Palace says P-Noy sufficiently explained MRT problem, rehabilitation to public

MRT train derailed at Taft Station in Pasay City in August 2014. (Earl Jimenez / Twitter)

MANILA — President Benigno S. Aquino III was able to adequately explain the problems concerning the Metro Rail Transit (MRT), along with their solutions, during his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, a Palace official has said.

“Kung mapapansin natin, mahalagang bahagi ng kanyang pagtatalumpati, bukod sa paglalahad ng mga accomplishments, ay ‘yung pagtalakay kung ano ang inabutang sitwasyon, dahil importanteng mabatid natin kung ano ba talaga ang pinanggalingan ng mga problema,” Communication Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said during a press briefing in Malacañang on Tuesday.

He said the President believes that “correct analysis leads to correct solutions”, thus the administration has studied the problems of the MRT and has come up with appropriate solutions.

“Hindi natin mauunawaan kung bakit o paano nangyari ang mga kaganapang nasaksihan natin patungkol sa MRT kung hindi natin batid ang nakaraang pinagdaanan nito,” he said.

“At iyon ang pinagtuunan ng pansin ng ating Pangulo, na naging masalimuot ang pamamahala dati dahil ito naman ay under private sector ownership. Mayroong naging kakulangan na ‘yung mandatory maintenance or general overhaul na dapat ay isinagawa noong 2008 ay hindi natuloy at hindi rin nagkasundo hinggil sa terms ng maintenance contract, dahil nga pabago-bago ito at mataas ‘yung pagturing ‘nung private party,” Coloma said.

He said the President, in his SONA, also detailed the solutions to the MRT’s problems, citing for instance the expected delivery of the prototype trains next month.

Once the prototype trains’ technical specifications are approved, the government will start purchasing the necessary coaches, he said.

“Ipinaliwanag din po ng Pangulo na sa ating sistema ng pamamahala, talagang merong lag time o lead time for procurement—at least four months po ito. Hindi naman off-the-shelf items ang ating ino-order,” Coloma said.

“Kaya sa aking palagay ay nagkaroon naman ng sapat na pagpapaliwanag at mahalagang aspeto nito ay ‘yung pagpapaunawa kung paano at kung bakit naganap ang kasalukuyang sitwasyon.”