By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — The administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has authorized the implementation of the long-delayed LRT-1 Common Station together with four other priority government projects after securing approval from the Economy and Development (ED) Council, marking another milestone in the government’s infrastructure and economic development agenda.
The approval came after the projects received favorable recommendations from the Investment Coordination Committee-Cabinet Committee (ICC-CC), allowing the government to move forward with their execution.
At the center of the approved initiatives is the completion of the LRT-1 Common Station, a vital transport hub designed to unify Metro Manila’s major railway systems.
The project includes the construction of the remaining station facilities, connecting viaducts, railway systems, signaling equipment, and the integration of a unified automatic fare collection system. Initial operations are targeted by March 2028.
Once operational, the Unified Grand Central Station along North Avenue in Quezon City will connect LRT-1, MRT-3, MRT-7, and the Metro Manila Subway, creating a seamless interchange expected to significantly reduce travel time and improve mobility for hundreds of thousands of commuters each day.
Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan described the project as a major step toward building a fully integrated public transportation network that will provide faster, safer, and more convenient travel while supporting economic productivity.
Aside from transport infrastructure, the ED Council also approved the P15.76-billion Boosting Employability in Strategic TVET Sectors (BEST) Project of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
The program aims to upgrade technical and vocational education by expanding training opportunities in key industries such as manufacturing, construction, information and communications technology, and agriculture, helping address the country’s future workforce requirements.
The council likewise approved the P10.07-billion Philippine Geothermal Resource Derisking Facility under the Department of Energy, a project supported by the Asian Development Bank that seeks to encourage greater private sector investment in renewable geothermal energy by reducing exploration risks.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) also secured approval for its Philippine Seismic Risk Reduction and Resilience Project, which will retrofit public school buildings in Metro Manila to improve structural safety and strengthen disaster preparedness against major earthquakes.
Meanwhile, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) received the green light for the Philippine Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure Master Plan (PAIIM) 2026–2033, a long-term strategy aimed at developing world-class AI infrastructure, accelerating digital innovation, and positioning the Philippines as a competitive artificial intelligence hub in Southeast Asia.
The latest approvals reflect the Marcos administration’s continuing strategy of investing simultaneously in transportation, education, renewable energy, public safety, and emerging technologies to support inclusive and sustainable national development.
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