Transportation Chief Hits Deplorable Conditions at LRT-1 Baclaran Station

LRTA Administrator Hernando Cabrera, Acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez (center) reprimand the LRT 1 station manager for the unsanitary conditions at the Baclaran station.

Transportation Chief Hits Deplorable Conditions at LRT-1 Baclaran Station

By Wilma N Yamzon – TheNationWeek.Com | November 5, 2025

MANILA, Philippines – Acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez has expressed disappointment over the state of the LRT-1 Baclaran Station, which he described as being in a state of disrepair and neglect, particularly regarding accessibility for persons with disabilities (PWDs) and senior citizens.

Lopez particularly criticized the station after a surprise inspection, which is part of his weekly commute to assess transportation hubs in Metro Manila.

The inspection was conducted following a directive from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. amid heavy rain on Tuesday.

Lopez’s inspection began at the LRT-2 Antipolo Station and continued to the LRT-1 Doroteo Jose Station up to the Baclaran Station.

It was there that his frustration boiled over.

“It’s unacceptable,” Lopez stated, visibly angered by the station’s condition.

He pointed out the lack of PWD and senior citizen-friendly facilities, the filthy environment, closed passageways that force commuters to navigate difficult routes, and an abandoned walkway project.

A revelation that the station’s restrooms have been without water for four years further fueled his dismay.

“Are passengers supposed to fetch water in buckets?” Lopez questioned the station manager.

“Four years without water! If there’s a problem, we need to find a solution!”

The situation escalated when Lopez witnessed a PWD struggling to navigate the station’s slippery floors and steep stairs.

“Look how difficult it is for him,” he exclaimed.

“There should be someone wiping the floor and cleaning. You said there are cleaners; where are they? I asked for your staff earlier; where are they?”

Lopez stressed that commuters deserve comfortable and adequate service.

“It’s okay if it’s old, as long as the infrastructure is clean and well-maintained,” he said.

“This doesn’t even feel like a station. Just because people aren’t complaining doesn’t mean we should accept it and not do our jobs. That’s not acceptable. This should have been addressed a long time ago.”

The unfinished construction of the passageway, which began in March 2025, also drew sharp criticism.

Lopez noted that the closure of nearly all passageways has severely inconvenienced commuters.

He demanded the immediate fixing of passageways.

“It’s been like this since March. And no one is even working on it. Are there only three people working on it? Will it take us three years to finish?”

Lopez immediately directed Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) Administrator Hernando Cabrera to closely monitor the actions of the Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC), the private operator of LRT-1, to ensure swift improvements to the Baclaran Station.

He also ordered a study for the installation of elevators to improve accessibility for PWDs and senior citizens.

The LRMC has been given until the end of the year to “fix” the Baclaran Station.