MRT-3 apologizes anew after staff was made to hold signage at Shaw Blvd. station
The Department of Transportation–MRT-3 has issued an apology after photos surfaced showing personnel holding tarpaulin signs to direct passengers toward functioning escalators.
Management clarified that the station supervisor’s actions were unauthorized and were halted as soon as they were discovered.
According to them, the station supervisor has been relieved and referred to the MRT-3 Disciplinary Committee for appropriate investigation and corresponding sanctions.
"DOTr-MRT-3 also apologizes to the personnel who were asked to carry the said tarpaulins. That is not part of their function and no personnel shall be treated that way," they continued.
DOTr-MRT-3 assured the public that they are addressing the matter seriously to ensure such lapses do not happen again.
"We remain committed to upholding accountability, efficiency, and respect in all our operations," the statement ended.
A Facebook post surfaced on Wednesday featuring images and a video taken at the MRT Shaw Boulevard Station. According to the uploader, the sightings occurred on different days.
"Ang siste nila papatayuin mga staff habang hawak yung tarpaulin printout about sa sirang escalator sa greenfield side ng station. Isang malaking kalokohan! Bilisan nyo nalang ayusin ang sirang escalators hindi yung walang kwenta mga pinag uutos nyo sa tauhan nyo," he wrote in the caption.
The post quickly went viral, sparking a wave of criticism from users who questioned the station's methods. One user said, "Pwede namang maglagay ng signage, bakit kailangang tao pa talaga?"
This comes just days after another viral incident at Shaw Boulevard Station, where a sign posted on a broken escalator told commuters: "Each step you climb is a gift to your heart, lungs, and muscles." Commuters criticized the signage as both "tactless" and a form of gaslighting.
"The convenience of the commuters is always our paramount concern and priority... There was never any intention to invalidate or diminish the commuters’ experiences or concerns,” DOTr-MRT-3 explained.
