DOTr eyes special buses on LRT-2 route amid lack of operational trains

MANILA — Transport authorities have been directed to study issuing special permits for public utility buses to run along the LRT-2 route in a bid to ease severe station congestion and long passenger queues, officials said Friday.

Transportation Secretary Banoy Lopez ordered the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) to coordinate on the proposed bus deployment between Antipolo and Recto stations in Metro Manila.

The move aims to provide commuters with immediate alternative transportation while the government works to address a shortage of train sets. The LRT-2 originally had 18 train sets with 4 coaches each. However, only eight train sets are currently operational.

“Nauunawaan po namin ang hirap na dinaranas ng ating mga komyuter na sumasakay sa LRT-2.  Kaya naman inatasan po natin ang LTFRB at LRTA na mag-coordinate para sa panukalang pag-i-isyu ng special permits sa mga bus para may masakyan ang ating mga pasahero habang tinutugunan natin ang kakulangan sa bilang ng tren,” said Sec. Lopez.

Under the proposal, authorized buses will operate along the full LRT-2 alignment with designated pickup and drop-off points at train stations. The joint agency study will evaluate operational logistics, regulatory requirements, and passenger fare structures.

The LRTA clarified that while line operations remain free of major technical breakdowns, its maximum fleet of 10 trains is no longer sufficient to handle growing passenger volumes. Only eight train sets are currently operational, as one undergoes a control panel upgrade and another undergoes maintenance repairs.