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Manila Bulletin devider Business devider Late-night MRT, LRT rides? DOTr chief considers operating hour extension

Late-night MRT, LRT rides? DOTr chief considers operating hour extension

Published Feb 25, 2025 09:56 am

Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Vince Dizon said he is open to extending the operating hours of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) and the Light Rail Transit (LRT) systems to ensure smoother commuting experience for the public.

In a briefing on Tuesday, Feb. 25, Dizon expressed approval for proposals calling for longer hours in the country’s railway system.

“We want to make the commuting public’s lives easier. That’s the easiest dapat eh (approach). Increasing the operating hours to two hours, ang laking bagay no’n ah in terms of pila (that would be a big deal in terms of reducing long queues),” he explained.

Dizon’s take on this matter is a breath of fresh air for commuters, as the DOTr has consistently shut down calls to extend operating hours.

In November of last year, Akbayan Party-list Rep. Perci Cendaña filed a bill in the House of Representatives seeking the extension of the operations of LRT-1, LRT-2, and MRT-3 to midnight from the current 10:30 pm.

The lawmaker argued the need to ease the commute of night shift workers in Metro Manila, such as those in the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry.

The DOTr, under former secretary Jaime Bautista, asserted that the proposed extension is not feasible since it will compromise the necessary maintenance and repairs.

For his part, Dizon acknowledged that maintenance would also be a cause for concern regarding such a proposal.

As such, he is set to discuss with the railway operators within the week to discuss the uncertainties regarding extended hours, particularly on the maintenance issue.

“I understand we have to maintain. Of course, we don’t want trains stopping again like in the past,” said Dizon.

“But we always have to find a way to push the envelope a little bit more and this is all for passenger welfare,” he emphasized.

The DOTr chief noted that he will also push the railway operators to invest in more train cars to provide greater access to passengers.

“We will consider all options to make the commuting public’s experience easier. All options are on the table, lengthening of hours…whatever bright ideas the DOTr and the railway operators can come up with,” he said.

Following his experience last Monday of riding through the EDSA Bus Carousel to experience firsthand the daily plight of commuters, Dizon told reporters that he would ride the MRT-3 next week.

He stressed that such transport issues cannot be solved if he’s working behind a desk.

Related Tags

Department of Transportation MRT-3 LRT 1 DOTr secretary Vince Dizon
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