By Gigi Mu?oz David

Mayor Enrico Echiverri says the National Competitive Council is misinformed about the Light Rail Transit-Metro Rail Transit loop project, particularly on the additional station along Edsa in Caloocan City.

?There was no derailing of the LRT-MRT loop construction. As a matter of fact, the city government is very much in support of the ongoing project,? Echiverri told Standard Today.

He said the station being built near corner of Bagong Barrio and Edsa would help ease congestion and smoothen vehicular flow.

?Traffic is really terrible in this part of the city especially in the morning during rush hours where almost half a million commuters converge to shift rides,? he said.

Last week, Ambassador Cesar Bautista, competitive council co-chairman, took issue on the non-issuance of a building permit for the 5.8-km LRT 1 extension, noting that government, in accommodating a Caloocan station, would jack up construction expenditures by P800 million or 20 percent of the package cost.

But Echiverri cited the approval of President Arroyo of a stop in addition to North Avenue, Roosevelt and Balintawak.

?The President?s decision is one viable solution on the persistent problems on transportation. The overcrowding of LRT 1 passengers in Monumento station will be solved and at the same time uplift and promote public mass transportation that is environment-friendly.?

Echiverri said Bagong Barrio has been designated a priority development area for national government projects and zonal improvement programs.

?Whoever are saying the project is delayed, well, I am inviting them over to see for themselves that the construction is on schedule with the other works in other stations.?

Foreman Romeo Acosta, a subcontractor of First Balfour, told Standard Today that work was continuing on the 74 columns of the viaduct, while in Bagong Barrio, concreting of the 18-meter deep bored pile has been completed.

?The pile cap will be placed next,? he said, pointing to the circular steel framework.

Sixteen of 188 villages in Caloocan are in Bagong Barrio, making it one of the city?s most populated sections.

LRT Authority chief Mel Robles said the Bagong Barrio station, which the LRT board has approved, would cost about P600 million; accompanying documents are now being processed by the National Economic and Development Authority.

Robles led the topping-off rites on July 9 last year, along with DMI Consunji executive vice president and general manager Edilberto Palisoc, targetting a 2010 finish.