ANTIPOLO CITY, Rizal, July 2 (PIA)-- President Rodrigo Duterte served as guest-of-honor at the newly-inaugurated LRT-2 East Extension at the Antipolo station in Masinag, Antipolo City this July 1.
"Allow me to thank the hardworking and visionary workers and engineers who took part part in the planning and construction of this railway extension and the two new stations that we open today. Maraming maraming salamat po sa ating mga manggagawang Pilipino," said Pres. Duterte in his speech.
The President also thanked the Department of Transportation and other partner agencies in their vital role in the key project despite the pandemic.
President Duterte along with Department of Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, Light Rail Transit Authority Administrator Reynaldo Berroya and Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go also led the unveiling of the ceremonial marker.
The Antipolo Station along with the Marikina-Pasig Station, which serve as stations in the 3.8 kilometer LRT-2 East Extension Project to the LRT-2 Santolan Station in Pasig City, will open to the public on July 5.
The two new stations are anticipated to accommodate an additional 80,000 passengers per day to the current 240,000 maximum capacity increasing the capacity to 320,000.
Rizaleños will also have easier access to the transit system reducing the formerly 3-hour travel to C.M. Recto in Manila City to around 40 minutes.
"Now our commuters can travel faster to be more productive and enjoy quality time in travel to-and-fro from work," said Pres. Duterte.
President Duterte later on requested Secretary Tugade two give LRT-2 passengers a two-week moratorium on payments.
"Binulungan ko si Art (Tugade). Sabi ko, Art, pwede bang isa, dalawa o kaya dalawang linggong libreng pasakay? Para naman maligayan yung mga tao, lalo na yung mga estudyante. Can I ask for a moratorium sa bayad," said Pres. Duterte.
The President later on added that Secretary Tugade will be able to allow a moratorium of payments from the Santolan to Antipolo Station for two weeks. (GG/PIA-RIZAL)