X-ray machines in LRT trains will be removed, just like in MRT-3, says Dizon
Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon rides the train. (Photo from DOTr’s Facebook page)
MANILA, Philippines — The removal the screening system or X-ray machines in Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) stations will also be done in both the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) and the Line 2 (LRT-2).
Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon laid out the plan during a briefing in Malacañang on Friday.
The elimination of the devices is meant to speed up commuter movement and to avoid long lines.
Dizon said the pilot implementation will take place in LRT-1’s Taft Avenue station and in LRT-2’s Recto Station.
However, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) will move one step at a time since there are many security considerations that will arise from the removal of the X-ray machines.
“We started with a pilot implementation at the North Avenue and Taft Avenue stations,” Dizon told reporters.
“But that entailed a long time of coordination with the Office of Transport Security, with the Philippine Coast Guard, with the MRT-3, [and] with the PNP (Philippine National Police),” he recalled.
“We had to do lots of preparation for there. We did not do it hastily,” he pointed out.
“So at the MRT-3, we will start there. But we will also already do a pilot implementation at LRT-1. We are doing this at the Taft Avenue Station of LRT-1,” the secretary specified.
“We will look at the results of the experiment over the next two weeks,” Dizon said.
“And then, we are also doing a pilot implementation at the Recto Station of LRT-2,” he added.
In April, DOT considered the removal of X-ray scanner machines at all MRT-3 stations to quicken the entry of passengers.
Dizon gave the order after riding the MRT-3 trains himself.
READ: DOTr eyes removal of X-ray machines at MRT 3 stations
K-9 units
To take charge of the security in the train stations, the department is deploying K-9 sniffing dogs that are trained by the Philippine Coast Guard.
“The K9 sniffing dogs are a very important intervention,” Dizon asserted.
“Because if you will remember, we issued photos wherein I personally inspected the K9 Academy in Clark, where the Coast Guard is training our K9 sniffing dogs,” he explained.
“There are almost 700 dogs that are being trained,” he reported.
“And that’s it. That is where we are. The good thing about this is that our K9 units have graduated,” he revealed.
“The dogs graduated, I think, three weeks ago. And then, those that graduated from the training, we are deploying them to the MRT,” the cabinet member disclosed.
“Ugly” signages
Dizon also said he has ordered the removal of MRT-3 signages that are not pleasing to the eyes — photos of which went viral on social media.
Netizens took pictures of the signage at MRT-3’s Shaw Boulevard Station, showing the station’s name printed using a shade of yellow on a blue violet background.
The DOTr chief said these materials were donated by the MRT-3’s previous operator.
He said they had to remove the signages because they were “ugly” and the items did not adhere to the standards for signposts.
“There were images that went viral. These were donated by, I think, the previous operator of MRT-3,” he recalled.
“They donated the signages, but they were too ugly. Too bad. You couldn’t see them. They seemed like mere tarpaulins made only in Recto,” Dizon noticed.
“So, unfortunately, although we are thankful for the donation, but if these will not pass the standards, [we will remove them],” he said.
“Because there are actual standards. There are global standards when it comes to signages in public facilities that we have to follow,” the secretary emphasized.
“So, we had this removed, and we will create proper signages adhering to standards. We had the signages at Shaw removed the other day,” he added.
Cashless transactions
DOTr also previously studied the MRT’s adjustment to cashless transactions even for single journey tickets to make the lines of passengers shorter than usual.
The department is preparing a cashless turnstile system, where commuters do not have to line up at the ticketing stations, and instead pay directly from their smartphones.
This system will be implemented by July 2025.
Dizon also reported in the same briefing that they have been in communication with Sumitomo Corporation for additional three train sets so that more passengers will be ferried along Edsa.
MRT-3 currently has 20 trains, functioning on an extended nighttime operation./apl
