Commuters may soon be able to use cashless payment options for single journey tickets on the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) as the Department of Transportation (DoTr) explores new measures to improve daily travel.

“The DoTr and MRT-3 are studying the implementation of cashless payment for single journey ticket purchases. Today marks the first workday after the Holy Week break,” the agency said in a statement Monday.

Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon said the initiative is in response to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to enhance the commuting experience for Filipinos.

Dizon, along with Information and Communications Technology Secretary Henry Aguda and MRT-3 general manager Michael Capati, conducted an early morning inspection Monday to monitor passenger flow and assess the condition of stations and trains.

During the visit, Dizon cited shorter queues following the deployment of three additional 4-car trains during rush hour, a move prompted by commuter requests for more train cars during peak times.

MRT-3 operations were temporarily suspended from 17 to 20 April for Holy Week maintenance. During the shutdown, personnel conducted system-wide cleaning, repairs, and installed new components, including lighting ballast replacement and reconditioning of spare traction motors and other train parts.

As of 2024, the MRT-3 serves an average of 375,474 passengers daily.