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Commuters struggle with suspended MRT-3 operations


Several commuters on Tuesday experienced difficulty getting to their destinations after the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) temporarily suspended its operations due to the rising cases of COVID-19 among its personnel.

According to Mark Salazar’s report on “24 Oras,” commuters had lined up at around 3 a.m. outside the North Avenue station hoping to get on bus augmentation units.

On Monday, the MRT-3 announced it would temporarily suspend operations for five days starting Tuesday-July 6 following the surge in employees who tested positive for COVID-19.

For Mario Yabello, who lives in Dasmariñas, Cavite, and works at a company along Shaw Boulevard, the suspension of MRT-3 operations was a disheartening development.

“Maaga po para maaga sana makapila sa MRT kaya lang problema, wala palang biyahe, napaka laking problema po,” he said.

Despite the deployment of additional buses, there was still not enough to service the MRT-3's 6,000 daily commuters, with only 2,550 passengers able to board buses.

Commuters, thus, pleaded with the government to provide more early morning bus trips.

“Ang common feedback po na natanggap namin sa ground ay agahan po ang biyahe ng mga buses for MRT augmentation. Ang early dispatch po niya kanina ay 5:20 in the morning. Na-relay na po natin sa MRT-3 management kasi sila po ang nagdi-dispatch ng mga buses for augmentation eh kung maaari pong agahan,” Metropolitan Manila Development Authority spokesperson Celine Pialago said.

Meanwhile, MRT-3 director for operations Michael Capati said that management was working on contact tracing so they can resume operations as soon as possible.

Earlier, Undersecretary Timothy John Batan said the temporary suspension of operations from July 7 to July 11 will make way for the testing of personnel of the MRT3.

As of July 6, a total of 198 employees tested positive for COVID-19, 177 of whom were depot personnel, three were train drivers, two control center personnel, and 16 station personnel.

Fifteen of the 16 station personnel were ticket sellers from North Avenue, Quezon Avenue, GMA-Kamuning, and Cubao stations.

The MRT-3 management urged all passengers who had direct contact with the infected personnel to pay close attention to their health and even self-quarantine to prevent the further transmission of the virus.

The management also promised that measures would be put in place to protect the health and safety of employees and passengers. — Ma. Angelica Garcia/DVM, GMA News

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