MANILA — Senator Grace Poe on Wednesday welcomed the arrival of MRT-3 spare parts and expressed optimism that the daily difficulties endured by hundreds of thousands of commuters will soon end.
“We hope that the agony and everyday predicament of long-suffering passengers of the MRT-3 will end as the Department of Transportation (DOTr) started to receive the initial batch of rolling stock and track parts to keep the system running,” Poe said.
“We believe a comprehensive plan to improve MRT-3 services is necessary to ensure that no more coaches will be derailed and that no lives will be endangered,” she added.
Her statements were issued following after the DOTr came out with a press release Tuesday announcing the arrival of the first batch of spare parts for the mass transport system.
According to the DOTr, the bulk of spare parts which would be used for the repair of defective MRT coaches are set to come later this week.
The agency also assured better service for the riding public.
Poe, the chair of the Senate Committee on Public Services, expressed her appreciation to the DOTr for keeping its promise to ease the daily travails of MRT-3 commuters.
Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade had earlier assured commuters of an improvement in services as brand-new spare parts begin arriving before the end of February.
“Nagpapasalamat tayo sa DOTr sa pagkakaroon ng puso para sa daanlibong pasahero ng MRT-3, lalo na sa mga may kapansanan, matatanda, buntis at ang mga pasaherong umuuwi sa kani-kanilang mga probinsya sa kagustuhang mapabilis ang kanilang biyahe dahil sa tindi ng trapik sa Metro Manila (We thank the DOTr for having the heart for more than 100,000 passengers of the MRT-3, especially for persons with disabilities, senior citizens, pregnant women and those who are going home to their provinces who cannot stand the horrible traffic in Metro Manila),” Poe said.
However, the lady lawmaker maintained her position that DOTr lacks the expertise to properly maintain MRT-3.
The government took over the maintenance of the MRT after it canceled its contract with the train system’s previous maintenance contractor, Busan Universal Rail Inc. (BURI).
The government accused BURI of being remiss in its contractual obligations to procure sufficient spare parts for the trains.
“Now, the DOTr should award the MRT-3’s maintenance to a reputable company that has knowledge of and capability in railway operations,” Poe said. (Jose Cielito Reganit/PNA)
