What happened?
NANCY TO DOTr: TIME TO DELIVER ON MRT-3 PROMISES

Senator Nancy Binay today called on the transportation department to walk their talk and deliver on the promises they made regarding the improvement of the Metro Rail Transit Line-3 (MRT3).

"Dalawang taon na pong nangangako ang Department of Transportation, sa pangunguna ni Secretary Arthur Tugade, na gaganda ang serbisyo ng MRT-3. Anyare?" Binay said.

"Tama na po ang mga salita, gawa po ang kailangan ng ating mga kababayan ngayon. Hindi ho talaga makakarating sa kanilang paroroonan sa kasalukuyang estado ng MRT-3 ang ating mga kababayan," she added.

Binay made the statement after the DOTr on Monday promised an improvement of MRT-3 services by the end of February this year. Sec. Tugade said that the DOTr has already ordered spare parts for the train system.

"Ilang taon na pong nagtitiis ang ating mga commuters sa mababang kalidad ng serbisyo, at lalo pang lumala ang estado nito sa nagdaang mga araw," the solon said.

Around 800 passengers were offloaded yesterday morning when an electrical failure caused by worn out components happened in a southbound MRT train.

The MRT suffered another breakdown last Friday, as a southbound train emitted smoke and forced passengers to walk along the tracks.

Long queues also affected many passengers last week especially during the rush hours, as the MRT had only seven to eight running trains to ferry commuters.

In July 2016, Tugade promised to increase to 20 trains with 60 cars the MRT's capacity from the then existing 16 trains with 48 cars, as part of his first 100 days in office. The secretary also aimed to increase the MRT's speed 50 kilometers per hour (kph) from the then 40 kph.

As of 9 AM today, the MRT announced that there are eight trains running in the system.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) terminated its maintenance contract with Busan Universal Rail Inc. (BURI) last November 2017, saying that the provider failed to comply with its obligations and store needed spare parts.

A maintenance transition team created by the department took over the railway's maintenance and procurement of parts pending the arrival of a new maintenance provider.

Binay noted that the MRT suffered almost daily breakdowns this month alone, while waiting for the necessary spare parts.

"Maaasahan ba na dadami ang aandar na tren, mababawasan na ang mahabang pila, ang siksikan papasok ng mga istasyon, pati na rin ang mala-sardinas na kundisyon sa loob ng mga bagon pagdating ng February 1?" Binay said.

"Our commuting public cannot wait any longer for a better and commensurate service for the fare they pay," she added.