Senate starts MRT Investigation

I was happy about the Sen. Grace Poe's visitation. The senate really felt the need to see the current situations of the Senate MRT probing system and experience what commuters are experiencing. This only proves that DOTC Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya has no concern to the public. The fact that they rode the car for seniors and ladies area really says a lot. While Senator Grace Poe went incognito and really understood what the typical commuter  felt really tells the typical Filipino that they understand what they are going thru.

The litany of incidents and derailing of MRT train highlights the need to look into the operation-worthiness of the MRT to ensure the safety and welfare of riding public that bear daily long cues just to ply through the metro.

This is what came out from the senate investigation:

Today’s Senate hearing on the Metro Rail Transit-Line 3 (MRT-3) arose from four filings:

• Senate Bill 2266, “National Transportation Safety Board Act,” by Senator Grace Poe, 

• Senate Resolution 839, to investigate in aid of legislation the MRT-3 incident last Aug. 13, and re-examine the mass-transport system for planning in the next half-century, by Sen. Sonny Angara;

• Senate Resolution 840, to inquire into the increasing incidents of train malfunction arising from inadequate maintenance of MRT-3, and promote a passenger-first mentality among public transport authorities and operators, by Sen. Nancy Binay; and

• Senate Resolution 841, to investigate the frequent accidents caused by inefficient operations and maintenance of MRT-3, for passenger safety, by Sen. Bam Aquino.

The heearing on MRT situation and that at least 15% of escalators in train stations and 34% of elevators are not operational, while none of the train line’s ticket issuing machines are still working. Officials said the elevators and escalators could not be fixed because they were already "obsolete." He added maintenance providers are now unable to look for spare parts.

MRT-3 operations have had to be suspended seven times due to various reasons: flooded stretches of tracks, conked out radio communications repeater, voltage fluctuation. These were basically because the maintenance contractor did not inspect anti-flood, radio repeater, lightning arresters, and power systems. It also did not stockpile basic supplies like submersible water pumps, standby two-way radios or all-day cell phones, and circuit breakers.

The result? An average waiting time of 30-45 minutes, around the same time it takes a train to travel from end-to-end.MRT3 director Renato San Jose said the goal is to cut down waiting time to 10 minutes – but that can only happen by the end of 2016, when all of the MRT3’s proposed projects are expected to be rolled out.

In short we'll just say sorry, Forty minutes waiting time will still be 40 minutes.