Poe calls on DOTr to decide whether to stop MRT-3 operation

FILE: Senator Grace Poe on Thursday asked the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to decide already whether there is a need to temporarily halt the operations of MRT-3 to fix its technical problems and ensure public safety. (PNA photo)

Following an incident at the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT) this morning, where an MRT-3 car was detached from the main train, Senator Grace Poe on Thursday asked the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to decide whether there is a need to temporarily halt the operations of MRT-3 to fix its technical problems and ensure public safety.

“Ang kailangan nilang gawin ay siguraduhin na ligtas ang ating mga mananakay. Ngayon, kung kinakailangan na itigil, alam natin na maaapektuhan halos limandaang libong mga mananakay pero kung iisipin naman natin ang maaaring bawian ng buhay dahil sa kapabayaan, baka kailangan lulunin natin ito ngayon [What they need to do is to ensure the safety of the passengers. Now, if they really need to stop it, we should all know that it will affect about 500,000 passengers, but if we’re going to think about it, lives may be lost because of negligence. Maybe we should need to swallow it now],” Poe told reporters.

“Pero ang importante talaga ay magdesisyon ang DOTr at ‘pag may nangyari, akuin nila ang responsibilidad [But what is more important is for the DOTr to decide and when something happens, they should take the responsibility],” she added.

Poe, chairperson of the Senate committee on public services, said it’s difficult to believe that riding the MRT-3 is “safe” as what the DOTr claimed, given its daily glitches and technical problems.

Just two days ago, a passenger of the MRT-3 lost her right arm in a mishap at the Ayala Station. But in a positive turn of events, doctors successfully reattached her severed arm.

On Thursday morning following that mishap, an MRT-3 coach was detached from the train body, leaving the train car along the tracks between Buendia and Ayala stations. This incident made hundreds of MRT-3 passengers walk along the rails.

“Kung kinakailangan ay itigil ang pagpapatakbo ng MRT, kailangan nilang sabihin. Kailangan maglakas-loob sila dahil magagalit ang taumbayan kasi marami talaga ang mahihirapan na walang MRT pero ang importante ay ligtas sila [If they need to stop the MRT operation, they need to say it. They should be brave enough because Filipinos will be angry since many will suffer without the MRT],” the Senator said.

“Kailangan mag-desisyon ang DOTr. Kailangan bang 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 [The DOTr should decide. Do you need to stop train operations so you can study the technical aspects that will keep our fellow Filipinos safe]?” she asked.

According to the Senator, the DOTr should immediately make a plan on how long the supposed rehabilitation will transpire.

“Ano ang gagawin niyo? Mayroon ba kayong point to point buses na idadagdag? At bibigyan ba ninyo ng kompensasyon na libre ang ating mga pamasahe sa mga panahon na walang pagtakbo ang MRT, iyan ang tanong natin [What will you do? Will you have additional point-to-point busses? And will you compensate passengers with free rides during the times when MRT is not operational? Those are our questions],” Poe added.