Ret. Gen. Reynaldo Berroya named LRTA administrator

MANILA, Philippines — Retired Police Director General Reynaldo Berroya is the Light Rail Transit Authority’s (LRTA) new administrator.

The LRTA Board of Directors unanimously elected Berroya. He was previously appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte as an LRTA board member.

The Board of Directors is composed of seven ex-officio Cabinet members which include the Secretary of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) as chairman, the respective secretaries of the Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Budget and Management, Department of Finance and the National Economic and Development Authority, the chairmen of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, and two representatives from the private sector.

Berroya promised that he will establish reforms and improvements in the LRTA to provide better service to commuters.

"I'm committed to support DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade's initiative to improve the conditions of our mass transit system in order to provide a safe, reliable, efficient and convenient travel to our commuters," Berroya said in a release.

Berroya previously served as general manager of the Metro Rail Transit-3, chief of the Land Transportation Office, assistant secretary for special concerns and undersecretary for communications of the DOTr.

He also held a high-ranking post in the military and obtained several meritorious accomplishments at the Intelligence Operations, Special Operations, Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Constabulary Anti- Narcotics Unit, Metrocom Intelligence and Presidential Anti-Crime Commission.

Prior to his appointment to the LRTA Board of Directors, Berroya was rumored to chair the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office and replace the post of Gov. Ayong Maliksi. However, Berroya was assigned to the LRTA.

The LRTA is tasked to manage the LRT-2 system line from Santolan to Recto and watch the performance of the Light Rail Manila Corporation, the private operator and maintenance contractor of the LRT-1 system line from Baclaran to Roosevelt. — Rosette Adel