THE Department of Transportation (DoTr) said it is looking into the installation of passenger screen doors at new railway stations, including those on the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) and Metro Manila Subway, following an incident at Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) on Saturday.
“We have learned a lot and because of that, all the stations of our NSCR project or the 147-kilometer Calamba-Clark Railway will have passenger screen doors. Even our subway and Metro Rail Transit Line 4 will also have these so that we can avoid such accidents,” Transportation Undersecretary for Railways Cesar B. Chavez told reporters on Sunday.
On Saturday, a 26-year-old male passenger was reported to have jumped onto the southbound tracks of LRT-1 Blumentritt station.
Asked about plans for existing rail lines, Mr. Chavez said their feasibility is under study.
“It will be difficult for us to put up passenger screen doors in the existing lines, but we are currently studying their feasibility. Right now, we do not have a definitive plan yet,” said Mr. Chavez.
For the meantime, the DoTr will continue to deploy security guards to intervene should such incidents recur.
Separately the DoTr and LRT-1 operator Light Rail Manila Corp. (LRMC) held a ceremony on Sunday to rename Roosevelt station along EDSA in Quezon City to Fernando Poe, Jr. station.
The change was authorized by Republic Act No. 11608 and Light Rail Transit Authority Resolution No. 002-2023.
“In renaming (the station), we hope that Filipinos will always remember and will be inspired by how Fernando Poe, Jr. lived with values of determination, courage, and hope. LRMC shares these values and supports the promotion of local arts and culture,” LRMC President and Chief Executive Officer Juan F. Alfonso said.
Mr. Chavez said the necessary system updates will be effected to avoid confusion.
“All the systems will be updated. The signage and tickets, even the stored value cards, (among others), will be updated. All of these changes are already programmed,” Mr. Chavez said. — Justine Irish D. Tabile