(Photo courtesy of MRT-3)
MANILA – An official of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) on Monday reminded passengers to comply with health protocols in public transportation, noting that violators will be punished accordingly.
In an interview over DZBB, MRT-3 officer-in-charge General Manager Eymard Eje said they have placed train marshals inside the trains to assist passengers and ensure that health protocols against the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) are followed.
“Sila po yung nagbabantay sa loob po ng tren para maobserbahan kung sumusunod po ang ating mga pasahero ng sa ganun ay maalagaan din natin yung ibang mga pasahero na sumusunod sa protocol (They are on guard inside trains and check the compliance of passengers. This in turn allows us to take care of passengers who observe protocol),” Eje said.
He said the most common violations of these health protocols are the improper wearing of face shields and face masks.
“Hindi tama ang pagsusuot ng face shield, yun po ang pinaka-marami. Pangalawa po ay ang tamang pagsusuot ng face mask. Kasi nakalabas po yung ilong, nasa bandang bibig lang po (Improper wearing face shields, that’s the most common. Second is not properly wearing face masks. Because some have their noses exposed, only the mouth is covered),” Eje said.
He said one of the more severe violations of health protocols is talking inside the train, noting that he himself caught one and had the person brought to the police.
“Ako mismo nakahuli sa kanya, pinababa ko yung mga pasaherong ito, nakikipag-usap po sa cellphone sa loob ng tren. Nakababa po ang kanyang face mask (I caught this person myself. This person was asked to get off the train as they were talking on their phone inside the train. Their face mask was off),” Eje said.
He reminded passengers to follow the “seven commandments” in public transportation when inside MRT-3 premises -- wearing a face mask, a face shield, no talking, observing proper distancing, regular disinfection, barring those with symptoms from entering, and ensuring proper ventilation inside the vehicle.
During the current modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ), he said MRT-3 trains are only allowed to carry 30 percent of the maximum passenger capacity -- 372 passengers in a three-car train.
He also asked MRT-3 passengers to make use of the Traze mobile application for easier contact tracing.
In a public address last week, President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the arrest of individuals who will be caught not properly wearing a face mask or face shield. (PNA)
