MANILA—Partylist group Akbayan on Friday called on the government to extend the operating hours of Metro Manila's three main railways to midnight. 

In a statement, Akbayan Representative Perci Cendaña said the Department of Transportation should consider extending the operations of LRT-1, LRT-2, and the MRT-3 to midnight from the current 10:30 p.m. 

Cendaña said this is meant to serve thousands of BPO and night shift workers in Metro Manila.

“It’s one way the government can alleviate the unpleasant experience ng pag-commute sa Metro Manila," Cendaña said.

He said this will also ease commuter woes with the expected worsening of the traffic in the capital during the holiday season. The Akbayan representative said MRT and LRT lines are also safer options for late-night commuters as they have roving security personnel.

This is not the first time that a group has called on the government to extend the operating hours of the capital's mass transit lines. In August last year, a commuters' group also called for extending the operations of the MRT until midnight. 

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In December last year, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority also asked railway operators to extend operating hours amid the heavy holiday season traffic. The DOTr agreed with the suggestion and adjusted the last trips of the MRT-3, LRT-1 and LRT-2 for three days, although not up to midnight. 

The railway operators have said that some downtime was necessary for the maintenance of the trains and systems.

FROM THE ARCHIVES