MANILA — Another round of rail replacement works for the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) Line 3 this weekend means regulating operating hours — starting late at least on Sunday.
The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), however, noted that although operating hours will be pushed to 10 a.m. on Sunday, regular operating hours will be observed for Saturday.
DOTC Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya said in a statement on Thursday that the continuing rail replacement works is part of the government’s efforts to enhance the safety of the MRT-3 system.
“We are scheduling these replacement works in such a way as to cause the least inconvenience to passengers,” Abaya said.
“There will be no change to the regular Saturday operations on March 21. Meanwhile, Sunday operations will begin at 10 a.m. on March 22,” he added.
According to the DOTC, around 192 meters of rails will be replaced along the MRT northbound tracks between the Taft Ave. station in Pasay City and Magallanes station in Makati City.
Meanwhile, a total of 7,296 linear meters of brand-new steel rails are expected to be received by the DOTC and MRT-3 management by June 2015 for further replacement works.
As for other updates, DOTC said that the MRT-3’s toilet rehabilitation project is ongoing with all 63 comfort rooms of the rail system to be rehabilitated by September 2015.
The first two toilets are scheduled to be completed next month.
Other MRT-3 improvement projects area currently in various stages of procurement.
DOTC has reassured the public that the government continues to work on its best efforts to better assure the railway’s safety and reliability.