MMDA deploys buses, trucks for marooned MRT-3 passengers

MANILA, Philippines —   The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has dispatched buses and trucks to ferry stranded commuters after by the Manila Metro Rail Transit System Line 3 (MRT-3) suspended operations due to a power supply glitch.

MMDA traffic official Bong Nebrija said the agency coordinated with the Land Transportation, Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) regarding the deployment of buses through the bus augmentation program.

“Tuloy yung cooperation natin with other agencies, with LTFRB, ‘yung bus augmentation program namin, hindi naman po ‘yun natitigil,” Nebrija said in an interview on dzMM.

“Si General Almadin, yung Asec. for operations po namin tumawag po sa mga bus company para mag-augment. So ngayon po ang gagawin po diyan, yung mga coding na bus nila, ilalabas nila para saluhin ‘yung mga pasahero na ‘to,” he added.

Nebrija said MMDA general manager Jojo Garcia has also called for the deployment of military trucks.

“At the same time, samin naman po, sabi ni GM Jojo Garcia, i-dispatch na rin ‘yung mga military truck and maglagay ng signage na libreng sakay yun para saluhin na rin po ‘yung iba na hindi kakayanin ng mga buses,” Nebrija said.

MMDA spokesperson Celine Pialago said two military trucks, three Metro Parkway Clearing Group (MPCG) buses, and 50 augmented city buses have already been deployed.

“Technically speaking,  more or less 5,000 passengers ang maisasakay ng mga libreng sakay natin. Kailangan po natin itong idispatch bilang alalay po natin sa mga commuters na naapektuhan ng MRT3 shutdown,” Pialago said in a text message to INQUIRER.net.

The MRT-3 suspended operations Friday morning due to lack of power supply following an  Overhead Catenary System glitch at the Guadalupe station (northbound).  /gsg

READ: Power supply glitch stalls MRT-3 operations