MANILA, Philippines?Citing safety reasons, a former official of the company that built the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) system supported the government?s decision to run the trains until midnight instead of 24 hours.

Representative Paul Daza of the 1st district of Northern Samar said in an interview that MRT would do well to give its maintenance crew enough time to conduct inspections and minor repairs.

?The intention to provide safe and reliable transit for graveyard shift workers is good but it cannot be through MRT because like all trains systems in the world there must be enough time for periodic maintenance. And this is usually done at night,? Daza said.

?Without the inspections, minor damage along the tracks or overhead wires may result in major accidents,? he said.

Daza was the spokesman of MRT Corp. (MRTC) while it was constructing the overhead train system along Edsa.

?There are not that many passengers after 12 midnight anyway, and if the trains keep running the electricity bill alone will be a serious financial burden to the government,? Daza said.

The congressman then called on industries with graveyard shift workers, including the BPO (business process outsourcing) sector, to seek government assistance for alternative transportation arrangements.