DOTr beefs up security after jumping incident onto MRT-3 tracks

FILE: PHYSICAL DISTANCE. Passengers of the Metro Railway Transit-3 observe safe physical distancing as they arrive at the Quezon Avenue MRT-3 Station in Quezon City on Thursday (Feb. 4, 2021). The railway has resumed operations as long as the minimum safety standards are followed. (PNA photo by Jess M. Escaros Jr.)

MANILA – The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is looking to intensify security protocols in the country’s railways and is eyeing security upgrades after a woman jumped in front of a Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) train on Wednesday.

In a Laging Handa briefing on Thursday, DOTr Assistant Secretary for Railways Jorjette Aquino said platform screen doors have been eyed as possible upgrades to the country’s railway infrastructure in the past — specifically at the MRT-3 — but have not materialized due to budget constraints.

“Sa administrasyong ito, atin pong ibabalik ang pag-pursue sa ganitong rekomendasyon kung kakayanin ng budget (In this administration, we will again consider pursuing this recommendation if the budget allows),” Aquino said.

In the meantime, she said railway security personnel have been tasked to conduct passenger profiling to determine individuals acting erratically and to remind passengers not to step beyond the yellow line while waiting for the train.

To help address similar incidents in the future, she said the DOTr’s safety and security team is investigating the suicide.

“Sa mga ibang mga klaseng insidente naman po, kung ito po ay talagang nangangailangan at ito ay dapat ma-penalize, atin po nating iniimplementahan (In other incidents, if it’s necessary to penalize, we will implement it),” she said.

On Wednesday, a 73-year-old woman attempted to take her own life by jumping in front of a southbound MRT-3 train at the Quezon Avenue Station.

The woman was initially found alive and was brought to the East Avenue Medical Center in Quezon City where she perished.