Senator Grace Poe on Tuesday lauded the Department of Transportation for the 13 running trains of the Metro Rail Transit 3, and expressed hope the number will increase to 20, as promised by the agency.
"We hope this will be the start of the promised resurrection of MRT's services and the reversal of its abysmal record of unfortunate events," Poe said in a press statement.
"We also hope this would alleviate the sufferings of the commuters who brave the long queues every day to get a ride, and often get off-loaded when the train encounters technical glitches," she added.
The MRT3 went on a five-day break during the Holy Week to conduct repair and maintenance activities on the trains.
It resumed operations on Monday with 15 running trains with six minutes' headway at some point.
On Tuesday, according to Poe and the MRT3, the number of running trains was 13.
In the past weeks, the MRT3 only had seven to a maximum of 12 running trains, with technical glitches hounding their operation.
Poe said a comprehensive program to rehabilitate and maintain the MRT3 is necessary.
"We look forward to the DOTr's promise to increase the running trains to 20, each having four-car configuration to transport more passengers at a faster pace," she said.
She also expressed hope to hear developments from the DOTr on the issue of the Dalian trains.
The Dalian light rail vehicles were procured under the Aquino administration and remain unused as they were found to be incompatible with the current design of the MRT3 and too heavy for the existing rails.
TUV Rheinland was hired to audit and assess the entire MRT3 system in general and the Dalian trains in particular.
"We know we have a long way to go before we can have a train system at par with developed countries. But 13 and soon, 20 trains are better than seven or eight. We will keep watch until we have a train system that is affordable, efficient, safe and comfortable, because the public deserves no less," Poe said.
Last November, the DOTr filed plunder complaints with the Office of the Ombudsman against former Transportation and Communications Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya, former Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II, and former Budget Secretary Florencio Abad over the P3.8-billion maintenance contract for MRT3 the previous administration signed with Busan Universal Rail Inc. (BURI). — BM, GMA News
"We hope this will be the start of the promised resurrection of MRT's services and the reversal of its abysmal record of unfortunate events," Poe said in a press statement.
"We also hope this would alleviate the sufferings of the commuters who brave the long queues every day to get a ride, and often get off-loaded when the train encounters technical glitches," she added.
The MRT3 went on a five-day break during the Holy Week to conduct repair and maintenance activities on the trains.
It resumed operations on Monday with 15 running trains with six minutes' headway at some point.
On Tuesday, according to Poe and the MRT3, the number of running trains was 13.
In the past weeks, the MRT3 only had seven to a maximum of 12 running trains, with technical glitches hounding their operation.
Poe said a comprehensive program to rehabilitate and maintain the MRT3 is necessary.
"We look forward to the DOTr's promise to increase the running trains to 20, each having four-car configuration to transport more passengers at a faster pace," she said.
She also expressed hope to hear developments from the DOTr on the issue of the Dalian trains.
The Dalian light rail vehicles were procured under the Aquino administration and remain unused as they were found to be incompatible with the current design of the MRT3 and too heavy for the existing rails.
TUV Rheinland was hired to audit and assess the entire MRT3 system in general and the Dalian trains in particular.
"We know we have a long way to go before we can have a train system at par with developed countries. But 13 and soon, 20 trains are better than seven or eight. We will keep watch until we have a train system that is affordable, efficient, safe and comfortable, because the public deserves no less," Poe said.
Last November, the DOTr filed plunder complaints with the Office of the Ombudsman against former Transportation and Communications Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya, former Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II, and former Budget Secretary Florencio Abad over the P3.8-billion maintenance contract for MRT3 the previous administration signed with Busan Universal Rail Inc. (BURI). — BM, GMA News
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