Tugade says MRT3 GM Rodolfo Garcia positive for COVID-19; cases limited at depot

Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT3) General Manager Rodolfo Garcia has tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

This was confirmed by Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade on Thursday.

“Tinamaan po ang ating general manager ng MRT3. Minomonitor ko kaninang midnight nandoon siya sa isang ospital nasa ICU (intensive care unit),” Tugade told reporters.

Apart from Garcia, MRT3 director for Operations Michael Capati also contracted the disease but is already recovering, he added.

In a separate statement, the MRT3 said that there are 36 MRT3 office personnel and six among its maintenance provider Sumitomo-Mitsubishi Heavy Industries who tested positive for COVID-19.

Tugade said affected employees are limited at the MRT3 depot in Quezon City.

“‘Yung mga nagkaka-COVID sa depot hindi po sa actual operations,” he said.

The Transportation chief said there remains zero reported COVID-19 cases among station personnel.

All personnel who have tested positive are already in quarantine, according to the MRT3.

As a safety measure, MRT3 at the depot shifted to a work from home arrangement, with only a limited number of essential office personnel reporting physically at the depot, and only after obtaining a negative RT-PCR swab test result.

With COVID-19 cases being reported almost entirely at the depot, MRT3 operations continue, with the continuing observance by stations personnel of health and safety procedures intended to address the risk of transmission among the riding public.

These measures include enforcement of limited capacity in trains, wearing of full personal protective equipment (PPE) by stations personnel, health screening of entering passengers and stations personnel, regular disinfection of trains and facilities, placement of disinfection stations, deployment of transport marshals to ensure observance of health and safety measures. — RSJ, GMA News