More buses could be added as MRT3 ops suspended — DOTr consultant

A senior consultant of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Wednesday said more bus units could be added to cater to the transportation needs of commuters following the suspension of operations of the Metro Rail Transit-3 (MRT3).

"Tinutugunan natin 'yan ngayon, we have 90 buses na nakatugon sa MRT3... kung kukulangin 'yan, dadagdagan natin 'yan," Engineer Alberto Suansing, senior consultant for road sector, said at a virtual press briefing.

"Basta ang sinabi namin, ang tingin namin 'yung 90 units sapat na 'yan makaikot- ikot," Suansing added.

MRT3 suspended its operations as the number of COVID-19 cases among its employees continues to rise.

So far, a total of 202 MRT3 personnel are infected with COVID-19.

Transportation Assistant Secretary Goddess Libiran said 16 of them were deployed at stations and 181 at the depot. Three of them were train drivers and two were control center personnel. — Anna Felicia Bajo/RSJ, GMA News