Light Rail Transit (LRT) – 2 commuters going to Pasig, Marikina, and Antipolo can now enjoy a more comfortable, convenient, and faster travel as President Duterte, together with Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Art Tugade, inaugurated the LRT-2 East Extension project last Thursday.
Also opened were two additional LRT-2 stations—the Marikina-Pasig and Antipolo stations—which will enable the rail line to accommodate an additional 80,000 passengers. Daily ridership was increased to 320,000 passengers from the previous 240,000 passengers. The rail extension line also cuts the usual three-hour road travel time from Recto, Manila to Masinag, Antipolo to just 30 to 40 minutes.
President Duterte commended the efforts of the DOTr, under the leadership of Secretary Tugade, and its key private sector partners for the completion of the project despite difficulties posed by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Your efforts and determination show that the government stops at nothing to carry on its mandate, to serve the people’s interest no matter the circumstances,” he said.
“I’ve been saying this over again, I have been redundant about it. This guy [Secretary Tugade] is our valedictorian in law school. Alam ko talaga this guy is marunong, kaya ito ang unang pinakiusapan ko sa journey ko as President. Sila ni Secretary [Mark] Villar ‘yung nag-perform exceedingly well and I thank them. I am really grateful for their services, these are my idol sa gobyerno,” the President shared.
During the ceremony, the President asked Tugade to give commuters free rides for the first two weeks of the extended line’s operations.
On Monday, July 5, 2021, when the extended line opens, passengers from Santolan to Antipolo and vice versa, will ride for free.
Secretary Tugade said the project’s completion has impact on the lives of daily commuters, especially students going to Manila’s university belt.
Image courtesy of DOTr