MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) yesterday assured commuters that the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) will be restored to its “original condition” by the third quarter of 2019.
On Thursday, the Philippine and Japanese governments formally signed an P18-billion loan agreement that will be used for the rehabilitation of the MRT-3, DOTr Undersecretary for railways Timothy John Batan said yesterday.
The MRT-3 is an attached agency of the DOTr.
He said the loan will be used for the rehabilitation and maintenance of the MRT-3’s electromechanical components, power supply, rail tracks, depot equipment and overhaul of the 72 light rail vehicles.
“The MRT-3 seeks to maintain its current average capacity of 350,000 commuters daily for the first seven to nine months of the rehabilitation. Capacity is expected to gradually increase beginning in the third quarter of next year,” Batan said.
“We expect the MRT-3 to be restored to its original condition after 26 months,” he added, noting the project is expected to last until 2022.
Batan said the project will increase the trains’ speed from the 30 kilometers per hour to 60 kph and reduce its headway from the seven minutes to 3.5 minutes.
They also plan to increase the number of train sets from 15 to 20 during peak hours.