DOTr SEC. Jaime Bautista makes a surprise inspection of the MRT-3 stations and facilities. Image from DOTr MRT-3 / Facebook
MANILA, Philippines — Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista on Monday ordered the installation of bidets in the restrooms of MRT-3 stations following his surprise visit last week.
Bautista said that during his visit to various stations, he found the restrooms to be clean and tidy, but the amenities seemed lacking. That was why he came up with the order to install bidets, he said.
“Nakita ko na malinis na ‘yung ating mga comfort rooms pero kulang ng amenities, so I already discussed this with Usec. Cesar Chavez and immediately they will install bidet doon sa mga comfort rooms natin,” he said in a public briefing.
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(I saw that the comfort rooms are clean but the amenities are lacking. I already discussed this and they said they would install bidets in the comfort rooms.)
Bautista also said the customer assistance desk should be relocated so that it could be accessed even by those still lining up outside the station.
“’Yung mga customer service area nila, nandoon lang sa tinatawag na paid area, so ‘yung makapagtanong lang ay ‘yung mga nakapagbayad na, ‘yung mga nakapila, hindi nila makakusap ‘yung mga employees ng MRT,” Bautista said.
(Only those who have already purchased tickets can access the customer service area, those who are still standing in line outside cannot.)
Bautista also observed that only five out of 16 stations of the MRT-3 have medical equipment that can be used for emergency cases.
He said he learned that if there are emergency cases in a station with no available equipment, the equipment has to be sent from the other stations via train.
“‘Yung equipment na ‘yan hindi naman masyadong mahal para we can provide these medical equipments sa lahat ng stations, which they will consider,” the transport chief said.
(Those equipment are not expensive, so we can buy them and provide them to all stations, which they said they would consider.)
Last week, Bautista made a surprise inspection of the MRT-3, riding incognito as a passenger of one of the busiest rail lines in Metro Manila.
DOTr SEC. Jaime Bautista makes a surprise inspection of the MRT. Image from DOTr MRT-3 / Facebook
During his visit, he said that passengers told him that despite the recent termination of free rides, and the discomfort of the long lines, they will still ride the MRT because of its fast and comfortable commute.
Among his observations include clean restrooms with ample water supply; the need to add platform waiting seats for senior citizens, PWDs, and pregnant women; accessibility of Consumer Welfare Desks to all passengers; additional X-ray machines; the need for full ticket counter complement; availability of Emergency Medical Technicians at all stations; promote stored value tickets (Beep card) instead of single journey tickets to reduce lines; and, enhancements in onboard announcements.