DOTr apologizes to passengers affected by MRT smoke incident

MANILA — The Department of Transportation expressed its “sincere apologies” to the passengers who had to get off a train coach of the MRT-3 due to smoke emission.

In a statement Saturday, the agency said that fault analysis is ongoing but it has yet to determine the cause of the incident.

DOTr said that around 600 passengers were unloaded from a southbound MRT train between Cubao and Kamuning stations Friday after a smoke came out “from under one of the seats.”

The incident temporarily disrupted train operations as a “provisional service” from Taft to Shaw Boulevard was implemented for about an hour.

The Transport department appealed for the riding public’s understanding, saying “it pushes ahead, in the most expeditious manner, strategies and actions to effectively and sustainably restore and rehabilitate the current MRT-3 system.”

DOTr hit the previous administrations for their supposed errors in policy and operational decisions which caused the deterioration of the busiest rail system in the country.

Early in January, the Philippines and Japan formalized an agreement for the latter’s commitment to assist DOTr in rehabilitating and properly maintaining the MRT.

The government took over the service and maintenance of the train system after it terminated the contract of Busan Universal Rail Inc for its poor performance.

MRT-3, which ferries half a million passengers daily, has been heavily criticized for technical glitches which inconvenience the riding public.