MANILA – The Department of Transportation (DOTr) announced on Wednesday that free train rides for people who have been vaccinated against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) will continue for the first week of September.
The DOTr said in a Viber message to media that vaccinated authorized persons outside of residence (APORs) can continue to take advantage of the free ride program until Sept. 7, with further extensions to be “later re-evaluated”.
Free train rides are available at the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) during peak hours from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.; at the Light Rail Transit Line 2 (LRT-2) during off-peak hours from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m.; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.; and at the Philippine National Railways (PNR) during off-peak hours from 4 a.m. to 6 a.m.; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and 7 p.m. onwards.
The MRT-3 said in a Facebook post that the free ride program will continue as the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) in the National Capital Region (NCR) is extended.
“Ang libreng sakay sa MRT-3 ay sa direktiba ni DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade upang hikayatin ang mga pasahero na magpabakuna at matulungan ang mga ito sa pagbiyahe sa panahon ng pandemya (The free rides at the MRT-3 is in accordance with Tugade’s directive to encourage passengers to get vaccinated and to help them with transportation during the pandemic),” the MRT-3 said.
Vaccinated passengers, including those who have just got their first dose, must submit their vaccination card to security staff along with identification (ID) proving their status as an APOR to be eligible for the program.
A certificate of employment, a valid or government-issued ID, a Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) ID, or a company ID are examples of these documents.
“Tanging mga APOR lamang ang pinahihintulutang makasakay ng MRT-3 sa ilalim ng MECQ (Only APORs are allowed to ride the MRT-3 during the MECQ),” the MRT-3 statement said.
