Frustrated Poe wants report on last MRT glitch
The latest glitch on the Metro Rail Transit 3 (MRT 3) that forced passengers to walk on the railways on Thursday prompted Sen. Grace Poe to order the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) to submit a full report on the incident. Poe, who expressed frustration over the recurring MRT breakdowns, said the DOTC should do more to improve the condition of the elevated rail system on Edsa. “The unfortunate series of breakdowns were aggravated by the poor, incapable and incompetent maintenance of the MRT. This is frustrating,” said Poe, who chairs the Senate subcommittee on public services focusing on transport. In an earlier Senate hearing, the DOTC presented its rehabilitation plan for the MRT. According to its timeline, rail replacements and upgrades in the signaling system should be completed by September this year, while upgrades concerning traction motors and radio communications should be finished by October and November. Leila B. Salaverria
South tollways advisory for Holy Week
Skyway O&M Corp. (Somco), Manila Toll Expressway System, Inc. (Mates) and Star Tollway Corp. (STC), the operators of Skyway System, South Luzon Expressway (SLEx) and Star Tollway, respectively, will intensify patrols and motorist assistance efforts for Holy Week as traffic is expected to peak between April 1 and 6. Ambulant tellers will be posted at busy toll plazas while tow trucks and ambulances will be made available round-the-clock at strategic areas. All ongoing improvement works on the Skyway and SLEx were suspended March 27 and will resume April 7. More lanes for “exact toll” payers on Skyway and SLEx are now open. Motorists may pay the toll through SLEx off-site kiosks and purchase toll coupons for future trips along the South tollways. The kiosks are located in following service stations: Shell southbound and northbound, Petron and Caltex. Motorists may call Skyway at hotlines (02) 7767777 and 0917-5398762; and Mates at 0917-6877539 for assistance. For traffic updates, visit Skyway twitter account @SkywaySOMCO and SLex account @OfficialSLEX; or call STC at 043-7567870, 0917-5117827 and 0908-5117827.