MRT-3 Shaw Boulevard Station, Mandaluyong City
March 22, 2022
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, together with Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade, led the Metro Rail Transit 3 (MRT-3) Rehabilitation Completion Ceremony at the MRT-3 Shaw Boulevard Station in Mandaluyong City.
The President unveiled the project marker signifying the completion of the MRT-3 rehabilitation. He was joined by Secretary Tugade, His Excellency Koshikawa Kazuhiko (Ambassador of Japan to the Philippines), Senator Christopher Lawrence ‘Bong’ Go, and Mayor Carmelita ‘Menchie’ Aguilar-Abalos of Mandaluyong City.
“The MRT-3 is proof that we are keeping our momentum in improving our [railroad] systems, which aims to deliver quality service to the Filipino people and respond to the emergence of the new normal,” President Duterte said in his keynote address.
He congratulated Secretary Tugade and expressed his gratitude to the private partners of DOTr for the realization of this project, saying, “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 Corporation, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and TES Philippines, Inc.”
With the MRT-3 rehabilitation, commuters are now able to experience faster, efficient and better MRT-3 services to fulfill the DOTr’s mandate of providing Filipinos with a more convenient and comfortable life.
The operating speed of each train has been raised from the original 25-30 kilometers per hour (kph) to a maximum of 60 kph — with interval between trains reduced from nine (9) minutes to four (4) minutes. Travel time from North Avenue Station to Taft Avenue Station will now take only 45 minutes from the previous 1 hour and 15 minutes, and a total of 23 trains are now running compared to only less than 10 trains prior to its rehabilitation.
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.
“I extend my sincerest appreciation to the Government of Japan for your assistance in the project. Your country has always been a friend and an active partner of the Philippines in our development projects,” the Chief Executive added in his message.
He also surprised the Filipino commuters by saying, “I’d like to announce that Secretary Tugade and I decided that the MRT-3 rides will be free — hindi namanforever — from March 28 to April 30, 2022.”
Furthermore, President Duterte conducted a train ride from Shaw Boulevard Station to Santolan Station, and vice versa. Key officials from the DOTr and MRT-3 Operations joined the Chief Executive in the train ride.
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