MANILA, Philippines — Liquids with a volume of 100 milliliters and below are now allowed inside Metro Rail Transit-3 stations, its management announced Thursday.
“Bottled water, drinks and other kinds of liquids such as perfume, rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol), hand sanitizers with volume capacity of 100 ml and below are now permitted inside MRT-3 stations and coaches,” the railway management said in a statement.
The MRT-3 management earlier said an alleged bomb threat it had received last month was “one reason” for the implementation of the no-liquid policy. It explained that any liquid substance can be mixed to form a liquid bomb.
Last week, it released a list of items permitted inside stations and coaches, which includes baby formula or breast milk in bottles, drinking water for children, medication, beverage for persons with disabilities and life-sustaining liquids.
At least 20 alphabetized crates and plastic bags, containing body spray canisters, lotion and alcohol containers, cola cans and perfume bottles confiscated from passengers, crowded the small office space at the MRT North Avenue Station where they monitor footage from CCTV cameras.
A staff at the station told Philstar.com Monday that they were able to confiscate 658 items that day in a span of eight hours since they opened for the train's first trip at 5:30 a.m. But this number does not include the items from rushing riders who failed to include contact details in case they want to get their confiscated belongings back.
The railway management reminded passengers to claim confiscated items that belong to them. Commuters only have to present an identification card to get their belongings back.
The ban, which was implemented after the bombing of a cathedral in Jolo last January 27, was slammed by train passengers online, calling the measure unreasonable.
At MRT stations some passengers unwilling to part with belongings covered by the ban decided to take other transportation options and brave the heavy metro traffic. Others like Wilmar Fernandez said he just opted to leave behind his luxury perfume instead of risking being late.
Last Friday, February 8, Department of Transportation Assistant Secretary Goddes Hope Libiran said in a Viber message to reporters that lotions and perfumes less than 100 ml are allowed as long as train riders apply them on their skin to prove that these are not threats, BusinessWorld reported.
The MRT-3, which runs from North Avenue in Quezon City to Taft Avenue in Pasay City, ferries half a million passengers daily. — Gaea Katreena Cabico with Mikas Matsuzawa