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Friday, March 29, 2024

MRT detachment: ‘Sabotage?’

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THE Department of Transportation is investigating the train detachment incident at the MRT-3 Ayala station last Nov. 16. 

“Upon initial investigation of the unfortunate incident, it was found that the Messma Card of the decoupled Light Rail Vehicle (LRV) #68, the 3rd car in Train No. 5, is missing. The Messma Card functions like a black box that records all applied interventions,” the Dept. of Transportation said in a statement Friday. 

Citing MRT-3 Safety Chief Technician Ruel Jose, who led the initial investigation, DoTr said there was no electrical fault, as there was no damage to the mechanical parts of the coupler. 

“We ask: What is the motive? Who has the capability of removing the black box? Was this an attempt to cover up a mistake on the operation of Train No. 5? Or was there an effort to sabotage the entire operation?” DoTr asked. 

“These questions are being addressed right now through proper and scrupulous investigation,” it added. 

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In response to calls to temporarily stop the operations of the MRT-3, DoTr said they wanted the public to know that the agency had been considering this option since the first quarter of this year. 

“But, while the DoTr and Secretary Arthur Tugade are aware of the system’s current condition, we must also consider the 500,000 commuters that rely on the MRT-3 system daily,” DoTr said.. 

In the Senate, Senator Grace Poe wants Transportation Secretary Tugade to personally ensure the safety of Metro Rail Transit (MRT-3) passengers amid the glitches and technical issues bugging the train system.

In an interview on GMA News’ Balitanghali on Friday, Poe said Tugade should explain how his department intended to address the problems of the MRT-3.

Poe, chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Services, earlier proposed the temporary shutdown of MRT operations, after one of the MRT coaches detached from the train running northbound from Ayala to Buendia station.

Transportation Undersecretary for Rails Cesar Chavez earlier said Tugade was “seriously considering” a temporary shutdown of the MRT “because of its poor condition.”

But Chavez said the DoTr would  only heed Poe’s suggestion if it discovered that all of the line’s trains were no longer running.

The DoTr and the MRT-3 management said they understood the public’s dismay. 

“We hear you. We are not belittling the magnitude of the problem, but, we assure the public that the maintenance team is doing all it can, and working overtime to ensure the safety of the entire system. In fact, since the MRT-3 was put under internal management, fewer unloading incidents have been recorded and more…trains are being rolled out consistently,” DoTr said. 

“The MRT3 problem is not easy. We acknowledge that it cannot be solved overnight. But, the government is not giving up. The DoTr will not give up. We will do our best until the Filipino people get the service they deserve,” it added. 

In a separate statement,  Busan Universal Rails Inc., the former maintenance provider of MRT-3 said it categorically denied any responsibility or involvement in the present incidents of the MRT-3.

“The MRT-3 is now entirely in the control of the government. It must be asked what are the qualifications of the engineers presently responsible for the maintenance after the BURI contract was suddenly terminated and its expert engineers were immeiately banned from entering the depot,” BURI said.

“The continuing glitches are proving our position right, and these additionally show that the DoTr doesn’t appear ready to assume our work contrary to the breast beating of the USec for Railways. The DoTr takeover should be monitored even more closely now,” it added.

Also in the Senate, Senator Juan Edgardo Angara has called for the passage of a bill that seeks to strengthen the emergency medical services system in the country after a female passenger lost her arm in an accident at the MRT-3 Ayala Station in Makati City early this week.

According to recent reports, doctors successfully reattached the severed right arm of the victim, Angeline Fernando.

Fernando’s parents are thankful a fellow passenger, who happened to be a medical intern at the Chinese General Hospital, Dr. Charlie Jandic, was quick to assist Fernando when the accident happened.

Angara said: “We can say that Angeline is still lucky because she was saved and she’s now in good condition.  We are thankful there was a passenger with  medical training who hastily helped.  

“But we don’t have a Dr. Jandic in all incidents like this. So we are pushing for the enactment into law of the Emergency Medical Services System Act.”

Chavez was quoted in a news report saying that while MRT staff, particularly the safety and security unit, are trained to respond to emergencies, “at the time of the incident, there was no MRT staff on the platform” except two security guards who assisted Fernando.

Angara’s Senate Bill 1573 mandates the development and institutionalization of emergency medical services system to ensure that there are enough qualified emergency medical service personnel in the country.

Emergency medicine is a specialized discipline in the medical field focused on giving timely and coordinated health and safety services to victims of sudden illness or injury, prior to them reaching hospitals, health centers or any healthcare facility.

According to data cited at the 2013 Asian Conference on Emergency Medicine, the Philippines only has 3,300 recognized emergency medical service personnel.

Also, out of the approximately 1,800 hospitals in the country, only 200 or 11 percent can be considered emergency hospitals which have facilities that are capable of providing quality emergency medical care.

“We need to reverse this situation by mandating local government units to establish emergency dispatch centers with adequate and qualified personnel,” the lawmaker said.

“The chance of an individual  to be saved in an accident or illness  is much bigger  if he can rasily be given an emergency medical services,” added Angara, who is also the principal author of the CPR law which requires cardiopulmonary resuscitation training as part of the country’s basic education curriculum.

SB 1573 further mandates all government and private institutions including malls, parks and transport stations to place at least one automates defibrillator to treat sudden cardiac arrest in their respective areas of responsibility.

Moreover, under the bill, the National Telecommunications Commission is tasked to develop a program for the adoption of a single national emergency number that would enable the public to access emergency medical services.

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