Pisay grad is new MRT chief

MANILA, Philippines – The Metro Rail Transit 3 (MRT3) has a new general manager, Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya said Monday, January 5.

Roman Buenafe, a mechanical engineer, will be managing the beleaguered rail line, which in 2014 made headlines after one of its trains went past the Taft station’s safety barriers, injuring several passengers.

“He is a mechanical engineer and a graduate of engineering from the University of the Philippines. He is a well accomplished businessman,” said Abaya of Buenafe. 

The MRT’s last general manager, Al Vitangcol III, was sacked after it was revealed that Vitangcol’s uncle-in-law was an incorporator of a company that bagged a P517.5-million service deal with the government for the maintenance of the line.

Abaya said Buenafe took his oath Monday morning, replacing MRT3 director for operations Renato San Jose who served as officer-in-charge. 

Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) administrator Honorio Chaneco initially served as OIC after Vitangcol’s sacking. 

Buenafe’s appointment comes a day after the MRT and the Light Rail Transit hiked prices, a move which angered many commuters. On Monday, several groups asked the Supreme Court to stop the hike. (READ: Aquino says reasonable to hike MRT, LRT fares)

Tough job ahead 

The transportation chief also quelled speculation that Buenafe only got the job because of personal ties to Abaya. Both Buenafe and Abaya are graduates of the Philippine Science High School.

“He isn’t my classmate. He is 2 years older than I am,” said Abaya, adding it was Chaneco who recommended Buenafe.

Prior to being appointed MRT general manager, Buenafe worked for the Rustan Marketing Corporation’s Makati Pharmaceutical Laboratories Inc and Holland Pacific Paper Inc.

According to his LinkedIn profile, Buenafe last served as managing director and general manager of Production Synergy Boosters Inc.

Buenafe has a tough job ahead of him. The MRT-3, which traverses Epifanio de los Santos Avenue, has been beset with a myriad of problems: from glitches, outdated systems, a shortage of spare parts, much-needed upgrades in infrastructure, and long lines outside its stations.

The government is set on buying privately-owned equity shares of the Metro Rail Transit Corporation (MRTC), the concessionaire of the MRT3. – Bea Cupin/Rappler.com