2 months ago
19
Upgrade to High-Speed Internet for only ₱1499/month!
Enjoy up to 100 Mbps fiber broadband, perfect for browsing, streaming, and gaming.
Visit Suniway.ph to learn
The Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) has suspended its policy barring the entry of hand-carried luggage inside the train, following an order from the Department of Transportation (DOTr).
In a Facebook post on Wednesday, April 2, MRT-3 management reminded commuters that they are not allowed to bring in luggage larger than two-by-two feet in size.
The rail line said a large luggage can occupy more space in the carriage, which could otherwise be used by other passengers.
This reminder was met with immediate backlash online as netizens accused MRT-3 of being “anti-commuter.”
In a statement on Thursday, Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon questioned the policy and ordered MRT-3 General Manager Michael Capati to suspend it.
Dizon stressed that policies in public transportation “should not make the lives of commuters even more difficult.”
On Friday, Capati ordered the rule’s immediate suspension, pending a review to ensure the comfort of commuters.
“The MRT-3 management assures the public that their inputs are always considered in crafting policy decisions,” it said.
The 16.9-kilometer-long MRT-3 railway line stretches from North Avenue in Quezon City to Taft Avenue in Pasay.
Its last station in Pasay is in close proximity to Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) where commuters with luggage often alight.
The DOTr chief earlier ordered the MRT-3 to extend its night operations by one hour—from Monday to Friday—to accommodate night shift workers and other commuters that travel during the evening.
This is alongside the addition of another train at the line during peak hours to carry more commuters.
