IATF approves resumption of railroad projects, MRT3 maintenance work amid COVID-19 pandemic

The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) has approved the resumption of railroad projects and maintenance work for Metro Rail Transit (MRT) 3 next week even amid the enhanced community quarantine due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

IATF spokesperson and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said this move was in response to the request made by the Department of Transportation to allow the resumption of utility relocation work and specified limited work across 13 rail projects, including rail replacement work for MRT3 which can only be done when MRT3 is not undergoing passenger operations.

"Resumption of limited works may begin at different times next week for the different projects at different sites," Department of Transportation Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Goddes Libiran, for his part, told reporters in a mobile message.

"We are currently coordinating with the concerned contractors and utility companies to determine when they are able to resume works, considering the need to remobilize people, equipment, and materials," she said.

Apart from the MRT3 rehabilitation and maintenance works, other rail projects to resume are the following:

• LRT1 Cavite Extension
• LRT2 East Extension
• LRT2 West Extension
• LRT-2 Fire Restoration
• MRT-3 Rehabilitation
• MRT7
• Metro Manila Subway
• Common Station
• PNR Clark 1
• PNR Clark 2 and Calamba
• Subic-Clark Railway
• PNR Bicol
• Mindanao Railway

"(R)eplacement works for MRT3 is only possible while MRT3 has no passenger operations. Other proposed limited works, such as utility relocation works for power telecoms, and water lines along major roads, were also proposed to be done while those major roads are free of heavy vehicle movement, and also because utility companies are already not covered by the quarantine," said Libiran.

The enhanced community quarantine has banned mass transportation since March 17, and the said COVID-19 quarantine period has since been extended to April 30.

The resumption of the rail work, however, is based on the following preconditions:

• limited mobilization of personnel and skeletal staffing pattern is observed;
• on- or near-site accommodations and/or point-to-point shuttle services are provided, where applicable; 
• regular disinfection of workplaces, shuttles, and accommodations;
• regular monitoring of personnel’s health, especially for COVID-19 symptoms;
• strict social distancing measures and proper hand hygiene; and 
• all other precautionary measures that the DOTr may implement are observed at all times.

As of 4 p.m. of April 6, the Philippines has already recorded 3,660 COVID-19 cases. Of this number, 163 have died while 73 others recovered. —With a report from Ted Cordero/KG/MDM, GMA News