by Kristine De Guzman | CNN Philippines | February 3, 2016

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Convenience for commuters at the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) remains far from optimal even after the repair of a dozen escalators.

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Convenience for commuters at the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) remains far from optimal even after the repair of a dozen escalators.

This as transport officials admitted on Tuesday (February 2) that almost three dozen more escalators — 34 to be exact — remained nonoperational pending repairs.

Aside from this, 32 elevators of MRT-3 also remained out of service.

Transport Secretary Joseph Emilio "Jun" Abaya pointed to a failure of bidding that's causing a delay in the upkeep of the facilities.

But Abaya said the government was already working on this and promised a better MRT by the time he steps down from the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC).

In the meantime, commuters will have to make do with what's running at the elevated train system — 12 escalators which went back in operation on Monday, (February 1).

Some of the passengers welcomed the development, especially the elderly. But others remained skeptic about how long the escalators would remain running.

This as transport officials admitted on Tuesday (February 2) that almost three dozen more escalators — 34 to be exact — remained nonoperational pending repairs.

Aside from this, 32 elevators of MRT-3 also remained out of service.

Transport Secretary Joseph Emilio "Jun" Abaya pointed to a failure of bidding that's causing a delay in the upkeep of the facilities.

But Abaya said the government was already working on this and promised a better MRT by the time he steps down from the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC).

In the meantime, commuters will have to make do with what's running at the elevated train system — 12 escalators which went back in operation on Monday, (February 1).

Some of the passengers welcomed the development, especially the elderly. But others remained skeptic about how long the escalators would remain running.

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