LRT-2 shortens operating hours as more staff get sick

The Light Rail Transit Line 2 (LRT-2) will temporarily shorten its operating hours due to manpower deficit amid the growing number of personnel who are catching the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

In a statement, the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) said the rail line will operate within the 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. window from April 17 to 30, five hours shorter than normal operating hours.

“Consistent with the guidelines from the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, 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.

Data from LRTA show, 273 out of the 1,906 LRT-2 personnel have tested positive for COVID-19 as of April 14.

According to Berroya, only 56 percent are able to work among ticket management and sales collection personnel while only 73 percent among train drivers are deployable. Some 68 percent of other station personnel are available.

The rest are under quarantine either due to COVID-19 infection or exposure.

“We have already isolated all the infected or exposed personnel, have implemented work-fromhome 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 said.

Berroya said LRT-2 operations will still be managed effectively despite the manpower deficit.

Buses plying Route 9 (Antipolo to Cubao) and Route 10 (Cubao to Doroteo Jose) will help accommodate affected passengers.

Normal operating schedule at LRT-2 is expected to resume on May 1, the administration said.