The long waiting time at the MRT-3 could stretch even longer with its reduced operating capacity starting Monday after 127 of its workers were infected with COVID-19.
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) clarified that they are among the depot personnel whose total count is 1,714.
“Hindi po ito ‘yong mga station personnel na nakakasalamuha ng mga pasahero natin (They are not part of the personnel who deal with passengers),” DOTr ASec. Goddes Libiran clarified.
Out of the 127 COVID-positive individuals, 124 are depot personnel of maintenance provider Sumitomo, while three are from MRT-3. Forty-three are undergoing self-quarantine, 74 are in government quarantine facilities, while seven are in LGU facilities.
Due to reduced operations, the current 16 to 19 train deployment will be cut down to 10 to 12 trains.
“Hindi pa po siya final dahil tinitingnan nga ni Sumitomo kung ilan ba ‘yong magiging final number ng affected personnel nila sa depot at base sa magiging available na maintenance personnel (It’s not yet final as Sumitomo will still have to find out the final number of affected personnel in the depot, and this will be based on the available maintenance personnel),” DOTr USec. TJ Batan explained.
Operating hours will not be affected as station personnel of the MRT-3 remain COVID-19 free. To augment reduced capacity, the bus augmentation program will be maximized through the EDSA Busway service which started operations on Wednesday. – Report from Patrick de Jesus
