The Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) on Wednesday increased the number of its deployed trains to 15 amid the limited operations of railway services in Metro Manila to allow for mass coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) testing of its workers.

In a Facebook post, the MRT-3 said the increase in deployed trains came after most of their train drivers tested negative for Covid-19.

“Sa limitadong operasyon ng MRT-3, tanging mga empleyado na nag-negatibo sa Covid-19 ang pinapayagang pumasok sa depot office at sa mga istasyon (During the limited operations of the MRT-3, only employees who tested negative for Covid-19 are allowed to work at the depot office and stations),” the MRT-3 said.

It said MRT-3 workers who tested positive for Covid-19 and their close contacts, those awaiting test results, and those symptomatic are not allowed to enter any of the premises of the MRT-3 to control the spread of the disease.

MRT-3 trains, it said, currently carry 30 percent of its maximum passenger capacity or 372 passengers per train set — 124 passengers per train car.

The mass testing of MRT-3 and other train workers came after Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade ordered the measure during the annual Holy Week shutdown of the four rail lines in Metro Manila — the MRT-3, the Light Rail Transit Line 1, Light Rail Transit Line 2, and Philippine National Railways.

Photo Source: Official Gazette Website