The Department of Transportation or DOTr recently took over in the
maintenance of the Metro Rail Transit or MRT-3. After noticing the glitches
in operations of the trains, the department called for a meeting with the
other transportation officials and concerned bus operators.
Officials of the DOTr, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory
Board or LTFRB, the Land Transportation Office or LTO, the PNP Highway
Patrol Group or HPG, and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority
MMDA, together with several bus operators recently held a meeting regarding
the maintenance of the Metro Rail Transit or MRT.
During the meeting, the government agencies and bus operators have agreed
to station point-to-point buses in several MRT stations. According to them,
these buses will serve as alternative transport of passengers during peak
hours.
Also based on the agreement of the inter-agency council, 20 bus units will
be deployed at the southbound of the MRT North Avenue station from 6 to 9
in the morning. Additionally, thirty buses will also be deployed at the
Taft Avenue station and Ayala station every five in the afternoon to eight
in the evening.
And to ensure the faster travel of the point-to-point buses, they will
exclusively ply the yellow lane and will be escorted by traffic law
enforcers of the LTO and PNP-HPG.
The buses have officially been operational for the public last November 10,
2017.
This is an obvious effort by the government to cut long lines in MRT
stations especially during rush hours. Part of the commuting public has
agreed with this while some are still undecided. Nevertheless, this program
by the government is seen to help with the situation concerning the MRT.