NCRPO backs stricter implementation of MRT, LRT liquid ban  

MANILA, Philippines — National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Guillermo Eleazar is recommending the stricter implementation of the “No food, no drinks” policy in lines 1 and 2 of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) and the Metro Rail Transit line 3 (MRT-3).

A statement from the NCRPO issued Friday said posters and signboards on the policy had been posted in train stations and doors of trains.

Eleazar recommended a stricter implementation of the policy as the LRT1, LRT2, and the MRT-3 have banned some liquid items that could be used to formulate liquid explosives.

Other liquid items are still permitted inside the trains, the NCRPO said, citing information from the Department of Transportation:

• Baby formula/breast milk in bottles, if the passenger is traveling with a baby or small child

• Drinking water to be used by the baby or small child

• All prescription and over-the-counter medications

• Liquids including water, juice or liquid nutrition or gels for a passenger with a disability or health condition

• Life-support and life-sustaining fluids such as bone marrow, blood products, and transplant organs

• Items used to augment the body and for medical and cosmetics reasons such as mastectomy products, prosthetic breasts, bras or shells containing gels, saline solution, or other liquids

• Gels or frozen liquids needed to cool disability or medical-related items used by persons with disabilities or medical conditions.

“The transport aspect and system in the daily routine of our residents is always an important element. We shall monitor this exhaustively and implement new security and safety measures as need be,” Eleazar said in a statement.

“This is for everyone’s good. So I call out to the public for their full cooperation and patience, for any inconvenience they may come upon [them],” he added. / gsg