By Leslie Ann Aquino
As a Labor Day treat, Filipino workers will get a free ride at the MRT3 on May 1.
(Mark Balmores / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
The Department of Transportation – Metro Rail Transit 3 (DOTr-MRT3) granted the request of Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III to provide free rides to workers in the public and private sectors when the nation observes Labor Day next week.
“General Manager Rodolfo Garcia has fully supported our request. All public and private workers will be treated to free rides from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.on May 1 upon presentation of their company identification cards,” Bello said in a statement.
The labor chief said workers will be issued magnetic cards to gain entry at the MRT service gates where the usual baggage inspection shall be implemented by the MRT management.
Upon arrival at their respective destinations, Bello said those who availed of the free ride must drop the issued magnetic ticket at the drop box at the MRT service gate.
MRT3 stations are located in North Avenue, Quezon Avenue, Kamuning, Cubao and Santolan-Annapolis, all in Quezon City; Ortigas Avenue in Pasig City; Shaw Blvd. and Boni Avenue in Mandaluyong City; Guadalupe, Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue (Buendia), Ayala Avenue and Magallanes Avenue in Makati City; and Taft Avenue in Pasay City.
The Department of Labor and Employment will lead the 116th observance of Labor Day with the mounting of 53 simultaneous Trabaho, Negosyo, Kabuhayan (TNK) Job and Business Fairs nationwide.
On the day, nearly 80,000 job vacancies will be made available to job seekers.
The following day, May 2, DOLE, together with the National Anti-Poverty Commission, will also lead the Labor Day for the Informal Sector workers in recognition of their contribution to the informal economy.