(The Philippine Star) - September 27, 2018 - 12:00am

Early yesterday, two maintenance service vehicles of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 collided on the tracks between the Guadalupe and Buendia stations. Six MRT workers and two security guards were injured, two of them landing in the intensive care unit. The accident delayed the deployment of trains for the morning rush hour. Commuters complained that even the public notification about the service disruption was delayed. The train service finally started only at around 6 a.m.

From electrical failures to fire breaking out under a train seat, the MRT 3 has been so plagued by glitches that a few weeks without trouble is announced with pride by the management.


Blame has been justifiably heaped on the previous administration, whose transportation managers now face criminal charges for allegedly turning the MRT 3 into a milking cow for fund raisers of the once ruling Liberal Party.


It’s been over two years, however, since the change of government. The Duterte administration is now midway through its term, and it has had enough time to improve the service in the MRT 3. The current MRT officials cannot keep blaming every glitch in the service on their predecessors. Yesterday’s accident indicates that the MRT management is not doing enough.


The light railways and ground level commuter trains are always packed. There’s no traffic, and train schedules are generally reliable – except when there’s a glitch that disrupts the services. This, unfortunately, happens in the MRT 3 with depressing frequency. A week without a glitch in the service is rare.


Prosecution of the former officials and private individuals who created this mess has been as disappointing as the train service. While the executive can do only so much in the judiciary, however, it should be able to do more in improving the railway system.


Around the world, trains provide efficient mass transportation, minimizing the need for private vehicles and therefore easing traffic congestion and pollution. Efficient train services boost economic activities and tourism.


In the Philippines, unfortunately for the public, train services are a national embarrassment. The MRT 3 in particular is a disaster waiting to happen. Transport authorities must see to it that this does not become reality. After over two years, blame for the sorry state of railway services is inevitably shifting from the previous administration to the current one.