WE commuters are absolutely outraged by the August 13 MRT derailment incident which left dozens of fellow commuters injured. Rubbing salt on injury, the MRT announcement crudely described the derailment as a mere “technical problem” and “inconvenience”.
First, we demand accountability. We demand the resignation of DOTC Secretary Jose Emilio Abaya. Abaya is always busy for the 2016 elections while grossly negligent on the task of ensuring that the MRT and the public mass transport system are reliable and safe. If Abaya does not have the delicadeza, we call on President Aquino to fire him.
Second, we demand change. The August 13 incident is the logical outcome of the unsolved problem that is the Metro Manila mass rail system. While we can no longer change the fact that the MRT’s original design and size do not fit the needs and potential of Metro Manila commuters, we could mitigate this through excellent management, regular maintenance and bold plans for expansion and improvement.
None of that has happened. MRT (mis)management is controlled by private contractors, even as it is the President who appoints the general manager and taxpayer money of up to P5-billion has been spent annually to pay the debts of the stupidest private sector-led train management this side of the world.
Just a few months ago, the MRT management blamed everyone and everything — including overnight population explosion — for the delayed trains and wayward schedules that resulted in horribly long lines in many stations. The problems continue to this day.
To make matters worse, corruption and influence-peddling — at times involving the President’s former general manager, the President’s sister and his defeated running mate — cause further complicate problems by unduly delaying the acquisition of new trains and the building of common stations.
If one of the steps needed along the way is a full government takeover of the private (mis)management, as provided by the Constitution, then so be it.
Third, the change we demand does not include any fare hike. We reject the suggestions that these problems would be magically solved by a fare hike. A fare hike would be like rewarding the grossly incompetent, taxpayer money-addicted private management of the MRT. More importantly, fares should always be kept at the most affordable levels.
Finding both immediate and long-term solutions should start with Abaya’s resignation and with an agreement on a common vision of an MRT-LRT system: One that is modern, dependable, safe and affordable to the public.
James Relativo
Train Riders Network
train.riders.network.media2@gmail.com
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