MANILA — If there is a need to stop operations of the Metro Rail Transit-3 (MRT-3), the Department of Transportation (DOTr) better say so, Senator Grace Poe said Thursday.
Poe, chair of the Senate Committee on Public Services, made this remark after a link between two MRT-3 coaches got detached, a passenger lost her arm, and other daily incidents and glitches made the news this week.
Poe said that the DOTr and MRT-3 management should have the courage to say so despite expected public outrage.
“Magagalit ang taumbayan kasi marami talaga ang mahihirapan na walang MRT, pero ang importante ay ligtas sila; so kailangang mag-desisyon ang DOTr (There will be public outrage because a lot will suffer without the MRT, but what’s important is that they are safe; so the DOTr really needs to come up with a decision,” she said.
“Kailangan ba ninyong itigil ang pagpapatakbo ng mga tren para talagang mabusisi ninyo o mapag-aralan ninyo ang mga teknikal na bagay na magliligtas sa ating mga kababayan? (Is there a need to stop the train operations so that you can inspect or study the technical aspects to make sure the public is safe?”) she added.
She urged them to release a plan that would indicate how long the MRT-3 system needed rehabilitation and if there would be alternative transport vehicles available for the riding public.
“What’s your plan? Will you be adding point-to-point buses and will you be giving our passengers free compensation while they will not be able to use the MRT-3?” she asked.
Although the DOTr has assured that the MRT-3 continues to be safe, Poe said that it did not seem like the case anymore.
The senator, meanwhile, lamented how over a year had passed yet it seemed like the DOTr had plans they have failed to carry out.
She earlier acknowledged that these problems began during the past administration but stressed that the current administration must also do its part to resolve them. (PNA)
