An unusually big number of commuters stand shoulder-to-shoulder while waiting for their train ride at the Metro Rail Transit (MRT)-3 station on Taft Avenue and Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) in Pasay City on Thursday morning (March 27, 2014). The commuters, coming from as far as Cavite, are bound for their places of work in Makati, Mandaluyong, Pasig, San Juan and Quezon City. (MNS photo)
MANILA (Mabuhay) — Malacañang apologized for the accident at the Metro Rail Transit (MRT 3) on Wednesday which injured at least 8 passengers when a train came to an abrupt stop.
“Patuloy pong tinutukoy ng DOTC (Department of Transportation and Communications), LRTA (Light Rail Transport Authority), at management ng MRT yung mahalagang isyu ng kaligtasan ng ating mga commuters, at humihingi ho ng paumanhin doon sa naganap na aksidente kahapon na nagkaroon ng marahas na pagpepreno,” Communications Secretary Sonny Coloma said on Thursday.
“Ang akin pong pagkakaalam ay sinisiyasat ito at magsasagawa ng mga corrective actions dahil hindi dapat magkaroon ng mga insidenteng katulad nito na nagbibigay ng panganib sa kaligtasan ng ating mga mamamayan,” he added.
Coloma, however, brushed aside a question as to whether the incident will be used as a justification to increase fares by citing the need to improve service.
“Hindi po. Yung isyu po kasi ng pagtataas ng presyo, kung maaalala natin, tinukoy na rin ng ating Pangulo sa isa sa kanyang SONA (state of the nation address) — two years ago pa yata yon o last year – at sinabi niya na hindi naman makatwiran na napakababa ang singil sapagkat yung subsidiya ay isinasabalikat ng maraming Pilipino sa Visayas at Mindanao na ni anino ng MRT ay hindi nila naaaninag, at ang benepisyo ng subsidiya ay para lamang sa mga daily commuters nito.
“Kaya po ang ating pakay ay magkaroon ng rationalization of the fare structure, ilapit man lang doon sa aircon bus na nagpro-provide ng similar level of comfort and convenience. Ngunit isinasaalang-alang din yung pangkalahatang sitwasyon. Kung naaalala ninyo ang ating pinakamalaking hinarap na hamon nitong mga nakaraang buwan ay yung sobrang taas ng singil sa kuryente. Siguro naman ay hindi naman natin gustong maging patong-patong din yung pinapasan ng ating mga kababayan na kahalintulad nung patong-patong na kalamidad na ating naranasan. Kaya kina-calibrate po yung response diyan sa mga sitwasyon na yan at binabalanse para naman po huwag maging napakabigat ang pasanin ni Juan at Juana dela Cruz,” Coloma said.
The administration has been in an uphill battle to get public approval for a fare hike for the service.
Running from North Avenue to Taft Avenue in Pasay City, the MRT 3 serves riders numbering as many as 500,000 daily, way past its capacity.(MNS)