DOTr: No intention to humiliate LRT-1 station manager

Acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez had no intention to humiliate anyone after he expressed frustration while talking with the station manager during his recent inspection of the LRT-1 Baclaran station, the Department of Transportation said on Thursday.

“The acting secretary did not scold the station manager, but rather his remarks stemmed from his frustration and genuine concern for the welfare of the commuters and his firm expectation that all facilities meet the standards truly deserve,” the DOTr said in a statement.

“In no way, was there any intent to humiliate anyone," it added.

Lopez earlier ordered the Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC) to complete its repairs at LRT-1 Baclaran Station by the end of 2025 after he noticed several deficiencies that affect commuters.

In a video, Lopez expressed his frustration after learning that the station's restrooms have had no water supply for four years. 

The DOTr official also flagged that the train station does not cater to persons with disability and senior citizens.

Further, the DOTr said that it was the station manager’s responsibility “to oversee and ensure that commuters are given fair treatment and their basic needs and concerns are met and addressed.” 

“Any lapses must be met with accountability and especially if you are tasked to manage a facility, more so a public transportation that caters to thousands of commuters daily. At the minimum, our commuters deserve a decent, clean, and orderly public transport, nothing less,” the department added. 

The LRMC has acknowledged the lapses observed by Lopez. 

“We assure the riding public and Acting Secretary Lopez that we will accelerate the completion of these ongoing works and will fully comply with the Secretary’s mandate to address any noted areas requiring immediate attention,” LRMC said. –NB, GMA Integrated News