Metro Manila now suffering a mass transport crisis — Bayan

MANILA, Philippines – Metro Manila is currently experiencing a mass transport crisis, a militant group claimed as all three rail systems in the capital region crashed just within a week.

According to Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), there are not enough trains to service commuters going to work or school, especially after the Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 2 remains non-operational on Monday.

“We have a mass transport crisis […] Of the limited trains that we do have, all three suffered glitches last week. The LRT 1, LRT 2 and MRT 3 all experienced technical issues that disrupted operations,” Bayan Secretary-General Renato Reyes said in a statement.

“I cannot remember a time when all three had glitches in the same week,” he added.

Last Wednesday, October 2, it was reported that a power glitch caused the Metro Rail Transit (MRT-3) to stop operations for a while.  The apparent cause of the problem was the power supply from Ayala to Taft Avenue stations, causing inconvenience to thousands of riders.

READ: Glitch disrupts MRT-3 operations

A day after, LRT Line 1 (LRT-1) operations from Monumento to Roosevelt stopped due to mechanical issues.  On the same day, the entire LRT-2 operations were suspended after the power rectifier between Katipunan and Santolan Stations tripped and caught fire.

READ: LRT-2 suspends operations as power rectifier trips, catches fire  |  Glitch stalls LRT-1’s Monumento – Roosevelt operations

As of Monday, LRT-2 remains closed, while operations to and from Santolan and Katipunan may be put on hold for at least nine months, the Light Rail Transit Authority said.

READ: LRT-2 Santolan to Anonas stations up for repairs; closed for at least 9 months

“The most serious situation now is the LRT 2. The repairs from the Santolan to Anonas stations will require 9 months. Today, the LRT 2 did not operate, thus affecting thousands of commuters bound for Manila,” Reyes noted.

“As for the MRT 3 and LRT 1, they should abandon any proposal for a fare hike given the quality of service that they have given commuters,” he added.

Reyes also said that the issues should be enough to call for a legislative investigation.

“Is this situation not yet a cause for a legislative investigation? Shouldn’t this be examined during the budget hearings as there are government agencies involved? When will the Senate look into these issues?” he asked.

“Commuters are asking if there really is a plan to improve the country’s transport system, on the basis of service and not business?  Or does it depend with the administration’s continuously changing stance and some people’s desire for profit?” he added.

LRT-1 services commuters in the northwestern part of Manila, with stations running from Roosevelt in Quezon City, along Rizal Avenue and Taft Avenue up to Baclaran in Pasay.  MRT-3 meanwhile is a rail system that runs along the busy Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue (EDSA).

LRT-2’s line traverses through Metro Manila, starting from its east point in Santolan, ending up in Manila, near the university belt in Recto Avenue. /je

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