Light Rail Manila Corp. (LRMC), the private operator of the LRT-1 train line, is extending its safety and disaster preparedness programs beyond its rail operations and into the communities it serves, the company announced.
The initiative, named “LRT-1 KaligtaSakay: A Safety Education Program,” addresses the growing need for community resilience following recent natural disasters, including earthquakes and widespread floods.
Launched in 2023, the community outreach program focuses on equipping elementary and high school students and school personnel in neighborhoods adjacent to the LRT-1 route with essential life-saving knowledge.
The program includes engaging modules on basic first aid, fire safety, electrical safety, basic school and train safety, commuting etiquette and proper handwashing. The goal is to cultivate a safety and preparedness culture that extends from the classroom and daily commute to the home, empowering participants to respond effectively in an emergency.
LRMC head of health, safety, environment and quality Jason Magdaong said safety is a shared responsibility that goes “well beyond our rail operations.”
Magdaong said the program is about “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 operator has already teamed up with several community institutions along the 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.
It said the initiative has empowered an average of 500 students and 70 teachers and administrative staff. The effort has been significantly supported by LRMC’s workforce, with an average of 200 employee volunteers dedicating more than 900 total volunteer hours.
By expanding its corporate safety mandate to local schools, LRMC said it is contributing to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 11, which focuses on making cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.
LRMC plans to expand the project further by rolling out partnerships with more schools this year.
