MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is eyeing to enhance the LRT-2 operations through a public-private partnership (PPP).
This announcement comes after the LRT-2 suffered a five-hour delay in operations on June 25 due to technical difficulties.
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In a Palace briefing on Thursday, June 26, DOTr Secretary Vince Dizon said that the long-term solution for such issues is a PPP, as the systems of the railway tracks are old and outdated.
“For LRT-2, mayroon tayong planong i-PPP na ito sa susunod na taon. Tinutulungan tayo ng International Finance Corp. ng World Bank para mabilisan nang ma-PPP ito,” Dizon said.
(For LRT-2, we have a planned PPP next year. We are being helped by the International Finance Corporation of the World Bank so that PPP is fast-tracked.)
A similar PPP is also being planned for MRT-3 with the Asian Development Bank.
Unlike the LRT-1, the LRT-2 is owned and operated by the government through the Light Rail Transit Authority, while the MRT-3 is jointly owned and operated by the Metro Rail Transit Corp. and the government.
Dizon said the process will start soon and the project will be bid out as a PPP.
While ridership for the LRT-2 is not as high as the other railway lines, Dizon said the PPP was timely. The government is expecting more commuters to use the LRT-2 line following its extension until Antipolo, as well as a planned expansion to North Harbor.
The DOTr chief reassured the public that a PPP does not necessarily entail high prices, as the government will still regulate the fares.