By Aerol John Pateña/PNA
MANILA — The Philippine National Railways (PNR) started on Monday to extend its trips to Malabon from Taguig with the opening of its Governor Pascual station.
“With the new station, there will be four trips daily from Tutuban in Manila to Governor Pascual in Malabon, and vice versa; and eight trips from Governor Pascual to FTI Station in Taguig, and vice versa daily,” the PNR said in a statement.
Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade, meanwhile, said the opening of the extended route is a dry run and further improvements will be done by June next year to accommodate the passengers in Malabon.
“Kung darating ang panahon na kinakailangan na dagdagan pa ang bagon upang sa ganun yung mga biyahe ay madagdagan gagawin po namin yan. By June, pinal at pormal bago yung riles; hindi na kakarag-karag yung istasyon baka mapaluwag pa ang mga upuan at kapasidad (If there is a need for additional trains in order to increase the trips, we will do that. By June, the rails will be new; the station is no longer dilapidated, we might even widen the seats and increase passenger capacity),” Tugade said in his address during the launching.
Tugade led the blessing of the Governor Pascual platform and the Sangandaan – Governor Pascual segment, along with DOTr Undersecretary for Railways Timothy John Batan, PNR General Manager Junn Magno, PNR Board Chairman Roberto Lastimoso, National Youth Commission Chairperson Ronald Gian Carlo Cardema, Malabon City Rep. Ricky Sandoval, and Malabon City Vice Mayor Jeannie Sandoval.
The train fare from Governor Pascual to FTI station is PHP25 for air-conditioned coaches and PHP20 for non-air-conditioned units with its route duration, spanning 58 minutes.
