A leader of the House of Representatives on Tuesday said now is the best time for the Department of Transportation to order a full maintenance and systems fix for the Metro Rail Transit 3 and the lines of the Light Rail Transit without compromising the health and safety of its personnel.
Samar Rep. Edgar Mary Sarmiento, chairman of the House Transportation Committee, said that the Enhanced Community Quarantine which was ordered by President Duterte is a virtual “reset button” for Metro Manila’s dilapidated mass transport sector especially on the problematic rail systems.
Sarmiento said the ECQ—which required the full stoppage of the operations of the MRT and the LRT lines—presents an opportunity for the managements of these rail systems to fix all the problems that has plagued them for a very long time.
Sarmiento added that this is also the best time to set up the needed infrastructure and finalize the operational details of the proposed centralized and synchronized bus dispatch system which would somehow address the much needed bus public transportation system.
“We have to take advantage of the enhanced community quarantine as a sort of reset button of the rail systems. All the needed repair works in the past are not fully carried out because we cannot stop the operation of these rail systems. Now that the President has ordered a complete shutdown of their operation, maybe it is the best time to fix all the rolling stocks to include the railway system,” Sarmiento said.
“At least pagbalik natin sa normal na pamumuhay at muli na namang dadagsa ang mga tao sa ating mga tren eh maganda na ulit ito at hindi na ito madalas nasisira. Mas lalong maganda kung pagkatapos ng enhanced community quarantine system ay maayos na rin ang sistema natin sa EDSA. Sayang ang pagkakataon kung wala tayong gagawin para ayusin ang mga ito,” Sarmiento added.
Sarmiento added, however, that all personnel involved in the repair and maintenance works should fully observed biohazard protocols to avoid spreading the COVID-19 virus.
According to Sarmiento, ECQ should be used not only to prevent the spread of the dreaded COVID-19 virus but also as an opportunity to conduct all the work needed to make life easier and better for all Filipinos.
Apart from fixing the dilapidated light rail system, Sarmiento said that that the ECQ can also open the window to build all the needed infrastructure which would be needed in the implementation of the proposed of centralized and synchronized bus dispatch system along EDSA.
“We might need to set up bus stops and access areas from the MRT 3 stations to the loading and unloading areas in the inner EDSA lanes,” Sarmiento said.
In the meantime, Sarmiento said that in order to make sure that frontline personnel in the fight against the COVID-19 can still have access to a proper transportation, the government must provide a free shuttle which can pick them up near their homes and deliver them near their workplaces and vice-versa.
To do this, Sarmiento said the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Disease (IATF-EID) can tap the shuttle buses of all government offices including the Government Owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCCs) which can have regular trips along Metro Manila’s major transportation routes.
If it’s not enough, Sarmiento said that the government can charter buses on a per trip bases which can used as shuttle services for frontliners.
Sarmiento said that only people with identification cards issued by the IATF-EID must be allowed to take a ride on this free shuttle services.
“Kawawa naman po itong mga frontliners natin dahil kahit gustong-gustong nilang tumulong wala naman silang masakyan papunta sa kanilang mga dapat puntahan. Sana mabigyan natin sila ng libre at ligtas na masakyan habang ipinapatupad itong enhanced community quarantine,” Sarmiento said.