MRT3 to resume operations on limited capacity on Monday

After stopping for five days, the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT) will resume its operations on Monday but on a limited capacity.

The development came after the MRT3 management said it was able to assemble a sufficient number of employees who are free of COVID-19.

Starting Monday, the MRT3 will be dispatching 12 train sets, which will include 10 CKD train sets and 2 Dalian train sets.

The first train set will be dispatched at 5:30 AM from the North Avenue station to the Taft Avenue station.

In addition, contact tracing will strictly be implemented with passengers filling out health declaration forms before boarding riding the train.

MRT3 operations were earlier suspended after the surge in employees who tested positive for the coronavirus. The suspension ran for five days from July 7 to 11.

The DOTr earlier on Monday said a total of 186 personnel tested positive for COVID-19, with 1,507 personnel still set to be tested. To date, a total of 281 personnel have contracted COVID-19.

During the temporary shutdown, thorough disinfection of all MRT3 facilities was conducted, including its depot, stations, and trains.

According to the MRT3 management, as of Saturday, 1,093 MRT3 depot personnel and 1,010 station personnel have tested negative for COVID-19, exceeding the 1,308 number of personnel required to resume train operations on a limited number of train sets.

Infected were MRT3 depot and station personnel and employees of maintenance provider Sumitomo-MHI-TESP and its subcontractors, and other MRT-3 service providers.

Those infected have now been isolated in government quarantine facilities at the World Trade Center, the Philippine Arena, and at the  PhilSports Arena.

Augmentation buses

Meanwhile, the MRT3 Bus Augmentation Program will continue to deploy 90 buses with a 3-minute fixed dispatching interval.

It will however return to normal operating hours, with the first bus departing at 5:30 AM and the last bus at 8:00 PM from both the North Avenue and Taft Avenue stations.

In addition, 190 buses are being deployed under the EDSA Busway Service to carry passengers between Monumento and the Paran?aque Integrated Terminal Exchange.

A mini loop will also run between Timog Avenue. and Ortigas to serve passengers. Shuttle services and mini buses running in the mini loop will be allowed to pick up and drop off passengers at the curbside. -MDM, GMA News