Poe tells DOTr to consider temporary shutdown of MRT operations to fix glitches

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) should decide immediately whether there is a need to temporarily shut down operations of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT3) to fix the system’s numerous and repeated glitches, Senator Grace Poe said Thursday.

Poe, chair of the Senate committee on public services, said the move could be necessary to ensure the safety of MRT passengers.

“Ngayon, ang mabigat na katanungan ay ito—at siguro ay kailangan nilang gawin—kung kinakailangan ay itigil ang pasahe diyan, ang pagpapatakbo ng MRT—kailangan nilang sabihin,” Poe said.

“Kailangan ba ninyong itigil ang pagpapatakbo ng mga tren para talagang mabusisi ninyo o mapag-aralan ninyo ang mga teknikal na bagay na magliligtas sa ating mga kababayan?” she added.

Poe made the statement after one of the MRT coaches detached from the train running northbound from the Ayala Station to Buendia Station. As many as 140 passengers were evacuated by security personnel.

The incident adds to the frequent service interruptions and numerous technical glitches.

In the event that the DOTr decides to temporarily shut down MRT operations, Poe said the agency should think of ways on how to service the thousands of passengers using the train system.

“Ano ang gagawin niyo? Mayroon ba kayong point-to-point buses na idadagdag, at bibigyan ba ninyo ng kompensasyon na libre ang ating mga pamasahe sa mga panahon na walang pagtakbo ang MRT?” Poe said.

“Basta para sa akin, ‘wag nating isugal ang buhay ng ating mga kababayan dahil natatakot tayo na akuin ang responsibilidad,” she added.

Senator JV Ejercito, for his part, said the DOTr should consider bringing back Sumitomo Corp. as the MRT’s maintenance provider.

“Kasi from the time it started operating in 1998, ang MRT, wala naman tayong narinig na major glitches and malfunctions eh nung Sumitomo ang maintenance provider,” Ejercito said.

“A reputable Japanese company like Sumitomo will not allow itself, or its image, to be tarnished…so mas confident ako, kung halimbawa Sumitomo na lang ang pumalit,” he said. 

Last November 6, the DOTr announced that it has terminated the contract of Busan Universal Railways Inc.’s contract over the firm’s poor performance, among others. — RSJ, GMA News