DOTr defends safety of MRT-3 amid lawmaker’s claims

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Sunday assured the public that the four-car trains of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) remain safe to ride, following concerns raised by a lawmaker and some train employees.

The agency said MRT-3’s signaling system is fully capable of supporting four-car train operations between North Avenue and Taft Avenue.

The system has been validated by international rail consultant SYSTRA, confirming that four-car configurations are safe, DOTr added.

“Tinitiyak ng Department of Transportation (DOTr) na nananatiling ligtas ang MRT-3 para sa lahat ng mga pasahero, taliwas sa sinasabi nilang hindi ligtas sakyan ang four-car trains ng rail line,” the agency said in a statement.

(The Department of Transportation assures that the MRT-3 remains safe for all passengers, contrary to claims that the rail line’s four-car trains are unsafe to ride.)

“All MRT-3 train sets undergo thorough technical evaluation, and the DOTr and maintenance provider Sumitomo Corporation will never allow the safety of daily commuters to be compromised. Commuter safety is our top priority,” the statement added.

The DOTr was responding to a March 13 vlog by Kamanggawa Partylist Rep. Eli San Fernando, which featured members of the MRT-3 Employees Association.

In the video, San Fernando claimed that MRT-3 General Manager Michael Capati was covering up alleged safety issues with the train cars.

“Nandito tayo sa harap ng MRT North Avenue Station dahil nakatanggap tayo ng isang nakakabahalang impormasyon na yung MRT ay nagpapatakbo ng mga tren kahit alam naman nila na hindi ‘to safe,” he said.

(We are here in front of the MRT North Avenue Station because we received alarming information that the MRT is running trains even though they know they aren't safe.)

“At sa halip na tugunan at resolbahin ‘to, eh pinagtatakpan ito mismo ng General Manager ng MRT,” he added.

(And instead of addressing and resolving this, the General Manager of the MRT himself is covering it up.)

The DOTr said MRT-3 management had reached out to San Fernando as early as February 13 to explain the technical and safety evaluations confirming the four-car trains are safe.

“Rep. San Fernando’s office officially received this letter on February 18, but MRT-3 received no further response from him,” the agency added.

In response, San Fernando stood by the MRT employees’ claims.

“E mga manggagawa na may KARANASAN sa loob ng ilang DEKADA ang mismong nagrereklamo. Sila ang nakakaalam ng mismong kalagayan at operasyon ng MRT kumpara dyan kay GM Capati,” he said in a Facebook post.

(It is the workers with decades of experience who are complaining. They know the actual condition and operation of the MRT compared to GM Capati.)—MCG, GMA Integrated News