DOTr: Recto station ‘crack’ not earthquake-related

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Transportation on Tuesday said the crack in a parapet wall in Light Rail Transit- 2 Recto Station is not caused by the magnitude 6.1 earthquake felt in some parts in Luzon.

“It is from an existing damage. It is not earthquake-related,” DOT Assistant Secretary Goddes Hope Libiran said in Filipino in an interview with GMA News’ Unang Hirit.

The Light Rail Authority also made the same clarification, saying it has “been observed to be not structural in nature” and “not a structural crack.”

The transportation authorities made the clarification after a photo of the existing crack became viral following a magnitude 6.1 earthquake.

The viral photo of Pat Anthony Padua circulated on social media after the tremor prompted stoppage of operations of the major train lines on Monday evening.

Libiran announced that the major train lines of LRT, Metro Rail Transit and Philippine National Railways resumed operations on Tuesday morning after damage assessment.

“Agad pong in-assess ng mga safety engineers natin yung buong linya at wala naman po tayong nakitang damage or any reason para po hindi pa i-resume ang operations ngayong umaga,” Libiran said.

(Our safety engineers immediately assessed all the lines and they did not see any damage nor reason to stop the resumption of operations this morning.)

The transport official said the train lines operations were halted on Monday upon orders of DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade and following the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council’s protocol.

Libiran said the station commanders assured that passengers alighted the trains safely and calmly.

Meanwhile, Tugade also directed transportation hubs and offices to practice safety measures during case of emergencies like this.