MRT-3 GM offers to resign during grilling

MANILA, Philippines — A retired police general who was appointed by President Duterte as manager of the Metro Rail Transit 3 (MRT-3) offered to resign yesterday after getting a dressing down from Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez. 

MRT-3 general manager Rodolfo Garcia said he would resign as he faced the joint hearing of the committees on transportation and public works and highways of the House of Representatives. 

During the hearing, Alvarez observed that Garcia, who seems to be in his 70s, has no real experience in running and maintaining a train system.

He was offended by Garcia’s remark  that his only mandate is to make sure the trains are running.

“You’re not asking if train coaches are lacking. The queue is long, what will you do? You should get more trains, right? If that’s your way of thinking how can you mange the MRT-3 that has many problems? You should give it to those who know,” Alvarez berated Garcia in Filipino.

Alvarez stressed that the mission of MRT-3 train managers is to ensure the convenience of the commuters as well as the safety and cleanliness of the mass transport system.

He said that train commuters have long been suffering with the service of the MRT-3, including the ordeal of having to stand in long queues and overcrowding inside coaches, not to mention the frequent breakdowns.

“If you want I will resign now,” the apparently irked Garcia told Alvarez.

Committee members reminded Garcia to accord the Speaker the proper respect, and House Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas even warned that if the committee so decides, it can order the MRT-3 official’s detention if he didn’t observe proper decorum.

Garcia later apologized to lawmaker-members of the committee, and then approached Alvarez to apologize.

He was almost cited in contempt, but the threat was withdrawn following his apology.

In an interview with House reporters after the hearing, Alvarez said he is questioning the competence of Garcia to run MRT-3 but that he is stopping short of asking him to resign.

The Speaker claimed Garcia seems bent on stepping down from his post.

Towards the end of the hearing, he asked Garcia if he is serious in his offer to resign.

“Yes, your honor. I’m pressured as a GM. I’m contemplating on going out,” Garcia said. 

The MRT-3 terminated its contract with Busan Universal Rail Inc. (BURI) last November due to its poor performance and after it allegedly failed to procure the necessary spare parts. 

Since then, the MRT-3 has created the Maintenance Transition Team (MTT) that serves as the temporary maintenance service provider while waiting for the next firm to be named that will work on the maintenance of the MRT-3. 

BURI was required to deploy 20 trains during rush hours, but when the MTT took over, only 15 trains were required to “ensure” the safety of commuters as long as these were operational and running. 

Few trains running

Based on MRT-3 records, only seven running trains were on track yesterday morning.  

The MTT deployed a complete set of 15 trains only last Jan. 15.

The MRT-3’s removal of train cars resulted in longer queues and congested trains. The MTT blamed BURI for its failure to provide enough trains during peak and non-peak hours because it allegedly did not procure spare parts. 

But the MRT-3 assured commuters it would deploy more operational and running trains starting next week as the first batch of spare parts is expected to arrive.

Michael Capati, operations director of the MRT-3, said the train system has reported 24 technical problems and pulled out 22 defective train sets that have resulted in the unloading of thousands of commuters daily in January.   

Data from the MRT-3 showed that unloading of commuters at various train stations was due to 13 electrical failures, seven signaling system problems, two door failures and a malfunction on its speedometer and the recent incident where smoke came out from under a seat. 

Capati said they are now conducting an investigation to determine the real cause of the smoke, but initial findings showed that the incident happened due to electrical problem caused by worn-out sub-components. 

He assured the public that they will make public the result of its investigation. 

The MRT-3 has recorded 22 removal of trains after suffering technical problems just a few minutes after they were deployed from the depot in Quezon City – on Jan. 8, three trains; four on Jan. 11; one on Jan. 17 and four on Jan. 21. 

Eight trains were removed by the MRT-3 on Jan. 24 while two trains were pulled out yesterday morning. 

The MRT-3 said that the trains were pulled out from the rail tracks for preventive maintenance and repairs. 

As far as the stations are concerned, most technical problems occurred at the Shaw Boulevard station with six reported incidents; three each at Santolan Annapolis and GMA stations; two each at the Ortigas and Boni stations. 

Only one technical problem occurred at the North Avenue, Quezon Avenue, Cubao, Buendia, Magallanes and Guadalupe stations. No technical problem was recorded at the Taft Avenue and Ayala stations. 

Sen. Nancy Binay dared yesterday the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to deliver on the promises that the operations of MRT-3 would improve.

“It’s been two years since the DOTr led by Secretary Arthur Tugade promised the MRT-3 services will improve. What happened?” Binay said in a statement.

“Enough talk, our countrymen need work (from DOTr officials). Our people cannot reach their destinations with current dismal state of the MRT-3,” she said.

She said Filipinos have been suffering from the poor service and the worsening state of the MRT-3.

Binay reminded Tugade that in July 2016, he promised to increase to 20 trains with 60 cars the MRT’s capacity from the then existing 16 trains with 48 cars, as part of his first 100 days in office.

The secretary also aimed to increase the MRT’s speed to 50 kilometers per hour from 40 kph.   With Robertzon Ramirez, Paolo Romero