PASIG CITY, April 15 (PIA) -- The Light Rail Transit Authority announced that it will shorten the operating hours of the Light Rail Transit Line-2 or LRT-2 beginning Saturday, April 17 until April 30, 2021, citing to curb the recent spike in COVID-19 cases in Metro Manila.
"Consistent with the guidelines from the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID), our Management opted to shorten the operating hours so as to help us prevent the further spread of the virus and avoid the possible paralysis of our operations in case the numbers continue to surge," LRTA Administrator Reynaldo Berroya said.
According to the LRTA, the shortened operating hours will be from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
In a mass testing activity held for rail workers last April 7 to 8, 2021 as directed by the Department of Transportation, out 1,944 total LRT-2 employees and personnel, 1,906 have been tested as of this date where 273 tested positive.
LRTA added that currently, only 56 percent are functional among ticket management and sales collection personnel, about 73 percent among train drivers, and 68 percent among our station personnel are left available with the rest under quarantine due to COVID-19 infection or exposure.
"We have already isolated all the infected or exposed personnel, have implemented work-from-home arrangements for depot workers, revisited train ventilation and air-flow protocols, and ensured that all minimum public health standards are complied with at all times to avoid the further spread of the virus," Berroya noted.
He also said that the reduced operating hours will allow the management to still effectively manage LRT-2 operations considering the manpower deficit and allow COVID-19 afflicted employees to recover and complete their mandatory quarantine/isolation period.
"At this time of public health emergency, the welfare and safety of both our passengers and personnel must always come first," he added.
The LRTA administrator also appealed to passengers to strictly observe all the COVID-19 protocols to curb the spread of the virus.
Normal operating schedule will resume on Saturday, May 1, 2021.
Meanwhile, buses plying Route 9 (Antipolo to Cubao) and Route 10 (Cubao to Doroteo Jose) are available to augment LRT-2 operations and help accommodate affected passengers. (PIA NCR)
Source: Philippines Information Agency (pia.gov.ph)
0 Comments