JICA wraps up LRT-1 technical assistance program

THE Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) said it concluded its technical assistance program for Light Rail Manila Corp. (LRMC), operator of Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1), boosting the rail line’s operational efficiency while cutting electricity costs.

“This assistance aimed to improve operational efficiency, reduce electricity costs, and support greenhouse gas emission reductions in the railway sector, contributing to the Philippines’ commitment to climate action and sustainable urban transport development,” JICA said in a statement on Thursday. 

JICA said the technical assistance provided to LRMC, kicked off in July 2025, with the aim of strengthening LRT-1’s operations while supporting sustainability efforts by reducing electricity costs and cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

As part of the program, JICA deployed experts to identify areas to intervene in LRT-1, JICA said, noting that assessments showed that traction power for train operations accounts for over 80% of the rail line’s total electricity consumption.

“In addition, regenerative energy loss was found to be a major source of inefficiency, with system and operational constraints on LRT-1 limiting its effective use. These findings underscore the importance of combining technical improvements with operational measures to achieve substantial energy savings,” JICA said. 

The experts recommended a phased strategy by integrating operational improvements with infrastructure upgrades and the development of a medium-to-long term roadmap covering 2026 to 2035 for the implementation of energy conservation initiatives.

“The pursuit of energy efficiency in the railway sector is a necessary step towards the Philippine government’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions by 2030 under the Paris Agreement,” JICA said.

LRMC assumed the operations and maintenance of LRT-1 in September 2015 under a P65 billion, 32-year concession agreement with the Light Rail Transit Authority and Department of Transportation.

Metro Pacific Investments Corp. holds a 35.8% stake in LRMC through its unit, Metro Pacific Light Rail Corp., while Sumitomo Corp. owns 19.2% and Macquarie Investments Holdings (Philippines) Pte. Ltd. 10%. LRMC is a joint venture company of MPIC, AC Infrastructure Holdings Corp. (a unit of Ayala Corp.), Sumitomo, and Macquarie Investments Holdings. —  Ashley Erika O. Jose