Two fronts in gov’t action on MRT problem

THE government has been moving on two fronts on the problem of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT), which continues to break down, causing great inconvenience to thousands of commuters who now face an even worse prospect of danger to their lives following a recent accident in which a woman passenger had her arm severed.

Last Tuesday, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) filed charges of plunder against nine Cabinet officials of the previous Aquino administration led by Joseph Abaya of the Department of Transportation and Communication and Mar Roxas of the Department of Interior and Local Government, and several other officials.

A day earlier, the DOTr had filed a graft complaint against Secretary Abaya in connection with a multi-billion-peso maintenance contract the government had entered into with the Busan Universal Rail, Inc. (BURI). The newly formed BURI had replaced the Japanese company Sumitomo Corp. that had designed, built, and maintained the MRT-3 system for 12 years.

Aside from this effort to determine accountability and punish those deemed responsible for all the problems that continue to plague the MRT to this day, the government is moving to stop the glitches and service interruptions in MRT operations. Only a few days ago, the last two coaches got disconnected from a north-bound train, stranding some 100 passengers and forcing them to walk back to the Ayala Station. The government suspects sabotage and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has initiated an investigation. Whether it was indeed sabotage or a simple case of mismanagement or poor maintenance, the incident was the latest in a long series of mishaps over the years.

A proposal has been made to shut down the entire MRT while it undergoes rehabilitation, but Secretary Tugade has ruled out any suspension of the service which is needed by over 500,000 people daily. MRT Corporation President Frederick Parayno said it has received an offer from Japanese firm Sumitomo, the original builder and maintainer of MRT. which had been replaced by the previous administration.

The offer includes a complete overhaul of MRT’s 73 cars, rehabilitation of the entire line and power and signaling systems, replacement of broken rails, purchase of spare parts, and even rehabilitation of station facilities including elevators and escalators.

All this sounds good to harried MRT travelers who have lined up for years at MRT stations in Metro Manila. More than seeing the former officials penalized for plunder and graft, commuters would welcome such improvement of services that will free them from repeated delays and from the fear of serious accidents that could come at any time.