The Metro Rail Transit Corporation owns MRT-3 (MRTC). The previous EDSA LRT Corporation LTD (ELCL), a Hong Kong-based firm that won the 1989 bid for the building of the MRT-3 Project, was taken over by MRTC, which was initially made up of seven Filipino-owned enterprises.
The railway was built thanks to the 25-year Build-Lease-Transfer (BLT) arrangement between MRTC and the Philippine government's Department of Transportation and Communication. An Accession Undertaking and an Assignment and Assumption Agreement were signed, giving MRTC complete ownership of the project agreements during the repayment period and establishing MRTC as the Project borrowing organization. MRT-3 Project design, building, testing, commissioning, and maintenance were handled by MRTC.
It has now become the most used public transportation in the Philippines.
Libreng Sakay Initiative
MRT-3 Free Ride
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) announced Monday that free rides on Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) would be extended for another month. The Department of Transportation said that the "Libreng Sakay" initiative would be renewed till June 30. On March 28, the agency, led by Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, launched the government's free-riding initiative. It was supposed to end on April 30 but was postponed until May 30.
The DOTr said it decided to prolong the MRT free ride 2022 till June 30, which coincides with the conclusion of the Duterte administration, to help commuters cope with rising fuel and essential goods prices. Since its inception on March 28, the MRT-3's 'Libreng Sakay' Program has served nearly 15 million commuters, according to the DOTr.
How it Works
The booths will accept the standard stored value cards and single journey tickets.
A penalty of P50 will be charged if a single journey ticket is lost or damaged. The MRT-3 expects increased ridership as a result of the scheme. During morning and afternoon peak hours, four-car CKD train sets, each capable of serving up to 1,500 commuters, will be deployed on the route to increase line capacity.
EDSA Carousel Buses Free Ride
Aside from the MRT free ride 2022, EDSA carousel buses also offer free rides that started last April 11, 2022. The announcement comes as Phase III of the Service Contracting Program recently received approval. The General Appropriations Act of 2022 allocated P7 billion to the initiative, allowing 515 of the 532 registered public utility buses (PUBs) to participate in providing free rides along the EDSA Carousel route.
Also Read: Free MRT & Edsa Carousel Ride
Who is eligible for the complimentary rides?
The pandemic has hit many employees, making them struggle with public transportation in the Philippines. The Libreng Sakay initiative is available to APORs, including healthcare professionals and other frontline workers, according to the LTFRB. While the program is in place, regular operating hours of 4 AM to 11 PM will apply. Furthermore, the LTFRB has committed to expanding bus lines and providing free trips to metro users as quickly as possible.
The Libreng Sakay program has proven to effectively restore normalcy to commuters' life in Metro Manila. We may anticipate government organizations to continue to create ways to manage our busier highways with greater ease and efficiency as we continue to explore a post-pandemic landscape.
Aside from these free rides, several projects will soon aid the commuter's life, including the MRT-7 and the Metro Manila Subway.
What is MRT 7?
Manila Metro Rail Transit (MRT) Line 7 is a 22.8-kilometer elevated rapid transit line under construction in the Philippines. The elevated MRT 7 route will have 14 stops and will extend from North Avenue in Quezon City to San Jose del Monte in Bulacan. The Philippines' Department of Transportation and Communication owns and manages the project (DOTC).
The new line will carry about 28,000 passengers per hour in each direction, with the capacity to increase to about 36,000 passengers per hour with additional upgrades. It is expected to serve roughly 350,000 passengers per day, increasing to 800,000 passengers per day once the renovations are completed.
The DOTC chose Universal LRT Corporation BVI (ULC), a San Miguel Corporation (SMC) subsidiary, to construct MRT line 7 in 2008. The project was completed financially in February 2016. The MRT line 7 will serve commuters in the congested Commonwealth Avenue region, reducing traffic in the area, reducing travel times, and helping to decongest traffic in the Caloocan and Balagtas Interchanges of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx).
MRT 7 Routes
The MRT 7 project, worth PHP77 billion, began construction in April 2016. The project is now progressing at a rate of 62 percent overall. South Korea provided 108 rail cars, or 36 train sets, which will go through 14 stations. The MRT-7 is a modern railway system that includes, among other things, the installation of electric power systems, computer and communications systems, signaling systems, and automated fare systems.
Quezon North Avenue Joint Station, Quezon Memorial Circle, University Avenue, Tandang Sora, Don Antonio, Batasan, Manggahan, Dona Carmen, Regalado, Mindanao Avenue, Quirino, Sacred Heart, Tala, and San Jose del Monte would be among the 14 stations on the new mrt 7 route.
The Metro Manila Subway
The Metro Manila Subway Project (MMSP) is a 36-kilometer subway project in Metro Manila, Philippines. It will be the Philippines' first mass underground transportation system. The subway will connect North Caloocan in Bulacan and Dasmarinas in Cavite through the National Capital Region. It has a design capacity of 1.5 million passengers per day and will service 370,000 people in its first year of operation.
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) proposed the project authorized by the National Economic Development Authority's Investment Coordination Committee. In February 2019, the groundbreaking for the Metro Manila subway happened in Valenzuela City. Phase one will be finished by 2025, with partial operations starting in 2022.
The Metro Manila Subway Project (MMSP) is currently 30.55 percent complete.
Also Read: Vista Residences' Condo Projects Near Metro Manila Subway
The free rides and new transportation projects will help ease the burden of commuters. Public transportation is essential in the lives of residents and visitors in cities and towns worldwide. Buses, subways, trains, and other public transportation vehicles make everyone's life easier. Public transportation systems provide the foundation for communities to become more livable and prosperous in various ways, from enhanced community health and affordability.
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