MRT-3 suspends operations, rehabilitation works

MANILA, Philippines — Operations of the Metro Rail Transit-3 (MRT-3) as well as rehabilitation works on its lines were suspended on Tuesday for the duration of the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon which was enforced by the government as a measure to stop the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the country.

“Hindi muna tatakbo ang mga tren ng MRT-3 mula North Avenue Station hanggang Taft Avenue Station at pabalik, hanggang sa tanggalin o iangat ang deklarasyon sa ika-13 Abril 2020. Ito’y upang protektahan ang mga mananakay laban sa nasabing sakit,” read the statement posted on the train management’s official Facebook page.

(The MRT-3 will not be operating from the North Avenue Station to the Taft Avenue Station, and vice versa, until the quarantine is lifted on April 13. This will protect passengers from the coronavirus disease.)

The MRT-3 management added that the full rehabilitation of its trains and train tracks will also be temporarily suspended during the quarantine period.

“No rehabilitation for now. Until the duration of enhanced quarantine,” MRT-3 Director Michael Capati said in a statement to reporters.

The rehabilitation of the line’s tracks which is expected to be finished by July next year intends to improve train speed and shorten the arrival waiting time for passengers.

President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday ordered that Luzon be placed under an enhanced community quarantine from March 17 to April 13 as a measure to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus following the surge of confirmed cases to 142 and the death of 12 patients.

Edited by MUF