(SPOT.ph) The Manila Light Rail Transit System Line 1 (a.k.a. LRT-1) is the oldest metro line in Manila. It was built in 1984, and has since served hundreds of thousands of residents, vendors, and tourists from Baclaran all the way to North Avenue. It also cuts through notable destinations in downtown Manila, including the historic Intramuros, the foodie hub in Chinatown, and the shopping haven in Divisoria. With the new ikotMNLÂ mobile application, you can easily get to these places through commuting aboard the LRT-1. It doesn't only tell you which station to get off to reach your destination, but also lets you know the crowd situation in every LRT-1 situation.
ikotMNL was officially launched with a test run in July 2018. The collaboration of Light Rail Manila Corporation, the Department of Tourism, and AC Infrastructure resulted in a walking tour that centers on taking the LRT. A year later in June 2019, a mobile application was released on Google Play and Apple Store to go with the project. Finally on November 19, the ikotMNL app with updates is officially launched to the public.
Users can log in with a new handle or you can choose to link your Google or Facebook accounts. It then leads you to a mini-tutorial, where you can find out the app's features: Train Status (how long before the next train comes at your selected station), Fare Menu (the fare from your origin to your destination), and Crowd Monitor (real-time status at your selected station).
For the tours, there are three panels to choose from: Mamasyal, where you see a list of tourist destinations plus the nearest LRT-1 station for each; Mag-food trip, where you're introduced to all food hubs in Manila; and Mag-shopping, which is of course everyone's favorite activity. The app also features announcements, such as service hours and closures, and a route map in case you're still trying to find your way around downtown Manila.
ikotMNL is available on Google Play and App Store.
