The Transportation Department said all 34 elevators and 44 out of 46 escalators are  now operational in Metro Rail Transit (MRT)-3 stations.

“The Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the MRT-3 remain firm on our promise to bring back the original state of the rail line’s services. Though the COVID-19 pandemic suspended our revenue operations, we took measures in coordination with the IATF to ensure that the rehabilitation and maintenance of MRT-3 continued,” DOTr Undersecretary for Railways TJ Batan said.

To recall, prior to the massive MRT-3 rehabilitation works under Japanese contractor Sumitomo-Mitsubishi Heavy Industries-TESP, only 19 out of the 46 escalators, and 27 out of 34 elevators were operational.

The two  remaining escalators will be fixed soonest, once needed spare parts arrive in the country, noting that production and delivery was put on hold as a result of global COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns.

Further, the MRT-3 has continued its rail replacement works during the enforcement of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) and MECQ period.

About 40,860 out of 65,892 (62.01 percent ) linear meters of rails have been completed as of 2 June 2020, out of which 9,216 (13.98%) linear meters of rails were completed during the ECQ and MECQ.

With this, the MRT-3 targets to complete its rail replacement works by September this year, several months ahead of its February 2021 target date.