Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 25) — Transport regulators implemented a “bus augmentation” strategy on Friday night to help struggling commuters as LRT-1 operations have been limited from Gil Puyat to Fernando Poe Jr. (Roosevelt) stations from Aug. 25 to 27.
Five bus units currently plying the Malanday-Ayala route via McArthur Highway, Rizal Avenue, Taft Avenue, and Gil Puyat (Buendia) Avenue were allowed to temporarily extend their route to reach EDSA-Heritage Hotel-Taft, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said.
The LTFRB said the “bus augmentation” would take effect until LRT-1 operations normalize.
No trains will be running from the stations of Libertad, EDSA, and Baclaran for three days due to ongoing repairs to address the mechanical problem encountered by a Gen-2 trainset, according to the Light Rail Manila Corp. (LRMC).
“Based on the assessment, the incident affected a portion of LRT-1 tracks requiring the LRMC Engineering team to perform additional track works for the next THREE (3) DAYS to ensure that the LRT-1 system remains safe for our passengers,” the LRMC said in social media posts on Thursday afternoon.
Speaking to CNN Philippines’ Traffic Center, LRMC spokesperson Jacqueline Gorospe said expected tasks until Sunday are a series of operational tests, safety inspection, and getting clearance for operation.
“We have yet to complete the root cause analysis,” Gorospe said. “One cause is probably due to the vibration of the train while leaving [the station].”
Due to the late announcement, commuters were left to hail jeepneys and e-tricycles.
Maricar, a commuter planning to take the train, said she was not aware of the limited operations.
“Masyado pong hassle pumunta sa pupuntahan namin kasi lagi po kaming nagti-train,” she said. “First time lang po namin mag-jeep. Mahirap. Beep card lang din yung dala ko.”
[Translation: It’s a hassle to go there because we always take the train. This is our first time to take the jeep going there. It’s hard. I only have my Beep card.]
Gorospe said the company’s engineering team has been “working full time to accelerate [work].”
“We assure the public that our maintenance works — both preventive and corrective — will continue to be in place to ensure that it will remain safe for our passengers,” she added.
