Nancy Binay asks Tugade: What happened to promise to improve MRT?

Senator Nancy Binay on Wednesday called on Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade to walk the talk and deliver on his promise to improve the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) system.

“Dalawang taon na pong nangangako ang Department of Transportation, sa pangunguna ni Secretary Arthur Tugade, na gaganda ang serbisyo ng MRT 3. Anyare?” Binay said.

“Tama na po ang mga salita, gawa po ang kailangan ng ating mga kababayan ngayon. Hindi ho talaga makakarating sa kanilang paroroonan sa kasalukuyang estado ng MRT-3 ang ating mga kababayan,” she said.

Binay made the statement after the Department of Transportation (DOTr) promised an improvement of MRT-3 services by February as spare parts for the train system begin arriving.

The MRT suffered a breakdown last week after it suffered an electrical failure due to “worn out electrical sub-components.”

“Ilang taon na pong nagtitiis ang ating mga commuters sa mababang kalidad ng serbisyo, at lalo pang lumala ang estado nito sa nagdaang mga araw,” Binay said.

In July 2016, Tugade promised to increase to 20 trains with 60 cars the MRT’s capacity from the then existing 16 trains with 48 cars, as part of his first 100 days in office. The secretary also aimed to increase the MRT’s speed 50 kilometers per hour (kph) from the then 40 kph.

Binay, however, pointed out that as of Wednesday 9 a.m., the MRT announced that there are eight trains running in the system.

“Maaasahan ba na dadami ang aandar na tren, mababawasan na ang mahabang pila, ang siksikan papasok ng mga istasyon, pati na rin ang mala-sardinas na kundisyon sa loob ng mga bagon pagdating ng February 1?” Binay asked. — RSJ, GMA News