NCRPO: No food, drinks on MRT, LRT

MANILA, Philippines — In the wake of the bombing of a cathedral in Jolo, Sulu, the “no food, no drinks” policy will be strictly enforced at the Light Rail Transit (LRT) and Metro Rail Transit (MRT) starting today to prevent terrorist attacks using liquid bombs, a police official said yesterday.

Posters and signboards informing commuters about the new policy have been put up at the rail lines’ stations and train doors as the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) urged the riding public to cooperate.

Director Guillermo Eleazar, NCRPO chief, said he personally inspected LRT and MRT terminals and he recommended to the Department of Transportation (DOTr) more comprehensive security measures by not only banning liquid products, including bottled drinks, but food as well.

After initially banning bottled drinks, the MRT received flak on Thursday after its security personnel seized other liquids such as perfume, lotion and rubbing alcohol from commuters.

Eleazar said the implementing rules and guidelines for the ban on liquid products were drawn up following thorough consultations with DOTr, LRT and MRT officials.

The MRT said the following liquids may be permitted on the trains upon validation and approval from security personnel:

•Baby formula / breast milk in bottles, if the passenger is travelling with a baby or small child;

•Drinking water to be used by the baby or small child;

•All prescription and over-the-counter medications;

•Liquids including water, juice or liquid nutrition or gels for passenger with a disability or life condition;

•Life-support and life-sustaining liquids such as bone marrow, blood products and transplant organs;

•Items used to augment the body and for medical and cosmetics reasons such as mastectomy products, prosthetics breast, bras or shells containing gels, saline solution, or other liquids; and

•Gels or frozen liquids needed to cool disability or medical-related items used by persons with disabilities or medical conditions.

In a DOTr circular, the security guards may confiscate the banned items, which would be returned to the owners after proper verification and presentation of appropriate identification cards.

“We shall monitor this exhaustively and implement new security and safety measures as need be,” Eleazar said.