THE Department of Transportation (DOTr) announced that commuters taking the Light Rail Transit Line 2 (LRT-2) will get free rides starting Wednesday, June 25, until Thursday, June 26, 2025.
This came after the LRT-2 operations were affected by a technical glitch on Wednesday morning. Trains ran only from Recto Station to Araneta Center-Cubao Station and vice versa.
The LRT-2 resumed full operations before noon after the problem with its rectifier substation near Katipunan Station was resolved.
“May biyahe na mula Recto Station hanggang Antipolo Station at pabalik,” the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) said on a Facebook post.
“Samantala, magpapatuloy ang libreng sakay mula ngayong araw hanggang bukas, Hunyo 26, 2025,” it added.
In an interview with DZXL News RMN Manila, LRTA Administrator Hernando Cabrera said a train stalled near Recto past 3 a.m. on Wednesday.
“Unfortunately, pasado alas tres, ‘yung isang tren na for deployment sana somewhere doon sa may Recto site, nagkaroon ng problema upon entering ‘yung tunnel ng Katipunan. So nagkaproblema siya, tumirik siya doon,” Cabrera said.
Based on the evaluation conducted by the LRTA technical personnel, Cabrera said there was a problem in the power transformer no. 5 and no. 6, located between Katipunan and Anonas Stations and between Marikina-Pasig and Santolan Stations, respectively.
Cabrera explained that a rectifier could be likened to a transformer for household appliances.
“Ganon din ang katumbas nitong rectifier natin, kaya lang malaki ito. Ang function niya is pababain or pataasin ‘yung boltahe ng kuryente para magamit ng mga tren natin,” he said.
Free bus rides from Antipolo, Rizal to Cubao, Quezon City were earlier deployed to assist commuters affected by the limited train operations.
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) also offered free shuttle bus rides for the affected passengers.
The MMDA said it deployed two shuttle buses and three utility vans at Antipolo Station to ease commuter woes.
