DOTr seriously considering MRT shutdown, exec says

The Department of Transportation is thinking about stopping the operations of the Metro Rail Transit because of its poor condition, Undersecretary Cesar Chavez has said.

Sought for comment as regards Senator Grace Poe's suggestion that the MRT be temporarily shut down, Chavez said the DOtr had been considering the matter since early 2017.

"Since the first quarter of this year, Transportation Secretary Art Tugade has already considered stopping the operation of MRT because of its poor condition," Chavez said.

"This option is still being seriously considered by the Secretary even up to this date," he added.

Chavez, however, said that the secretary was "aware of the 500,000 daily commuters that rely on the MRT System."

"Basta sa pagsisikap at kasiguruhan ng technical team na ligtas parin ang pagsakay sa MRT, tuloy parin ang byahe habang nandyan parin ang option na itigil pansamantala ang operation kung ito na talaga ang nararapat na gawin," Tugade was quoted as saying.

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 on Thursday.

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. —NB, GMA News