MRT3 to reduce train ops as 92 personnel test positive for COVID-19

The Metro Rail Transit 3 will operate at reduced capacity starting July 6 as 67 more of its personnel tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total to 92.

In a statement, MRT3 said the reduced capacity of operation includes a reduced number of trains.

After the first batch of 25 positive cases last week, MRT3 and maintenance provider Sumitomo-Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) conducted swab testing of all their personnel. As of Wednesday, 67 new cases were recorded.

“Almost all of the positive cases (89 out of 92) are depot personnel of Sumitomo-MHI, with the remainder being depot personnel of MRT-3,” MRT3 management said in a statement

MRT3 has more than 1,700 depot personnel. Its management has assured that all its stations' personnel remain COVID-19 free.

Transportation Undersecretary for Railways Timothy John Batan said MRT3 can continue operations at reduced capacity with the guidance of Inter-Agency Task Force, as advised by Sumitomo-MHI.

The extent of the adjustment in train operations will be recommended by the Sumitomo over the weekend, MRT3 said.

“Sumitomo requested to discuss on a day-by-day basis the level of operations that they can sustain as results of the mass swab testing continue to be released,” Batan said.

“In the meantime, Sumitomo advised that they are able to continue with operations to service MRT-3’s tens of thousands of passengers, although at a reduced level,” he added.

Some personnel at the depot that are currently on quarantine, MRT3 said.

Sumitomo’s Masanori Honda said they will try to keep the same maintenance performance through the week and will update the MRT3 management daily.

“We would like to discuss with DOTr MRT3 office day by day, how much maintenance level we would be able to keep, in view of the number of COVID-19 infected people,” Honda said.

MRT3 said it reached its highest ridership to date on Monday, 29 June amid general community quarantine, carrying 67,821 passengers at its reduced capacity of 13% (153 passengers per train, down from 1,182 pre-ECQ).

Its Bus Augmentation Program also reached its highest ridership on the same day, carrying 8,835 passengers.

The Department of Transportation will boost its Bus Augmentation Program and EDSA Busway service, in coordination with other concerned agencies to augment the further reduced capacity, it noted.

Additional measures and precautions will be taken during the reduced operations, including requiring full PPE for stations and depot personnel, limiting movement of depot personnel to their immediate areas of responsibility, increased disinfection activities, and heightened monitoring and screening of symptoms among all personnel, MRT3 said. --Joviland Rita/KBK, GMA News