300,000 passengers, bringing total daily ridership to around 800,000 during its first full year of operations in 2031.