GENALYN D. KABILING
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THE government is being “very careful” to avoid jeopardizing public health following its decision to temporarily suspend the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) operations, President Duterte said early Wednesday.
The President, addressing the nation over state television, said the MRT operations have been halted since July 7 to allow the testing of the personnel for the coronavirus.
It will remain closed until July 11.
“It will only resume at least in limited operations once testing confirms that sufficient number of personnel are negative for COVID,” he said.
“We are very careful na pati ‘yung …those manning those equipment there will not jeopardize or put you in jeopardy while riding the trains,” he said.
With the railway operations suspended, Duterte assured the public that more buses will be deployed to help transport commuters to their destination. “There will be a shortage at the beginning but they will augment it with the number of increased buses using the line,” he said.
The temporary shutdown of MRT-3 operations came due to the increasing number of personnel who tested positive for the coronavirus, according the Department of the Transportation.
All MRT-3 personnel will be subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing to curb the spread of the disease and protect the health and safety of the personnel and commuters.
MRT-3 facilities, including stations and trains, will also be disinfected during the temporary shutdown.
“Out of MRT-3’s more than 3,200 workforce, it will require at least 1,300 personnel to be able to resume limited operations. Currently, 964 additional negative personnel are required to resume,” the DOTr said in a statement posted on its website.
