Talking and gossiping will no longer be allowed inside trains, according to the management of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3), in a bid to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
"NO MARITES IN MRT-3! Chismis not allowed habang nasa loob ng tren ng MRT-3. Iwas-usap, Iwas-COVID, Iwas Chismis na rin," the MRT-3 said in a statement on Facebook.
(NO MARITES IN MRT-3! Chismis not allowed while inside MRT-3 trains. Avoid talking, avoid COVID, and avoid gossiping.)
According to the management, the rule is part of the Seven Commandments it released last month.
"Kasama sa 7 Commandments ang pagbabawal sa pagsasalita sa loob ng mga tren ng MRT-3," it explained.
(The prohibition in MRT-3 is included in the Seven Commandments.)
The Seven Commandments must also be observed by passengers of the light rail transit, according to the Department of Transportation:
The commandments are as follows:
- Laging magsuot ng facemask at face shield. (Always wear a facemask and face shield.)
- Bawal magsalita at makipag-usap sa telepono (No talking in-person or over phone.)
- Bawal kumain (No eating allowed.)
- Laging panatilihin ang maayos at sapat na ventilation sa mga pampublikong transportation (Always maintain proper ventilation inside public transportation.)
- Laging magsagawa ng disinfection (Regularly carry out disinfection.)
- Bawal sumakay ang mga pasaherong mayroong sintomas ng COVID-19 (Passengers with COVID-19 symptoms are not allowed to ride the trains.)
- Laging sundin ang panuntunan sa appropriate physical distancing (Always observe proper physical social distancing.)
The commandments were issued in early November, when face shields were still mandatory. However, MRT-3 said in a statement that face shields are now voluntary for passengers in accordance to the downgrading to Alert Level 2 in Metro Manila.
Currently, MRT-3 trains have a 70% passenger capacity, or 276 passengers per coach or 827 passengers per trainset.
"Upang mapanatili sa wastong kapasidad ang mga tren at matiyak na nasusunod ang mga health and safety protocols sa buong linya, patuloy ring pamamahalaan ng train at platform marshal ang kaayusan at kaligtasan sa mga tren at istasyon," the MRT-3 management said.
(To maintain proper capacity of trains and ensure that health and safety protocols are observed, train and platform marshals will be deployed to oversee order and safety inside the train and station.)
