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By Prince Golez, Manila Reporter
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Tuesday, May 16, 2017
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MANILA – The Metro Rail Transit (MRT) 3 said there will be no more long queues at its stations “by end of the year.”
Will they keep their promise this time?
“Ngayon po, may pila sa peak hour pero during off peak, wala nang pila. By the end of the year, siguradong wala na pong pila,” Engr. Deo Leo Manalo, MRT 3 director for operations, said.
At Monday’s Senate hearing on the reported inefficient management and maintenance of the MRT 3, Manalo said that more passengers will be served in December once its new power system is upgraded.
At present, the trains can carry only 17,730 passengers per hour per direction daily, the official said. He added that in seven months the MRT line will be able to accommodate around 24,000 passengers.
Manalo also assured the committee on public services chaired by Sen. Grace Poe that passenger capacity of the MRT will be expanded from 500,000 to 800,000 by 2019.
“When there are more trains operating in MRT 3, we need additional power. Currently ang kaya ng MRT is 20 trains,” Manalo said.
“The power will be completed by November. By December, pwede na tayo magdagdag ng additional trains.”
In her opening statement, Poe sought to address the “many problems” pertaining to the railway’s operations and maintenance.
“Aside from the blatant misuse of funds by entering into disadvantageous contracts, is the insensibility of public officials to the plight of the Filipino riding public,” she said.
“Napakalaking perwisyo sa mga pasahero kapag nasisira ang MRT lalo na kapag ilang minute na silang nakapila tapos tsaka sasabihin na magkakaroon pa ng delay. Trapik na nga sa kalsada pero madalas, mas napapabilis sa byahe nila kapag nagbus na lang sila papunta sa kanilang paroroonan.”
The lady senator likewise urged the management to repair non-functioning escalators and elevators at MRT stations./PN
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