The Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Saturday ordered Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC), the private operator of Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1), to provide immediate assistance to passengers injured following the reported escalator malfunction in the rail line’s FPJ Station last Friday, August 15.
In a statement, Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon said that “LRMC must always prioritize the reliability of LRT-1’s facilities to ensure the safety and welfare of commuters.”
GMA News Online reached out to LRMC for comment. The story will be updated once a response has been received from the company.
“Kabilin-bilinan ng Pangulo, na dapat kampante ang mga pasahero na ligtas ang biyahe nila kapag sasakay ng tren. Inutusan ko na ang LRMC na bigyan ng agarang tulong ‘yung mga nasaktang pasahero, at ayusin agad ‘yung nasirang escalator,” Dizon said.
(The President said that passengers should feel at ease and safe when riding trains. I ordered LRM to immediately provide assistance to injured passengers and fix the malfunctioning escalator.)
According to the DOTr, one female passenger was brought to the hospital for check-ups and was discharged within two hours.
The Transportation Department added six other passengers opted to go home after receiving first aid at the FPJ station.
It said that as of 10:00 a.m. Saturday, August 16, the affected escalator has been repaired and cleared for safe public use.
The agency said it will continue working closely with LRMC to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future. —VAL, GMA Integrated News
