Image: Instagram/@praybeytbenjamin
The Metro Rail Transit has brought no respite for commuters with over 500 breakdowns in 2017. While the number of passengers has dropped to seek better options, near-daily breakdowns continue to be reported in 2018.
An Inquirer report cites that currently, only seven MRT 3 trains are available to serve 250,000 commuters.
READ: Only 7 MRT 3 trains running for 250,000 daily commuters
Vice Ganda and Anne Curtis voiced commuters’ woes on noontime show “It’s Showtime”.
Vice lamented the traffic situation, stating the volume of cars on the road that includes transport network vehicle services (TNVS), private cars and buses.
“Kaya saksakan ng dami ng trapik, e,” he said. (That’s why there’s so much traffic.)
“Tapos ang MRT, panay-panay din ang paltik, di ba?” (With the MRT, there’s always a glitch, right?)
“Tumitigil, madalas this month, ‘di ba?” noted Curtis. (It’s been stopping a lot this month right?)
Vice described the passengers’ plight with constant breakdowns and long lines.
He then declared, “Kung ako talaga magiging pangulo, isasara ko ‘yang MRT na ‘yan…sesementuhan ko.” (If I were president, I would shut down the MRT. I would cement it.)
“Gawin ko na lang siyang park,” he said. (I’ll turn it into a park.)
“Pwede siyang gawing skywalk,” Curtis chimed in. (It could be made into a skywalk.)
“Tutal ‘yung mga tao naglalakad din diyan pag nasisira. Gawin nyo na lang park (Anyway, people walk there when it breaks down. Just turn it into a park),” remarked Vice, adding that people can also zipline from one station to another.
On Feb. 20, over 1,000 passengers had to walk on the tracks when the MRT-3 experienced an electrical failure during rush hour. About 900 passengers were offloaded on Feb. 21 due to three systems failures.
READ: MRT commuters ‘evacuated’ between stations Tuesday
He fumed, “Naku, ang mahal-mahal ng tax na ibinayad ko diyan, hindi n’yo naman nababagu-bago yung ano na ‘yan, MRT na ‘yan.” (I pay such high taxes but you can’t fix the MRT.) JB
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