Senators want probe on MRT crash

Senators on Thursday sought an investigation on the crash of one of the trains of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 which left at least 36 people injured and thousands of commuters stranded Wednesday afternoon. 

 

Senator Aquilino Pimentel III said he wanted to probe the existing maintenance contract of MRT3 and the management’s failure to address the long queues during rush hours in addition to the problems in computer glitches and loss of power.

 

He blamed the poor maintenance of MRT 3, one of Metro Manila's three elevated railways. Commuters have long complained about the MRT 3 because of congestion, citing urgent concerns about measures to safeguard the well-being of the riding public.

 

The train of the MRT 3 overshot the tracks at the Taft Avenue Station at the corner of EDSA and Taft Avenue in Pasay City when it was detached from a second train pushing it after it stalled between the Magallanes and Taft stations. The train then slammed into a steel barrier.

 

"Why is this happening? What must be done? Let's probe the existing maintenance contract of MRT 3, and everything else will follow," said Pimentel.

 

He noted that in the last three years, no single bidding for maintenance of the overused units was conducted.

 

He added because of the failure of the MRT management to update its maintenance service, the MRT 3 management was forced to go on a month-to-month procurement of capital spares and consumables that led to the "cannibalization" of some parts of "downtrains."

 

"Indecisiveness. The management could not decide to whom to give the maintenance contract for three years," noted Pimentel, adding that some Malacañang officials were also indecisive as to whom to trust with the management of the three MRT lines.

 

"The top level officials of MRT are all in acting status," he said.

Re-examine public and mass transport system
 

Senator Juan Edgardo Angara said the incident paves the way for the re-examination of the current public and mass transport system in the country.

 

"Such incident was actually an accident-in-waiting considering MRT 3 currently operates double its original capacity at 500,000 passengers a day when it was originally designed for only 350,000, and warnings from experts on the safety and maintenance of the MRT, particularly on 'metal fatigue' were made earlier this year," said Angara, chair of the committee on ways and means.

 

"Such re-examination should include all existing and planned inter-city mass transit systems in Metro Manila and the country in the context of establishing a comprehensive, integrated, coordinated, environment-friendly, sustainable and long-term transport network," the senator said.

 

He noted the recent malfunctions or incidents involving the MRT 3 since 2012, such as short-circuit that caused fire in one MRT coach at Kamuning Station in November 2012; a shutdown of MRT operations in October 2013; and abrupt stoppage of operations at the Ayala station causing at least 10 commuters hurt; among others.

 

"The litany of incidents highlights the need to look into the operation-worthiness of the MRT to ensure the safety and welfare of riding public that bear daily long queues just to ply through the metro,” Angara said.

 

He said the government institutional set up may also be re-examined to address the weak coordination, regulation and oversight for public transportation and mass transit policies and plans.

 

The lawmaker further stressed the urgent need to institute policy reforms to address the needs of the country's public and mass transport system in order to sustain the Philippines' exemplary economic performance as manifested in unprecedented GDP growth.

 

"An efficient mass transit system, particularly in a highly-urbanized megapolis such as the Metro Manila, is a key component and a lever for a sustained economic growth in any growing nation. We must look into this MRT 3 incident, as well as the country’s rail system and transport network policy, with the view of instituting policy reforms to address the country’s infrastructure needs in the next 50 years," Angara said.

Find best solutions

 

Senator Paolo Benigno Aquino III, for his part, said he wanted to gather all the important stakeholders involved to talk about the issues that are surrounding the MRT system. 

 

“This is the best avenue to collaboratively find the best solutions in the short-term and in the long-term. The MRT is crucial for our everyday commuters in Metro Manila as they use it to go to their offices, schools and to their homes.  It is not acceptable that one of our main public transport systems has been at risk,” he said.

 

“Let us not wait for a major accident to happen before we address the long overdue problems—a more rigid inspection system, the rehabilitation, maintenance and replacement of parts of the trains and railway, and the like,” Aquino added. —KG, GMA News