The glitches have been happening more often and it seems the operation of the Metro Railway Transit 3 (MRT 3) system that runs along Edsa is about to get worse.
Less than a month after the government took over the operation of MRT 3 from a foreign contractor, the rail system has become a runaway train and a more unpredictable and unsafe transportation mode in the metropolis.
Transportation Undersecretary for Rails Cesar Chavez finally made an honorable move when he tendered his irrevocable resignation Thursday to President Rodrigo Duterte amid the mounting problems of MRT 3. Chavez had no choice—he had to take the blame for messing up the MRT 3 operation.
Chavez quit because of the “recent events involving MRT 3 system and (for the) simple sense of delicadeza.” He conceded that his resignation would provide opportunity for the appointment of person better qualified to perform the duties and responsibilities of the agency.
His resignation came after a coach decoupled from a train and an accident involving a passenger who lost her arm when she fell from the platform of the Ayala station.
Chavez is believed to have widely caused the termination of the three-year contract of Busan Universals Rail Inc., the maintenance provider of MRT 3, early this month due to alleged poor performance. The government since then took over the operations and maintenance of the Edsa rail system.
The termination of the contract left the rail operation with no skilled personnel to man MRT 3. The government in the first place should have not allowed the situation because of the safety risks faced by commuters.
The Department of Transportation, meanwhile, cited that high-level discussions were ongoing with potential qualified and experienced partners who could provide the maintenance requirements of MRT-3, including Sumitomo Corp. and technical partner Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
The government should have first tapped a qualified team that would have taken over Busan’s job before terminating the contract. The DOTr, instead, removed the skilled operator of MRT 3 and assumed the rein. The government also consequently exposed over 500,000 daily train passengers to danger.