The Economy and Development (ED) Council, chaired by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., has approved the variation order for the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) South Extension Project that will support the operations of the Common Station.

The variation order received the green light during the Council’s 10th meeting on Tuesday to facilitate the completion of the country’s largest rail interchange, linking LRT-1 with MRT-3 and MRT-7, and later with the Metro Manila Subway.

“This is a key step toward an integrated transport system that will improve the daily travel experience for thousands of Filipinos, helping them reach jobs, schools, services and opportunities faster and more conveniently,” said Economy, Planning, and Development Secretary Arsenio Balisacan.

The variation also covers station completion works, viaduct works, railway systems, signaling, and the integration of the Automatic Fare Collection System. The works for the interim operations of the common station are expected to be finished by March 2028.

The Council also approved the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority's (TESDA) Boosting Employability in Strategic Technical and Vocational Education and Training Sectors project for official development assistance (ODA) loan financing.

The P15.76-billion project seeks to expand access to quality Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programs, increase certification rates, and strengthen workforce readiness in high-demand sectors, including information and communications technology, manufacturing, construction, and agri-fishery.

The Council likewise approved the Department of Energy’s P10.07 billion Philippine Geothermal Resource Derisking Facility (PGRDF) project, aimed at reducing investment risks in geothermal exploration and development.

It also approved The Philippine Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure Master Plan (PAIIM) 2026–2033 of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), which lays out a roadmap for positioning the Philippines as a regional hub for artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure and innovation.

Also approved were the revisions to the Philippine Seismic Risk Reduction and Resilience Project to strengthen the safety and resilience of selected public school buildings in Metro Manila. DEPDev Public Relations