By Camille Diola | philstar.com | December 18, 2013

MANILA, Philippines - The congested Metro Rail Transit (MRT) now only allows 500 people to board at a time to accommodate passengers in other stations.

MRT general manager Al Vitangcol III said on Wednesday that the new crowd control scheme started last Monday when train authorities allowed only 500 people on the platform.

"Kapag nakasakay na yung 500 people sa dumating na tren, saka pa lang natin i-aallow na umakyat ang next 500 people," Vitangcol explained in an interview over dzMM.

He said that the new system is not only to give leeway to passengers coming from succeeding stations but to prevent them from flocking to the first station along North Avenue in Quezon City where long queues are seen on a daily basis.

"Yung ibang mga pasahero natin na naghihintay kunyari sa Quezon Boulevard o Kamuning, lahat ito ay mabibigyan ng pare-parehong pagkakataong makasakay. Hindi na nila kailangang pumunta pa sa North Avenue station," he said.

Some passengers, however, complained on Twitter of the train management's new policy that allegedly made the queues and the waiting time longer.