MANILA: The LRT-1 Cavite Extension Phase 1 will start commercial operations this November, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) announced Thursday. Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista confirmed that the new LRT-1 segment will be opened in the coming weeks. According to Philippines News Agency, Bautista expressed hopes that the extension of LRT-1 will help alleviate traffic by supporting thousands of passengers. He referred to the extension as an early Christmas gift to the residents of the area during a Palace press briefing. The opening of Phase 1 will add six kilometers to the transit line, connecting Baclaran Station in Pasay City to Dr. Santos (formerly Sucat) Station in Parañaque City. The new segment will feature five new stations under Phase 1, which include Redemptorist - Aseana Station, MIA Road Station, PITX Station, Ninoy Aquino Avenue Station, and Dr. Santos Station. Light Rail Manila Corp. president and chief executive officer Enrico Benipayo stated that travel time from Quezon City to P arañaque City will be reduced to less than an hour. Once Phase 1 becomes operational, the extended LRT-1 is projected to add around 80,000 passengers daily during the first year of operations. Currently, the average ridership of LRT-1 is around 320,000 daily. The second phase of the LRT-1 Cavite extension will include Las Piñas station and Zapote station, while the third and last phase will consist of the Niog station.