President Rodrigo Duterte said that the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) will offer free rides from March 28 to April 30, 2022.
“I’d like to announce, (Transportation) Secretary Art Tugade and I, we decided that the MRT-3 rides will be free from March 28 to April 30, 2022,” Duterte said during the completion of the MRT-3 rehab project.
Duterte said he will celebrate his birthday on March 28.
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“I am pleased to join you today for the timely rehabilitation completion ceremony of the MRT-3. It 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 emergence of the new normal,” Duterte said.
Duterte also thanked the Japanese government for helping in the rehabilitation project.
“Our train system would not have returned to its original high-grade design condition without the technical competencies and professional aid of our service providers from Sumitomo Corp. and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries,” Duterte said.
“With the joint efforts of these companies and the DOTr (Department of Transportation), we’ve increased our train speed from 25 km/ hour to 60km/hour, while the time interval between train arrivals has improved to 8 to 10 minutes,” he added.
Duterte said that from 12 to 15 trains, MRT-3 is now operating at 18-22 trains.
“This progress will decrease, if not altogether, stop the number of unloading incidents in our stations,” he added.