The Department of Transportation (DOTr) assured the public that the four-car trains of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) remain safe for commuters, following concerns raised by a lawmaker and some train employees. The agency said MRT-3’s signaling system is fully capable of supporting four-car train operations between North Avenue and Taft Avenue. Its safety and technical integrity have been validated by international rail consultant SYSTRA, confirming that four-car configurations are safe. All MRT-3 train sets undergo thorough technical evaluation. The DOTr and maintenance provider Sumitomo Corporation emphasized that commuter safety remains the top priority and will never be compromised. The statement was issued in response to a March 13 vlog by Kamanggawa Partylist Rep. Eli San Fernando, which featured members of the MRT-3 Employees Association. The agency added, "San Fernando’s office officially received this letter on February 18, but MRT-3 received no further response from him." In turn, San Fernando stood by the claims of the MRT employees, stressing their decades of experience in the system. "E mga manggagawa na may KARANASAN sa loob ng ilang DEKADA ang mismong nagrereklamo. Sila ang nakakaalam ng mismong kalagayan at operasyon ng MRT kumpara dyan kay GM Capati," he said in a Facebook post.
