Drilon: PNoy should not apologize over MRT woes

MANILA, Philippines – Senate President Franklin Drilon on Thursday said President Benigno Aquino III is not required to issue public apology over commuters’ Metro Rail Transit (MRT) woes.

Drilon suggested that MRT officials should coordinate and monitor among themselves how to solve long queues and dysfunctional MRT trains to alleviate the public woes instead of issuing a public apology.

Although Drilon does not see the need for public apology over the faulty MRT, he still expressed sympathy with the commuters.

“That requires maybe more closely monitoring of the MRT in order to alleviate the difficulties of our riding public. I am among those who are closely monitoring the operations of the MRT and one who expressed concerns about the services the MRT provides. I sympathized with the riding public,” Drilon said.

Drilon admitted that the MRT management and the Department of Transportation and Communications have committed shortcomings that resulted into problematic MRT but stressed that the DOTC Secretary Jun Abaya should not resign for it.

“Abaya is a very decent and competent bureaucrat, maybe he should just closely monitor and supervise the bureaucracy in the MRT,” Drilon said.

On Wednesday, Drilon called on Aquino to use his remaining months and take executive action to address the problems of the MRT. The Senate president also said Aquino should reprimand the underperforming officials of the MRT.

The train's operations were disrupted on Tuesday and Wednesday due to technical glitches.