MANILA, Philippines –Without too much media fanfare, Senator Grace Poe on Friday braved the kilometric lines at the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) North Avenue station and rode until the last station to experience what MRT commuters are going through everyday.
Wearing a simple white shirt and jeans, Poe lined up at the first MRT station in Quezon City at 8:20 a.m., the height of rush hour, her staff confirmed on the senator’s official Facebook page after photos of Poe lined up began circulating on social media.
“We confirm that Sen. Poe took the MRT at around 8:20 a.m. from North Ave. station to Taft Ave to gain firsthand experience of the current situation of MRT commuters in preparation for the Senate hearing on the MRT incident on Sept. 1, Monday, 10 a.m. at the Senate Session Hall.
“Up for discussion are SB [Senate Bill] 2266 (Natl Transportation Safety Board Act) and SRs [Senate Resolutions] 839, 840 and 841 (derailing of MRT-3 last Aug. 13),” the post read.
The Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) and MRT have been under fire for their allegedly inefficient management of the MRT.
Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya also rode the MRT Thursday, accompanied by his bodyguards and the media.
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