Portalets were installed at three Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) stations after Acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez found out that restrooms were repurposed as storage rooms.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said the LRT-1 private operator, Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC), installed portalets at Vito Cruz, United Nations Avenue, and Pedro Gil stations while their restrooms undergo renovation.
The move followed Lopez’s visit to Pedro Gil station last week, where he found the restrooms closed and filled with piled-up items.
‘It is thus unavailable for passenger use,’ the DOTr said in Filipino.
‘The secretary immediately ordered the repair of the comfort rooms at LRT-1 stations,’ it added.
LRMC President Enrico Benipayo has apologized to passengers for the inconvenience caused by the inaccessible restrooms and promised to ‘further commit to work hand-in-hand with our partners in government to improve passenger experience.’ /mcm