Metro Manila, Philippines – Train operators have adjusted their trips for the extended holiday, while tollway companies will waive fees on certain days.
In an advisory, the Metro Rail Transit (MRT-3) will carry out limited operations on Christmas eve, Dec. 24 and New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31. The last trip for the North Ave and Taft Ave. stations are scheduled for 7:45 p.m. and 8:23 p.m., respectively.
MRT-3 trips during Christmas Day (Dec. 25) and New Year’s Day (Jan. 1) will also begin late at 6:30 a.m. The final trip at the North Ave. Station is 10:30 p.m., and 11:09 p.m. for Taft Ave.
Meanwhile, the Light Rail Transit (LRT-2) has extended operations by an hour from Dec. 9 to Dec. 30. This means the last train at the Antipolo station leaves at 10 p.m., and 10:30 p.m. for the Recto station.
The extension excluded Christmas eve and New Year’s eve.
The LRT-1, which operates from Parañaque to Quezon City, will also have shorter services on Dec. 24 and 31.
On Christmas eve, the last trip at Dr. Santos is 8 pm, and 8:15 pm for Fernando Poe Jr. (FPJ) station. A shorter schedule will be carried out on New Year’s eve, with the last trains set to leave Dr. Santos and FPJ at 7 p.m. and 7:15 p.m., respectively.
The Light Rail Manila Corp., the private operator, said train hours will be extended by 45 minutes on Christmas Day. Final trains at Dr. Santos and FPJ will leave at 10:15 p.m. and 10:30 p.m., respectively.
The regular schedule will be in place at the LRT-1 from Dec. 26 to 30 and on Jan. 1.
Free toll, coding scheme
Meanwhile, tollway operators waived fees on Christmas and New Year.
San Miguel Corporation said motorists can avail of the free toll from 10 p.m. of Dec. 24 to 6 a.m. of Dec. 25, and 10 p.m. of Dec. 31 until 6 a.m. of Jan. 1.
SMC operates the Skyway System, NAIA Expressway, South Luzon Expressway, STAR Tollway and the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway.
The Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation will ease fees as well, following the same schedule. The company runs the North Luzon Expressway, NLEX Connector, Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway, Cavite-Laguna Expressway, and the Manila Cavite Expressway.
Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority suspended the number coding from Dec. 23 to 25, as well as Dec. 29 to Jan. 2.
NewsWatch Plus correspondent Lance Mejico contributed to this report.
