'Not the first time': Marcos says he and his family often use MRT-3

In a podcast released on Friday, President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. said that he and his family often ride the MRT-3 together and that his ride last June 1 was "not the first time."

''First of all, hindi 'to first time na sumakay ako ng MRT, madalas namin gamitin 'yung MRT dahil sa traffic. Mas mabilis eh. Kami... pamilya ko, mga kaibigan ko. Hindi practical matraffic, magdadalawang oras ka hanggang Cubao,'' Marcos said in the BBM Podcast.

(First of all, it was not my first time to ride the MRT. We often use the MRT because of the traffic. It's faster. I, my family, and my friends ride the MRT. The traffic is not practical, it's often two hours to get to Cubao.) 

He also shared that he often talks to commuters, and they told him about the usual crowded situation inside the train, adding that he personally experienced the challenge of commuting using the MRT-3.  

''Naramdaman ko 'yan, minsan sumakay kami ng MRT, talagang pag nakapasok ka na, basta't 'yung kamay mo nandito, hindi mo na magagalaw 'yun. Nakadikit ka na dito. Kinakausap ko mga pasahero, 'Sir, ganyan talaga 'yan araw-araw,''' the President added. 

(I experienced that, one time we used the MRT and once you enter and place your hands here, you can no longer move. I often talk to passengers, and they tell me the situation is like that every day.) 

Marcos earlier announced the Family/Pamilya Pass 1+3 program, which was made in honor of Family Day and to celebrate Filipino families.

In this program, families or barkadas of four members only need to pay for one passenger to ride the MRT-3, LRT-2 and LRT-1 every Sunday starting on June 1, 2025.

Meanwhile, the Department of Transportation has announced the increased discount for all students from 20% to 50% for LRT-1, LRT-2, and MRT-3 starting Friday. —VAL, GMA Integrated News