(CNN Philippines) — Malacañan issued an apology on Sunday (May 24) for the incident at the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT1) Saturday morning (May 23) that resulted to another disruption of its operations.
A minor train collision involving two LRT trains happened at the Monumento station around 7 a.m. Saturday after a power fluctuation hit the said station.
The incident halted a portion of LRT1’s operations for more than six hours and forced its irked passengers to take other means of transportation instead.
“Humihingi po kami ng paumanhin sa ating mga mamamayan habang patuloy sa isinasakatuparan ng pamahalaan ang pagpapahusay sa serbisyo ng LRT at MRT,” said Presidential Communications Operations Office Sec. Sonny Coloma during an interview over state-run radio station dzRB Sunday.
According to LRTA spokesperson Hernando Cabrera, the power fluctuation was supposed to automatically shut down the trains’ signaling system on default. One train that was initially halted at the Monumento Station, however, suddenly moved forward and ended up hitting another train which was at a stop a little further away.
A train operator was hurt in the incident and train operations between the Balintawak and Roosevelt stations were temporarily suspended.
Normal train operations resumed at 1:29 in the afternoon.
Coloma, meanwhile, assured the commuting public that the government is doing its best to improve the service of the mass transport system.
“Hindi po tumitigil ang pamahalaan sa pagtataguyod ng kaligtasan at kaginhawaan ng ating mga kababayang gumagamit ng serbisyo ng LRT at MRT.”
Related: Minor collision disrupts LRT operation Saturday
CNN Philippines’ Paola Palma contributed to this report.
