DOTC eyes segregation at MRT

The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) revealed yesterday a plan to segregate male and female passengers as well as those with disabilities inside the coaches of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) by early next year.

In a phone interview, DOTC undersecretary for rail Guiling Mamodiong said the DOTC would likely push through with the scheme "to make life easier" for female and disabled passengers boarding and disembarking  jam-packed train coaches during the rush hour.

Mamodiong said the Metro Rail Transit Corp. (MRTC) and the DOTC have long been planning to introduce the segregation scheme, but found it difficult to implement because of the large number of passengers who utilize the stations daily.

Passengers of MRT, which runs from North Avenue in Quezon City to Taft Avenue in Pasay City, reach as high as 400,000 daily.

"Hirap kaming mag-implement dahil sa dami ng pasahero ng MRT. But hopefully this will be implemented in the first quarter of 2006," Mamodiong said.

He said they are planning to implement a "sectioning" of coaches because they still cannot determine the volume breakdown among male, female and disabled passengers.

"We cannot do a train coach segregation like the LRT (Light Rail Transit). Masyadong marami ang pasahero ng MRT.  We cannot determine the volume," Mamodiong admitted.

The LRT, which runs from Monumento in Caloocan City to Baclaran in Parañaque City, set up separate coaches for men and women two years ago.

MRTC spokesman Mariano Gui said that they are optimistic that the segregation plan will push through in January 2006.

He pointed out, however, that they are still waiting for the delivery of divider posts that will be placed inside the coaches so that each will have two sections.

"We are planning to place dividers inside the coaches. But we are still waiting for it. Hopefully by January, this will push through," Gui said.

Meanwhile, the MRTC said it would not be changing the schedule of trips for the holidays, unlike the LRT.

Gui said MRT will still operate from 5:30 a.m. up to 11 p.m. even during the holidays.