LRT burdened with heavy passenger volume due to Iglesia ni Cristo gathering

Published February 28, 2012 6:12pm

(Updated 6:30 p.m.) The Light Rail Transit (LRT-1) is experiencing heavy passenger volume due to the religious event of the influential Iglesia ni Cristo in Manila Tuesday afternoon.

In a post on his Twitter account, LRT Authority spokesman Hernando Cabrera said they are bracing for even heavier passenger volume at rush hour.

"LRT1 now with heavy passenger volume due to traffic jams resultjng from the ongoing INC activity. Expecting heavier volume come rush hour," Cabrera said.

In a separate interview on dzBB radio, Cabrera said they noticed the rising passenger volume as early as 3 p.m.

He said overcrowding in some stations has caused a delay in the operation of the LRT-1.

"Ang nangyayari imbes makausad ang tren hihintay pa natin para (maayos) ang pinto (Instead of moving forward, the train is stalled until the door can close properly)," he said.

He said they are now studying whether to extend the LRT's operating hours due to the large volume of passengers. He said they may reach a decision by 8 p.m.

Earlier, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority estimated that as many as three million people were to join the INC's gathering.

Many roads leading to the site had been inaccessible to traffic as early as Tuesday noon.

The LRT Line 1 links Baclaran in southern Metro Manila to Roosevelt in Quezon City. — RSJ, GMA News

Tags: lightrailtransit, iglesianicristo