MRT3 operating hours unaffected by Metro Manila curfew, says DOTr

Operating hours of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 will remain unchanged even with the new curfew schedule in Metro Manila starting this week, its operator announced over the weekend.

In an advisory, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said the first train will leave the North Avenue station at 4:37 a.m. and Taft Avenue station at 5:17 a.m. Meanwhile, the last train will depart North Avenue at 9:30 p.m. and Taft Avenue at 10:10 p.m.

Mayors of Metro Manila agreed to implement uniform curfew hours of 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. starting Monday, March 15. This will be in effect for two weeks, amid the recent spike in the number of COVID-19 cases being reported.

The health department on Saturday, March 13, recorded over 5,000 new cases, the highest daily tally in over seven months.

Just last week, President Rodrigo Duterte said he will reopen the economy in a matter of weeks because Filipinos needed to return to work and avoid getting hungry.

The country's supply of COVID-19 vaccines currently stands at 1.12 million doses -- 525,600 doses of AstraZeneca from the COVAX facility, and 600,000 Sinovac vaccines donated by the Chinese government. Vaccines procured by the government have yet to arrive. —LBG, GMA News