Commuters prefer bus augmentation units on first day MRT3 resumes ops

Passengers who used to take the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT) preferred to take bus augmentation units on Monday, the first day of resumption of operations of the train service.

At the MRT3 North Avenue Station before 7 a.m., there was no line of commuters going inside the station.

However, there was a long line of passengers for the bus augmentation units with the tail end reaching West Avenue, according to a report by Darlene Cay on GMA News' Unang Balita.

Some commuters said they feel safer inside the bus augmentation units since there are fewer passengers on each unit compared to the MRT3, according to a report by Allan Gatus on Dobol B sa News TV.

The passengers also said the dispatching of buses is fast.

Ninety bus augmentation units are to be deployed on Monday from 4 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Meanwhile, 190 bus units on the EDSA Busway system will ply the Monumento to Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX).

All passengers on the MRT3 and buses undergo body temperature checking and hand sanitation.

Physical distancing is also strictly enforced.

Commuters also need to fill out contact tracing and health declaration forms.

A total of 14 trains were to be deployed on Monday. As of 6 a.m., 13 trains were running, with nine minutes interval between train arrivals. The first trip left North Avenue at 5:30 a.m. The last trip meanwhile, will leave Taft Avenue at 9:10 p.m.

All MRT3 personnel were in full PPE and were required to submit health declaration forms twice a day.

Management said trains are disinfected at half loop, at the North Avenue and Taft Avenue Stations.

Ortigas Station

At the MRT3 Ortigas Station, the situation was also the same with just a few passengers taking the train, according to a report by Mark Makalalad on Dobol B sa News TV.

However, passengers lined up to get on board the bus augmentation units.

Passengers said the buses were more convenient and they feel safer on board these vehicles.

Security guards, bus augmentation drivers and MRT3 personnel were in full personal protective equipment.

The buses arrived every five to 10 minutes.

The bus augmentation units load passengers on the median lane. 

Loading stops for the bus augmentation units on the northbound direction are Ayala and Taft, and Quezon Avenue southbound.

Unloading stops are on Quezon Avenue, Ortigas Avenue, Guadalupe, Ayala, and Taft Avenue.

Taft Avenue

At the MRT3 Taft Avenue Station, the line of passengers was also short, according to a report by Mao dela Cruz on Dobol B sa News TV.

Security guards give each passenger an MRT3 Passenger Information sheet. Passengers need to fill it out with their name, contact number, and other details, then drop the form in a dropbox before proceeding to the station platform.

Management said the forms will be kept at the nurse's office and will not be given to any third party. However, the information will be given to local authorities if warranted for reasons of public interest and public health.

Commuters are provided alcohol to sanitize their hands upon entering the station and filling out the forms.

The operations of MRT3 were suspended from July 7 to 11 due to the increase in the number of employees who tested positive for COVID-19. The temporary suspension of MRT3 operations was implemented to make way for swab testing of MRT3 personnel, the Department of Transportation said.

As of July 11, a total of 281 MRT3 employees tested positive for the novel coronavirus: 184 depot personnel, 88 station personnel, and nine train drivers and others.

Management said the 281 personnel are already in quarantine. More than 2,000 employees meanwhile, tested negative for COVID-19. —KG, GMA News