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The Investment Coordination Committee-Cabinet Committee approved the Light Rail Transit-1 common station and three other major public investment projects
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The LRT-1 Common Station will connect LRT-1, Metro Rail Transit-3, MRT-7, and the Metro Manila Subway at the Unified Grand Central Station in Quezon City
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The integrated rail hub is expected to serve about 1.28 million passengers daily
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Other approved projects are: TESDA’s Boosting Employability in Strategic TVET Sectors project, Philippine Geothermal Resource Derisking Facility, and Philippine Seismic Risk Reduction and Resilience Project
The Investment Coordination Committee-Cabinet Committee (ICC-CC) has approved the Light Rail Transit (LRT)-1 common station in Quezon City along with three other major public investment projects, paving the way for their endorsement to the Economy and Development Council chaired by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for final approval.
The LRT-1 South Extension Common Station project of the Department of Transportation involves the construction of the Unified Grand Central Station along North Avenue.
The integrated transport hub will connect LRT-1, Metro Rail Transit (MRT)-3, the upcoming MRT-7, and the Metro Manila Subway, creating a seamless interchange expected to serve an estimated 1.28 million passengers daily while reducing travel time and improving connectivity across Metro Manila.
“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 in a statement.
READ: DOTr scraps deal with common station contractor due to delay
Jobs, energy, disaster preparedness
The ICC-CC also approved the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority’s Boosting Employability in Strategic TVET Sectors (BEST) project, which seeks to expand access to industry-aligned technical and vocational education and training in high-demand sectors, including manufacturing, construction, information and communications technology, and agri-fishery.
The project aims to equip more Filipinos with job-ready skills to improve employment prospects, raise incomes, and strengthen the country’s workforce to support industrial growth and competitiveness.
Also approved was the Department of Energy’s Philippine Geothermal Resource Derisking Facility, which will be backed by a sovereign loan from the Asian Development Bank and implemented through Land Bank of the Philippines.
The facility is designed to reduce the financial risks associated with early-stage geothermal exploration, encourage greater private sector investment, enhance energy security, and support the development of cleaner and more affordable electricity.
The Department of Public Works and Highways’ Philippine Seismic Risk Reduction and Resilience Project will focus on retrofitting school buildings in Metro Manila against earthquakes while strengthening the agency’s disaster response capabilities.
The government said the project will improve earthquake preparedness and help ensure that schools remain safe and operational during and after major seismic events.
The ICC-CC said the approval of the four projects underscores the government’s commitment to investing in infrastructure and human capital that support long-term economic growth, improve public services, and enhance the quality of life for Filipinos.
