Arroyo launches Strong Republic Transport System

President Arroyo launched yesterday the Strong Republic Transport System (SRTS), which links the four existing mass rail transit systems in the metropolis into one.

The President, accompanied by Transportation and Communications Secretary Leandro Mendoza, Secretary for President’s Priority Programs Marita Jimenez, DOTC Undersecretary Jose Cortez Jr. and Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) Administrator Teddy Cruz, rode the trains for the test run yesterday.

"This is the government’s Christmas gift to the people – providing them safe, convenient and fast travel from one destination to another," Mrs. Arroyo told reporters inside the airconditioned Philippine National Railway (PNR) coach.

Mrs. Arroyo’s trip started at the V. Mapa station of the PNR enroute to the V. Mapa station of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) 2. After disembarking from the LRT 2 in Sta. Mesa, she walked for almost a kilometer from SM Sta. Mesa to Stop and Shop and shook hands with the people.

This was followed by a 30-minute ride to the Blumentritt station of the PNR, where the President walked for another 100 meters to get to the Blumentritt station of the LRT Line 1.

From there, it’s a 20-minute ride to the Pasay-Taft station of the Metrostar Express, where she was welcomed by Pasay City Mayor Peewee Trinidad.

The President then boarded the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) 3 at the EDSA station to the Araneta Center/Cubao station for the last leg of the tour.

The mass rail transit is part of an eight-year plan to develop the first viable transportation loop in Metro Manila. It will have seven links including today’s LRT 1, MRT 3, LRT 2, and the PNR north and south rails.

The five transport systems at present have been color coded as follows: LRT 1 (Rizal-Taft), yellow line; MRT 3 (EDSA), blue line; LRT 2 (Aurora-Magsaysay), purple line; PNR north rail, green line; PNR south rail, orange line. This is to guide commuters in their daily trip.

Mrs. Arroyo announced that the LRT 2 will be providing free trips to the public starting today and until April next year, when its commercial run is scheduled to start. However, it will only run for four hours a day — two hours in the morning and two hours in the afternoon.

The LRT 2 starts from Santolan, Pasig City to V. Mapa in Sta. Mesa, Manila, spanning 8.76 kilometers. It passes through the Marcos Highway, Aurora Boulevard and Ramon Magsaysay Avenue. By December 2004, three more stations will be opened, extending the line to C.M. Recto Avenue in Manila.