MAP urges raising NCR rail transport’s capacity to 50%, makes recommendations

The Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) is calling on the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to increase the passenger capacity of Metro Manila’s railway lines and proposed several recommendations to improve the public transportation sector in the capital region.

In a letter addressed to Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade dated August 26, a copy of which was released to the media on Thursday, MAP urged the DOTr to allow Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT1), LRT2, Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT3), and the Philippine National Railways (PNR) to operate at 50% load factor.

The group said that “just like other forms of public transportation to further facilitate the seamless flow of passengers from the rail system to the buses and jeepneys while also ensuring that all health protocols are strictly enforced.”

Prior to the onset of COVID-19, MAP said the average daily ridership of the railway lines was around 500,000.From June 1 to 25, the daily ridership averaged 112,000, or 22% of the pre-COVID ridership.

“The 22% load factor is much lower than the 50% average load factor allowed for buses and jeepneys,” it said.

MAP emphasized that the movement of people and cargo via rail is one of the most efficient forms of public transportation as it allows high passenger throughput, exclusive right of way and use of full rolling stock.

It suggested that public transportation not be suspended during quarantine.

"COVID-19 is a virus we may have to live with over an indefinite period requiring periodic quarantine/lockdown (hopefully on a localized basis); thus, we strongly recommend that public transportation be reclassified as an essential industry that must not be suspended during a selective quarantine/lockdown but the number of buses, jeepneys, light rail trips and tricycles should be reduced to comply with the level of quarantine/lockdown," it said.

Apart from increasing the rail system’s capacity, the group also proposed a “congestion pricing” scheme for private vehicles to manage congestion in the still to be identified business centers and chokepoints in the National Capital Region.

For buses, MAP proposed a dedicated bus lane and speed limiter of maximum 40 kilometers per hour, scheduled headway of two-three minutes, and terminals in center islands along EDSA.

For jeepneys, the group recommended that PUJ routes be allocated to different consortia, fixed salaries for drivers, and pickup of unloading of passengers shall follow a fixed schedule.

“Such improvement, in terms of availability, comfort and safety, further ensures the protection of commuters’ health and life and is in consonance with, and in support of the posting in your website that ‘Human Life is Priceless’,” MAP said. — BM, GMA News