LRT 1 Common Station project gets green light
The long-delayed LRT 1 Common Station project has moved a step closer to construction after securing approval from the Investment Coordination Committee-Cabinet Committee (ICC-CC), alongside three other public investment projects that will now be elevated to the Marcos-led Economy and Development (ED) Council for final approval.
In a statement on Monday, the Department of Finance (DOF) said the ICC-CC approved the LRT 1 South Extension Common Station, clearing the way for the construction of the Unified Grand Central Station along North Avenue in Quezon City.
Once completed, the station will connect LRT 1, MRT 3, the upcoming MRT 7, and the Metro Manila Subway into a single interchange.
“Rail projects give people back their time. A seamless connection between LRT 1, MRT 3, MRT 7, and the Subway means shorter commutes, more hours with family, and workers who can reach more opportunities across the city,” Finance Secretary and ICC-CC Chair Frederick Go said.
“The ICC process exists to make sure every project we endorse delivers real outcomes for Filipinos,” he added.
The common station project was originally awarded in 2019 to a consortium led by BF Corp. and Foresight Development and Surveying Co., but its P2.78-billion contract was terminated in May 2025 after prolonged construction delays.
As of February, the project was 67.98-percent complete. The Department of Transportation earlier said it was targeting completion by the second quarter of 2027, subject to the necessary approvals.
The ICC-CC also approved three other projects covering workforce development, clean energy and disaster resilience.
These include the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority’s Boosting Employability in Strategic TVET Sectors project, which aims to expand access to technical and vocational education and training in high-demand sectors such as manufacturing, construction, information and communications technology and agri-fishery.
The committee likewise approved the Department of Energy’s Philippine Geothermal Resource Derisking Facility, an Asian Development Bank-backed program that will be implemented through the Land Bank of the Philippines to reduce the financial risks of early-stage geothermal exploration and encourage private investment.
Also endorsed was the Department of Public Works and Highways’ Philippine Seismic Risk Reduction and Resilience Project, which involves retrofitting school buildings in Metro Manila and strengthening the agency’s capacity to respond to major earthquakes and other seismic events.
“The approval of these projects reflects the government’s continued commitment to investing in infrastructure and human capital that deliver tangible benefits and generate long-term economic growth,” the DOF said.
Offshore wind and the long view