Duterte announces free MRT-3 rides from March 28 to April 30 amid rehab work completion

Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) will offer free rides from March 28 to April 30, 2022, President Rodrigo Duterte said Tuesday.

"I'd like to announce, (Transportation) Secretary Art Tugade and I, we decided that the MRT-3 rides will be free from March 28 to April 30, 2022," Duterte said during the ceremony for the completion of the MRT-3 Rehabilitation Project funded by the Philippine government and the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

Duterte will celebrate his birthday on March 28.

MRT-3 runs from North Avenue in Quezon City to Taft Avenue in Pasay City.

"I am pleased to join you today for the timely rehabilitation completion ceremony of the MRT-3. It is proof that we are keeping our momentum in improving our national road system, which aims to deliver quality service to the Filipino people, and respond to the emergence of the new normal," Duterte added.

The President also thanked the Japanese government for its assistance for the project.

"Our train system would not have returned  to its original high grade design condition without the technical competencies and professional aid of our service providers from Sumitomo Corp. and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries," he said.

"With the joint efforts of these companies and the DOTr (Department of Transportation), we've increased our train speed from 25 km/ hour to 60[km]/hour, while the time interval between train arrivals has improved to 8 to 10 minutes," he added.

From 12 to 15 operating train units at a time, Duterte said there are now 18 to 22 train units available.

"This progress will decrease, if not altogether, stop the number of unloading incidents in our stations," he added.

Also included in the completed rehabilitation project are the upgraded signaling, communications and CCTV systems, repair of all station escalators and elevators, and the successful installation of air conditioning units inside the trains.—AOL, GMA News