Free MRT, LRT rides today

Management of the Light Railway Transit (LRT) and the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) will offer free rides to commuters today to commemorate the 56th birthday of President Arroyo.

The free rides coincide with the inauguration of the "Megatren," the new trains of the LRT-2. The President and a number of Cabinet men will be among the first passengers of the line which initially runs from Santolan, Pasig to Cubao, Quezon City. Megatren is expected to benefit some 12 million commuters daily.

The free ride is a yearly offering of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) to commemorate the birthday of an incumbent president.

Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza said the LRT-1, which runs from Monumento in Caloocan City to Baclaran in Pasay City will offer free rides from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. today.

For the MRT, the free rides would be from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The MRT runs along the stretch of EDSA from Taft Avenue in Pasay City to North Avenue in Quezon City.

Management of LRT-2 has also offered free rides following the inauguration. The free rides will be offered from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. today. On April 6 to 9, free rides would be offered from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

"The Megatren is the much-awaited answer to the clamor for a convenient, fast and reliable mass transportation across Metro Manila," Mendoza said. When completed, the line will extend all the way to Recto in Manila.

The cost of fare from Santolan to Cubao will be P12. The Megatren has a speed of 80 kph, translating to an 11-minute ride from Santolan to Cubao.

Thompson Lantion, DOTC spokesman, said LRT management is currently negotiating for the approval of the LRT 2 extension from Marikina to Cainta and Antipolo City.

P1 fare discount

Major land transport organizations will give a fare discount of P1 today as their birthday gift to Mrs. Arroyo.

This was announced by Claire de la Fuente, president of the Integrated Metro Manila Bus Operators Association (IMBOA). She said the different transport groups from the Metro Manila bus, provincial bus, and jeepney sectors met and agreed on the P1 fare discount as their gift.

"The whole-day discount is to express our gratitude to President Arroyo for the support she has been giving to the land transportation industry," said De la Fuente.

Provincial bus operators under the Provincial Bus Operators Association of the Philippines (PBOAP) will give a minimum of P1 discount or more, according to their president, Alex Yague.

Participating organizations, aside from IMBOA and PBOAP, are the Southern Luzon Bus Operators Association, CAVALBOA, Intercity Bus Operators Association, PASANG MASDA, Federation of Rizal-Cubao Operators Drivers Alliance, Katipunan ng mga Kooperatibang Pansasakyan Ink., PCDO ACTO, PKKP and Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Associations of the Philippines.