Palace assures MRT will not compromise safety of passengers

Passengers desperate to catch a ride. (Photo courtesy of PhotoBucket owner)

MANILA  – Malacanang assured on Wednesday that the management of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) as well as the Light Rail Transit (LRT) will not compromise the safety of the passengers amid minor glitches encountered by an MRT train last Tuesday.

”Every time the MRT and LRT management will have maintenance and repair issue, their first priority is the safety of the people.

Their safety will not be compromised,” Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a media briefing.

”The safety of the passengers or the commuters is the primary consideration every time there is operational issue or problem,” he added.

Despite the glitches, Coloma said the MRT has still 12 trains serving the 27-kilometer elevated railway along EDSA.

He said the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) has laid down programs to improve the services of the MRT including the acquisition of new trains that are expected to arrive in September.

”In the meantime, the other aspects of the system are being addressed like the rail, upgrading of power system, setting up of fair collection system, and installation of more convenient facilities for the commuters in every stations,” Coloma said.

Coloma assured the DOTC is following all the government procurement laws in every transaction.

”Although there some inconveniences and disruption, we never sacrifice the safety of the people who use the service,” he said.