Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon issued a deadline to Sumitomo Corp., the maintenance provider of Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3), to speed up the testing of unused Dalian trains and enhance the train system’s operations “within the month.”
In a statement, Dizon said 48 Dalian trains are unused and must be cleared first for safety checks and requirements, as well as undergo procedures for utilization before being deployed for daily use.
“The Dalian trains can actually run on MRT-3 tracks, but this needs to be cleared by the current maintenance operator of the MRT-3, which is Sumitomo Corp. of Japan,” Dizon said.
“I’ve spoken to them about this several times already,and I gave them a deadline to give me a report and a straight answer: what do we need to make these trains run?” he added.
The transport chief cited Sumitomo’s safety record and expressed confidence that it will inspect the Dalian trains’ components meticulously to ensure these are compatible with the MRT-3 rail line.
The DOTr earlier said that MRT-3 is expected to increase its capacity by 30 percent with the deployment of a four-car train this month.
Free MRT rides
In a related development, the country’s three rail systems — MRT-3, Light Rail Transit Line 2 (LRT-2), and LRT-1 — will offer free train rides on specified hours on June 12, 2025, as part of the celebration for Independence Day.
Passengers can avail of free rides from 7:00 am to 9:00 am and 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm on June 12.
In a statement, Light Rail Manila Corp., operator of LRT-1, said passengers with existing beep cards need to tap their cards at the Automated Fare Collection System (AFCS) gates during the free ride periods, and no fare will be deducted from their load. For those without beep cards, Single Journey Tickets (SJTs) will be provided free of charge at all LRT-1 teller booths.
Ticket vending machines will be in full-service mode during the free ride periods, but can only process Stored Value Cards (SVCs) for initial purchases and top-up transactions. Passengers needing Single Journey Tickets during the free ride periods should proceed to the teller booths.
On Independence Day, LRT-1 will follow its regular holiday operating schedule. The first trains depart from the Dr. Santos and Fernando Poe Jr. stations at 5:00 am. The last trips for the day will be at 9:30 pm from Dr. Santos station and 9:45 p.m. from Fernando Poe Jr. station.
The free ride program aims to encourage Filipinos to conveniently travel and immerse themselves in the Independence Day celebrations across the metro.
The management of the rail transit encourage passengers to take the opportunity to visit the numerous tourist spots located near LRT-1 stations. As the heritage line, LRT-1 offers easy access to museums and important cultural and historical sites, making it an ideal way to explore the nation’s proud past, it said.
Meanwhile, Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) administrator Atty. Hernando Cabrera said the free ride is a gesture of gratitude and a commemoration of Philippine independence.
