LRT-1 private operator Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC) is actively expanding its safety and disaster preparedness efforts beyond its train lines and stations and into the communities it serves, addressing the urgent needs highlighted by recent natural calamities like earthquakes and widespread floods.
LRMC is intensifying its efforts through the “LRT-1 KaligtaSakay: A Safety Education Program.” This initiative, launched in 2023, is a vital community outreach program aimed at building resilience right in the neighborhoods adjacent to the LRT-1 route. The program equips elementary and high school students and school personnel with essential knowledge directly applicable to both daily life and emergencies, including those triggered by natural disasters.
Through engaging and comprehensive modules, the program covers basic first aid, fire safety, electrical safety, basic school safety, basic train safety, commuting etiquette, and proper handwashing. These modules are designed to foster a culture of safety and preparedness that reaches from the classroom to the daily commute and, ultimately, to the home, empowering participants to act swiftly and correctly in emergencies.
LRMC has successfully partnered with key community institutions along the LRT-1 line, including Marcela Marcelo Elementary School, Philippine National School for the Blind, Philippine School for the Deaf, Don Carlos Village Elementary School, Apelo Cruz Elementary School, Baclaran Elementary School – Central, and Maricaban Elementary School.
“The recent earthquakes and floods are stark reminders that safety must be a shared responsibility that extends well beyond our rail operations,” said LRMC Head of Health, Safety, Environment, and Quality Jason Magdaong. “The LRT-1 KaligtaSakay program represents LRMC going the extra mile. We are taking the expertise and discipline of our rail safety protocols and sharing them with the communities that depend on us. By educating the youth in disaster and life safety, we are not just teaching them to be safe passengers; we re making them agents of resilience for their families and neighborhoods.”
The program has already empowered an average of 500 students and 70 teachers and administrative staff. This significant community contribution is amplified by the dedication of LRMC’s own workforce, with an average of 200 employee volunteers dedicating over 900 total volunteer hours.
By extending its corporate safety mandate to local schools, LRMC underscores its commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 11: Making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.
Looking ahead, LRMC is committed to expanding its reach, planning to roll out the project with more partner schools this year. This continued effort solidifies LRMC’s dedication to not only providing safe, reliable, and efficient transportation but also actively contributing to the overall safety and disaster readiness of the communities that surround the LRT-1.
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