DOTR: PNR to resume train operations on April 12

UPGRADES ON TRACK The refleeting program of the Philippine National Railways (PNR) gets a boost with the acquisition of three diesel hydraulic locomotives and 15 passenger coaches from
Indonesian manufacturer PT Inka. —RICHARD A. REYES

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Transportation announced on Friday that the Philippine National Railways (PNR) is set to resume operations on Monday, April 12 after the scheduled completion of mass testing of their employees and re-integration procedures that will take course over the weekend.

In a statement, DOTr said that PNR conducted a series of COVID-19 tests using targeted approach from March 29 to April 8 and isolated employees who tested positive and instructed direct contacts to strict quarantine procedures.

Of the 1,013 personnel tested for COVID-19, 131 came back positive.

READ: MRT-3, LRT-1, LRT-2 to go on limited operations starting April 5

“Only those who tested negative were allowed to resume duty but subject to a reintegration procedure through antigen testing to ensure the safety of all other PNR personnel, as well as PNR train passengers” the statement added.

The statement also added that PNR management decided to require antigen testing for returning personnel prior to integration in service to ensure that no unnecessary exposure to COVID-19 was made during the time of negative RT-PCR results up to the day they are required to render service, thereby reducing the risk of contamination and transmission inside PNR facilities and to the passengers.

EDV