Long queues of passengers make their way inside an MRT train. FILE PHOTO

There is no need for President Benigno Aquino III to apologize over the sorry state of the mass transport in the metro, particularly the Metro Rail Transit-3 (MRT), Senate President Franklin Drilon said on Thursday.

“Does that require a presidential apology? No. That requires maybe more closely monitoring of the MRT,”  Drilon said at a weekly forum in the Senate  when sought for comment on a group’s call for the President to include  in final state of the nation address on July 27 an “apology” over his alleged failure to address  the  problem.

READ: ‘Aquino Sona must say sorry for 10 epic MRT/LRT fails’

“I am among those who are closely monitoring the operations of the MRT and one who expressed concerns about the services the MRT provide. I sympathized with the riding public. Talagang may pagkukulang ang DOTC (Department of Transportation and Communication) and MRT management dyan.”

“Siguro ang kailangan ay talagang monitor closely and have executive measures for the next six months or three months in order to have MRT provide better service,” he further said.

Asked if DOTC Secretary Joseph Abaya should resign for his failure to address the problem, Drilon answered no.

“Abaya is a very decent and competent bureaucrat; maybe he should just closely monitor and supervise the bureaucracy in the MRT,” he said.

The Senate leader earlier urged President Benigno Aquino III to use his remaining months in office “to crack the whip on underperforming officials to improve the delivery of services to the people.”

He specifically cited the case of the growing problems on the public transport system, as he also expressed concerns over the safety of the riding public who endure the everyday glitches in the MRT.

“I would like to see in the last year of the President some firm executive action on transport services. Let’s face it, the MRT-3 is a disappointment,” Drilon said in a statement Wednesday.

“I feel the frustration of our people and so the improvement of services in this area is really critical,” he  said.