‘Anyare,’ MRT-3?

 It’s beyond Murphy’s law to explain the accident and incidents one after the other of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT)-3. Whatever can go wrong, will go wrong, or so it seems. Or, are these accidents just waiting to happen?

Only a few days after two of its coaches figured in a near-fatal accident, the entire MRT-3 operations came to a halt last Saturday noon. Its cause: The MRT-3’s two-way radio communications systems broke down.

The two-way continuous and constant communication between train operators and the control center is a safety feature of the MRT-3 as well as of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) systems. But on that day, the MRT-3 communications system suddenly conked out.

The MRT-3 train drivers can transmit to the control center but the control center cannot give instructions to the drivers. Without two-way transmittal, the train system cannot operate for safety reasons, Hernando Cabrera, official spokesperson for the both the LRT and MRT, explained. “Protocol requires constant driver-control center communication,” he pointed out.

Between the MRT-3 and the LRT 1 and 2, the former is much newer into operations. MRT-3 operations started in 1998 compared to LRT 1 which began operations since Marcos days.

Before, computer glitch was blamed for the usual cause of suspension of MRT-3 operations. The MRT-3 – which runs from North Avenue in Quezon City until Taft Avenue in Pasay City – has been involved in a series of accidents and breakdowns too many times.

The worst yet took place last August 13. One of the MRT-3 coaches jumped off track and slammed into a barrier at the Taft Avenue station as it was being pushed by another coach. While there were no fatalities, the accident caused heavy traffic in the area and left at least 36 passengers injured.

Four days after the accident, the MRT-3 trains got stalled near Buendia. And only last Friday, another MRT train stalled in Santolan. So when this latest breakdown of MRT-3 happened, I was almost tempted to call for heads to roll. But whose heads? Nobody yet has been appointed to replace ex-MRT-3 general manager Al Vitangcol III.

Vitangcol resigned last May 26 on the heels of alleged extortion charges aired against him by former Czech ambassador to the Philippines Joseph Rychter. Even as he resigned, Vitangcol, however, vehemently denied the accusations against him. Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya relieved Vitangcol from his post and placed him under investigation for his alleged extort attempt involving MRT-3 expansion project and other reported anomalies while in office.

Our fellow Star columnist Jarius Bondoc earlier wrote Vitangcol purportedly awarded the P517-million contract for the maintenance of the MRT-3 expansion project to PH Trams, without public bidding. One of the incorporators of PH Trams is the uncle of Vitangcol’s wife.

Abaya subsequently issued an order naming LRT Authority (LRTA) administrator Honorito Chaneco as officer-in-charge of MRT-3. Both the MRT-3 and LRTA are attached agencies of the DOTC.

Abaya and Chaneco concluded the August 13 accident was due to “human error” and that the four MRT-3 train drivers involved would be charged for it.  Appearing together in a press conference last week, the two officials announced their findings and recommendations after conducting their internal investigation.

MRT-3’s maintenance provider, Autre Porte Technique Global Inc., was freed from any blame on the accident. According to Abaya, the DOTC “tried its best to look into an angle” where the current maintenance provider was at fault but the investigators pointed to the drivers and control center personnel. The contract of the maintenance provider is set to expire this Sept. 5. MRT-3 was previously under maintenance by Sumitomo Corp. for 12 years.

Insisting on the MRT-3 train drivers’ fault, Abaya noted standard operating procedure was not followed in handling distressed trains. This included the proper coupling of the trains, failure to bring the disabled train to the nearest station, which in this case was Magallanes.

Because of the accident, one of the recommended measures was to slow down the traveling speed of the MRT-3 trains from the current 60 kilometers per hour (kph) to just 40 kph as a safety measure. This speed reduction will consequently result not only in slower travel but would also lengthen the queues of passengers waiting at stations due to longer turnaround time.

We were impressed with the speedy results of the investigation of the DOTC. But the real reasons and roots of the problems of the MRT-3 were obviously glossed over. As in any other accident, it is so easy to blame the “human error” factor. If that is the case, then the entire MRT-3 management should be held liable for these accidents.

The series of these unfortunate accidents and incidents involving the MRT-3 are like a magnet to lawmakers from both chambers of the 16th Congress. Senators and congressmen are itching to start investigating the MRT-3, obviously because of the many alleged wheeling-and-dealing taking place in this agency.

The latest incident of MRT-3 last Saturday did not escape notice of Valenzuela City Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian who issued a statement demanding top officials of the DOTC and the MRT-3 should take responsibility over the spate of accidents instead of using train drivers as scapegoats.

Gatchalian said MRT officials should learn from the former chief executive of Malaysia’s MRT Corp., DatukAzhar Abdul Hamid, who recently resigned after a site accident killed one worker while two more remain missing.

These accidents could otherwise have been avoided if the people do their job well. Or are they even doing their job at all?

The MRT-3, along with the LRT 1 and 2 are the fastest means of transport that we have in Metro Manila. MRT-3 is one of the busiest elevated railways in Metro Manila, serving over half a million passengers per day versus its design capacity of 350,000 passengers per day.

These overhead rail transits give us reprieve from the hellish traffic gridlocks all over Metro Manila we go through each day stalling movement of buses, jeepneys and other public utility transport and private vehicles. Except MRT-3, LRT 1 and 2 are still in better shape and good running condition.

The “bosses” are asking: Anyare MRT-3?