The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is urging lawmakers to reinstate the P12.8-billion allocation meant to buy new train sets for Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 2, after the fund was dropped from the 2027 budget proposal submitted to Congress.
Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) Administrator Hernando Cabrera said the amount was part of the DOTr’s original 2027 National Expenditure Program but was excluded once it reached the legislature. “We are appealing for its reconsideration,” Cabrera stated.
The budget will fund around 15 new train sets to boost service capacity. Currently, only eight trains are running on the line — one is under a control panel upgrade while another remains under repair — even as ridership continues to grow. More trains will mean shorter waiting times, less crowding, and more reliable trips for thousands of daily commuters traveling between Recto, Manila and Antipolo, Rizal.
While waiting for lawmakers’ support and the release of funds, Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez has ordered the LTFRB and LRTA to study a temporary alternative: issuing special permits to public utility buses to serve the LRT-2 route. Buses would run from Antipolo to Recto and back, stopping at all 13 stations along the line. The review will cover schedules, fare levels, and regulatory rules to ensure safe, convenient backup service especially during rush hours.
The appeal to restore the budget is critical: approving the proposal will directly improve LRT-2 operations and give commuters better, more consistent service in the long term.
