Good news for the "suki" riders of Metro Rail Transit Line-3 (MRT-3), President Rodrigo Duterte announced yesterday, March 22, that the MRT-3 will offer free rides for commuters within a month starting March 28 to April 30, 2022.
This is to inaugurate and promote the completion of the newly-rehabilitated MRT-3. The MRT-3 original hybrid design condition has increased its speed from 25 kilometers per hour to 60 kilometers per hour.
Evidently, with this increased speed, the travel time from North Avenue to Taft Avenue now accounts to 45 minutes compared to the previous 1 hour and 15 minutes.
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The time interval also improved between train arrivals from eight to ten minutes to only four minutes. Aside from that, there have been additional operating units from 12 to 15 to 18 to 22 trains.
But wait, there's more! The signaling, communications and CCTV systems are upgraded, escalators and elevators are repaired, together with the installation of air conditioning units inside the trains.
"This progress will decrease — if not altogether stop — the number of unloading incidents in our stations," Duterte said.
It is in line with the report in 2016 by Transport Secretary Arthur Tugade who recorded 526 unloading incidents at the MRT-3 which fortunately lessen for the following years and without unloading incident in 2021.
Currently, with the ceaseless COVID-19 pandemic, there is a total of 280, 000 MRT-3 riders. However, now that the MRT-3 is fully rehabilitated, the government is hopeful to boost its ridership number to approximately 600, 000 a day.
Behind this success, he expressed his gratitude toward the Sumimoto Corp., Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Test Philippines Inc., as well as the transportation department, because of their technical competencies and professional aid, everything was made possible.
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He also acknowledged the help of the Japanese government in the rehabilitation project. Stressing the friendship between the Philippines and Japan in terms of development projects.
"The MRT is proof that we are keeping our momentum in improving our national road system, which aims to deliver quality service to the Filipino people and respond to the emergency of a new normal," the president stated.
"Secured in our vision to provide the best for the Filipino people, I would like to emphasize that this project is part of the administration’s efforts to improve connectivity and mobility, which is critical in sustaining economic growth and development despite these challenging times," he mentioned.
"As my tenure in office approaches (its) end, I assure the Filipino people that I will give no room for laxity and complacency in public service, even amidst the global challenges that test our strength as catalysts of change," he added.
His recent inauguration speech for the MRT-3 Rehabilitation Project happened at the Shaw Boulevard Station in Mandaluyong which was attended by distinguished personalities including Japan Ambassador to the Philippines Koshikawa Kazuhiko, Sen. Christopher Go, Mandaluyong City Mayor Carmelita Aguilar-Abalos, and Japan International Cooperation Agency chief representative Takema Sakamo.
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Source: PhilStar, ABS-CBN News, Manila Bulletin
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