Passengers avail of the free rides at the MRT-3. Image from DOTR-MRT 3 Facebook
MANILA, Philippines — The Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) served 370,713 passengers on Wednesday — its highest ridership since it resumed operations in June 2020, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) reported Thursday.
The new record beat the previous highest ridership of the MRT-3 at 370,276.
According to the DOTr, the increase in ridership was the result of the free ride assistance offered by the MRT-3 and the additional deployment of train sets.
It can be recalled that before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, the MRT-3’s average daily ridership was only about 250,000 to 300,000.
The MRT-3 resumed operations on June 1, 2020, when Metro Manila was placed under a general community quarantine.
The MRT-3’s “Libreng Sakay” or free ride program started on March 28 and will serve commuters until June 30.