NEW LRT-2 EXTENSION. Photo of the newly built Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 2 East Extension Project in Antipolo City, Rizal. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte led the inauguration ceremony of the LRT 2 Antipolo Station on July 1, 2021. (Presidential photo by Ace Morandante)
MANILA – Passengers who will take Light Rail Transit-2 (LRT-2) East Extension from Santolan to Antipolo and vice versa may be getting free rides for the next two weeks.
This, after President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday, asked Transport Secretary Arthur Tugade if it is possible to offer a free ride in the new LRT-2 stations that will begin operations on July 5.
“Binulungan ko si Art. Sabi ko, ‘Art, puwede bang isa, dalawa o kaya mo dalawang linggong libreng pasakay para naman maligayahan yung mga tao lalo na yung mga estudyante (I whispered to Art. I said, ‘Art, can you give two or three weeks of free rides so that people will be happy, especially students?’) Can I ask for a moratorium sa bayad, libre (in fare, free) for two or three weeks?” he said in a speech during the formal inauguration of the LRT-2 East Extension Project.
Tugade, in response, said two-week LRT-2 free rides from Santolan to Antipolo station and vice versa would be feasible.
“Two weeks daw. Kaya daw niya. Mabuhay si Art Tugade (He said we can give free rides for two weeks. Long live Art Tugade),” Duterte added.
He also expressed a desire to ride train for the first time since they don’t have LRT in his hometown in Davao City.
“Hindi kasi ako nakakasakay ng train sa totoo lang. Walang train sa amin eh. Gusto ko magsakay para mamasyal (I don’t have a chance to ride a train, to be honest. We don’t have trains from where we live. I want to take a ride to explore),” he said.
Duterte, meanwhile, praised Tugade for the accomplishments done in the transport sector, especially on improving connectivity in Metro Manila.
“I’ve been saying this all over again, being redundant about it, but this guy was our valedictorian sa (in) law school. Alam ko talaga na marunong kaya ito ang una kong pinakausapan na samahan ako as journey ko of my presidency (I know he knows what to do that’s why he was among the first I approached to join me in my journey in presidency),” he said.
He said Tugade and Public Works Secretary Mark Villar, who was also present in the event, were among the Cabinet secretaries who performed “exceedingly well” in his administration.
Tugade said the PHP4.5 billion LRT-2 East Extension Project has extended the existing 13.8-kilometer LRT-2 line from Recto in Manila to Santolan in Antipolo by additional 3.793 kilometers.
The extended line will have two new stations -- Marikina-Pasig and Antipolo.
The LRT Line 2 trains, Tugade said, have also been increased to eight from five that are currently running from Recto Station to Santolan Station and vice versa.
Once operational, the LRT-2 East Extension Project will cut travel time from Claro M. Recto, Manila to Masinag, Antipolo from three hours via bus or jeepney, to just 30 to 40 minutes.
The project is also expected to increase the LRT-2's average daily passenger capacity from 240,000 to 320,000. (PNA)
