According to Transport Secretary Vivencio B. Dizon, the government will privatize Light Rail Transport Line 2 (LRT-2) through public-private partners (PPP), the increase in ride count and the expansion of plans, highlighting the need to improve operations and maintenance.
Dizon said at a virtual palace briefing on Thursday that Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., approved the PPP privatisation model.
“For LRT-2, we have plans to use PPP next year,” he said. “The World Bank’s IFC is helping us achieve it quickly.”
On Wednesday, the LRT-2 suffered an hour-long power outage due to power issues, disrupting the commutes of thousands of passengers.
Also considering using subway transport Line 3 3 prepared by the Asian Development Bank.
Unlike the privately operated LRT-1, LRT-2 is fully owned and operated by the government through the light rail transport authorities. MRT-3 is a joint venture between the government and the subway transport company.
Mr Dizon said the bidding process for the LRT-2 will begin soon, but no timetable was given.
Although LRT-2 still has lower passenger volumes compared to other rail lines, Mr Dizon said the PPP was timely.
He cited the recent extension of the line to Antipolo and planned expansion to North Harbor, which is expected to drive growth for commuters.
He also assured that the PPP would not automatically cause fares to rise, noting that the government will continue to regulate train fares.
Last week, both MRT-3 and LRT-1 experienced electrical problems that disrupted their operations. – Chloe Mari A. Hufana
