Tugade bares plans for elevated walkways, ‘chips’ for inconvenienced train passengers

An elevated, air-conditioned walkway along EDSA may not be a far-fetched idea, as Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade on Wednesday revealed that his agency is eyeing a tie-up with a private group for the construction of wider and safer walkways for pedestrians.

At the hearing of the Senate committee on public service, Tugade said he had a conversation with Sen. Miguel “Migz” Zubiri Tuesday night on meeting a certain group that is proposing plans for elevated walkways along the Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue (EDSA).

“Pwede po iyan. Kagabi kausap ko si Sen. Migz kung saan ang konsepto ng elevated walkway na covered, air-conditioned at may walkalator, napag-usapan namin. Sabi ko ke Senator ‘pakilala mo nga ako sa mga taong yan’,” Tugade said.

“Sabi ko kay Sen. Migz kagabi ‘siguraduhin mo na walang gastos ang government.’ Basta walang gastos at mabilis, dalhin nyo sakin, kakausapin ko,” he added.

Tugade was responding to the query of Senator Bam Aquino on the possibility of constructing elevated walkways in major thoroughfares.

“Makikita natin anecdotally, marami sumasakay na short distances lang, wherein in other countries, pwede na yang lakarin lang. Sa social media, nagkaroon ng plano na elevated walkways connected sa mall. baka pwede niyong pag isipan?” Aquino said.

“Very open po tayo diyan,” Tugade responded.

Aquino claimed that he also knew the private group that Tugade was referring to, but both officials did not reveal any names.

“Actually, kilala ko rin po sila…Ang grupong ito nakipag usap pa sa malls para kaunti lang ang bayaran ng government. Pwede ikabit sa malls [ang walkways],” Aquino said.

Bike lanes

Meanwhile, Tugade said his office is also planning to widen the existing bike lanes in Metro Manila to make them safers for bikers.

Tugade said he also instructed his subordinates to ease the condition of commuters queuing to ride the Light Rail Transit (LRT) or Metro Rail Transit (MRT) trains.

“Sabi ko nga sa aking undersecretary, ‘Sa susunod na mga araw na may nabasang pasahero sa pila ng MRT at LRT, babasain din kita’,” Tugade said with a laugh.

Tugade said his agency has already made an arrangement with malls for them to open outlets where commuters can buy train tickets.

Tugade said he had also instructed LRT and MRT managements to ensure that there would be a no train operation stoppage starting next week.

“Kapag ang tao bumili ng ticket at sumakay, we are bound under the Common Carriage Act, to bring that person to his destination safe and comfortable. Ang nangyayari hindi nakakarating sa gusting puntahan,” Tugade said.

“Sabi ko sa pamunuan ng rail, next week dapat walang stoppage. Pag may stoppage, I want them to produce script chip. Yung mga taong hindi natuloy sa kung saan sila papunta, bibigyan ninyo sila ng script chips,” Tugade said.

“Para yung script chip na yun, magamit nila sa susunod nilang byahe,” he added.

Tugade said the script chip will serve as a certification that the train management was responsible of the cancellation of the passenger’s previous trip thus they can avail of another trip for free.

“Obligasyon ho namin na ideliver ang mananakay from point of carriage up to the point of destination safe and comfortable. Kapag hindi naibsan yun, kailangan gumawa tayo ng makenismo na maibalik yung pamasahe o yung plete (ticket) at maiwasan na maglalakad sila sa riles dahil delikado pa yun,” Tugade said. — RSJ, GMA News