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MANILA, Philippines – With at least two disruptions in the Metro Rail Transit (MRT-3) in a single week, several groups have called for the resignation of Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya.
But Malacañang said Abaya continues to enjoy the full trust and support of President Benigno Aquino III.
In an interview on state-run dzRB on Sunday, August 17, Palace Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr said the government’s primary concern is ensuring the safety of the thousands of Filipinos who use the MRT-3 every day.
“We are aware that the trains are overcapacity. But we are striving to maintain the quality of service on the MRT to ensure the safety of the riding public,” he said.
“President Aquino is fully confident in Secretary Abaya’s abilities,” Coloma added.
On Wednesday, a train derailed at the Taft Avenue station in Pasay City, injuring several passengers and causing a post to fall over a car. Two days later, another train stalled near the EDSA-Santolan station due to a “power supply” problem.
Despite these incidents, Abaya maintained the line was still safe, but admitted that it had been long overdue for an upgrade.
The government has begun its probe on the cause of Wednesday’s incident.
The Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) is set to release the results of the probe on Tuesday, August 19.
Earlier, Abaya said the MRT-3 is set for an upgrade with the acquisition of 48 new trains in a P3.8-billion deal.
But the first set of trains isn’t due to arrive until 2015.
Asked if Malacañang can step in to expedite the process, Coloma said, “The delivery can’t be rushed. These are not off-the-shelf items, these are capital equipment with specified completion dates.”
But he gave assurances the government will take steps to improve the riding experience in the meantime.
He cited efforts to improve scheduling, managing queues, and conducting public education programs on proper passenger behavior, among others. – Rappler.com
See related stories:
- MRT-3 train derailed, injuries reported
- What caused MRT 3 accident? Gov’t begins probe
- List of injured MRT-3 passengers
- TIMELINE: MRT3 mishaps
- The MRT Survival Guide
Read more stories about the issue here.
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