Government focused on ensuring safety of commuters in light of MRT mishap

MRT train derailed at Taft Station in Pasay City. Photo by Earl Jimenez / Twitter

MANILA, Aug. 14—The Palace said Thursday that ensuring the safety of commuters is a major goal of the government.

“Ang pagtiyak sa kaligtasan ng mga pasahero at ng mga mamamayan ang pangunahing layunin ng pamahalaan. Ayon kay Secretary (Jun) Abaya, inaalam na ng pamunuan ng MRT kung paano naganap ang aksidente upang tiyaking hindi na ito mauulit, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said during a press briefing in Malacañang.

A Metro Rail Transit 3 (MRT 3) train overshot the station in Pasay City on Wednesday, injuring more than 30 passengers.

Asked by reporters about the President’s reaction to the accident, Coloma said: “Ang Pangulo ay mayroong mataas na level ng interes at prayoridad na binibigay sa mga bagay na ‘yan, lalong-lalo na ang involved dito ay ang kaligtasan at kapakanan ng libu-libong Pilipino na gumagamit ng mass transport facility natin, o ‘yung MRT, araw-araw.”

“Kaya makatitiyak tayo na napakataas ng prayoridad nito sa kanyang isipan, at gagawin niya ang nararapat—ginagawa niya ang nararapat para tiyakin na ang mga kinauukulan ay ginagawa din ang kanilang tungkulin,” he added.

Coloma further said that the Palace would support the proposed creation of a body that will oversee the operations of public transportation to ensure the safety of commuters.

At least 38 passengers were injured when a wayward MRT 3 train overshot the tracks at the Taft Avenue station in Pasay City around 4 p.m. Wednesday.

Injured passengers were rushed to the San Juan de Dios General Hospital, the Manila Sanatorium, and the Pasay City General Hospital, according to police officials.

Before the incident, the train experienced technical problems at the Magallanes station and became nonoperational.

It was being pushed by an operational train toward Taft Avenue, the last station on the MRT line, when it disengaged and overshot the tracks, reports said.