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Focus on ‘overall safety’ of MRT-3, Poe tells DOTr


Senator Grace Poe on Wednesday urged the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to focus on the “overall safety” of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT-3) following the recent accident at the Ayala station.

“What happened was a very unfortunate incident that could have been prevented with a passenger railing safety feature. But right now, the DOTr should focus on the overall safety of the MRT, which could impact a larger number of people in case a serious technical glitch strikes,” Poe said in a statement.

“In reality, the riding public faces so many of the MRT’s structural and technical time bombs that put in serious doubt the DOTr’s assurance that it is still safe to ride these trains,” she added.

In a Senate committee hearing last May, Transportation Undersecretary Cesar Chavez assured the public that riding the MRT-3 was “safe” despite the breakdowns and technical problems of the train system.

Poe pointed out that while the past administration was to blame for most of the MRT-3’s woes, “the current problems are now in the hands of the DOTr.”

“If they are earnest and sincere in addressing these problems, then they should work faster on bettering our train system,” she said.

Angeline Fernando, 24, almost lost her right arm due to an accident at the MRT-3 Ayala Station in Makati City on Tuesday. Fernando had just alighted from the northbound train and felt dizzy, causing her to fall onto the tracks.

Surgeons were successfully able to reattach her arm, a transportation official said Wednesday.

Also on Wednesday, a southbound train of the MRT-3 unloaded passengers due to a technical problem.

The said glitch marks the 10th day in a row that the MRT-3 had recorded instances of rider offloading due to unspecified technical problems.

Senator JV Ejercito, for his part, urged the DOTr to consider installing glass panels at the train stations.

“DOTr should look into installing glass panels with doors that opens synchronized with trains in the platform. Similar to what HK MTR did when there were accidents that happened before,” Ejercito said. — MDM, GMA News

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