AKBAYAN Partylist on Friday has called on the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to rethink its outright dismissal of proposals to extend the operating hours of Metro Manila’s major rail systems—LRT-1, LRT-2, and MRT-3. The partylist urged the agency to engage in meaningful dialogue with commuters and address their pressing transportation needs.
“Makinig at makisimpatiya naman ang DOTr sa ating mga commuters imbes na agarang magsara ng pinto sa panukalang i-extend ang MRT-LRT operations,” said Akbayan Representative Perci Cendaña.
“Every day, commuters, especially BPO workers and night-shift employees, face immense hardships. Extending train hours by even one or two hours can significantly alleviate their struggles, providing them with safe, efficient, and reliable transportation options after long hours of work,” he added.
Akbayan also urged the DOTr to call a comprehensive dialogue with stakeholders to discuss possible options in extending the operating hours and on other reforms to improve the riding experience of commuters.
“Sana bago ishoot down ang proposal kausapin muna ang lahat ng stakeholders para mapagusapan anong mga possible options sa pagextend ng MRT-LRT operating hours. Halimbawa, pwede namang iextend pa rin ang operations pero tuwing MWF lang or kung anong days of the week mataas ang ridership,” he said.
“Maraming options. Kung gusto may paraan. Kung ayaw may dahilan,” he added.
Cendaña highlighted the need for Metro Manila’s rail systems to rise to the standards set by other Asian capitals like Bangkok, Taipei, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, and Singapore, where train services operate until midnight.
“If our neighbors in Asia can keep their trains running until midnight, there is no reason why we can’t. We must learn from their best practices and adapt them to make our public transport system truly serve the people,” Cendaña said.
The call follows the DOTr’s recent rejection of proposals to extend train hours, despite growing public demand for improved public transport. In response, Akbayan has launched a signature campaign to galvanize support for the initiative, emphasizing its importance in addressing Metro Manila’s worsening transport crisis.
“The DOTr must listen to the voices of commuters before shutting down their appeals. Public transportation is a public service—it must serve the people,” Cendaña concluded.
