One of the components of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) funded capacity enhancement of mass transit systems in Metro Manila is the expansion of the existing depot at Baclaran and construction of a new satellite depot at Zapote for Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 1-South (Cavite) Extension Project. The Department of Transportation (DOTr) signed the contract with lone bidder Shimizu Corporation to build the depots.
The Baclaran depot will be expanded to handle approximately 197 light rail vehicles (LRVs), or 38 4-car train sets and 15 3-car train sets, while a new satellite depot in Zapote station will be built to accommodate approximately 72 LRVs. Shimizu Corporation engaged First Balfour to construct the expansion of the existing Baclaran depot which included both temporary and permanent civil and structural works. Prior to completion, the First Balfour LRT Line 1 Project Management Team was able to achieve a safety milestone of 500,000 safe man-hours without a lost time incident.
