What We Need Right Now Are The Urgent Solutions Not Fatal Remarks #ExpertWriter

What We Need Right Now Are The Urgent Solutions Not Fatal Remarks #ExpertWriter

While the DOTC Secretary wanted to show his expertise to the Filipino people, he never thought that his words to the media got the times of his life. Apologizing publicly was the only recourse for him to pacify the outcry. Construction from other different parts of metro Manila moved the traffic congestion into its zenith. Likewise, the MRT3 also got the longest running squabble for his government job.

What we need right now are the urgent solutions that can give the ease of transporting the riding public to their daily work. Prioritization of the government programs and the timing it’s to implement gives much point in controlling and monitoring the course of action.

The DOTC Secretary has much time to elaborate the effectiveness of his decision in continuing the transportation section of Metro Manila and the whole of the Philippines. It takes knowledge and expertise in doing this kind of job. But fairly considering the work done by Jun Abaya, the harder it gets to complete its focus.

Political opposition always got to react every time the Aquino government moves its wings for development. Lots of them know the reasons why and it’s just the normal thing to confront through the media. It spreads totally within the framework of their desire to smear the present administration.

The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) have agreed to undertake the two-station approach. The proponents of LRT-1, LRT-7 and MRT-3 have yielded to the DOTC decision to adopt the two-station approach (instead of a single station) to effect the transfer of passengers from any of the three lines to any of the other two lines in order to proceed to their respective destinations. There so many consequences that we can give for this kind of thinking. But making them work well with train system will be to give ease to the riding public. Maybe, the present administration will study and tackle the pros and cons of this approach.

If we, the people cannot help the government in continuing their efforts for the betterment of our transportation services, then, and only then, they couldn’t provide us the good services that we wanted for. Sometimes, we have to give them the time to work for programs that needs permanent solutions like the metro rail and traffic congestion.

Negative remarks from media, political opposition and even the netizens have gotten its course in devaluating the way the present administration was doing for the good of all Filipinos.

The betterment of our nation lies for us people, to help and understand the way government officials are doing with their jobs. Let us unite to give aid to our government and conduct positive moves for the betterment of ourselves and the Philippines as a whole.

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DOTC Secretary Emilio Abaya, Where's The MRT3 Improvement? #ExpertWriter

For this longest running metro train maintenance squabble of MRT3 at EDSA, the DOTC Secretary Emilio Abaya was at the center of controversy which made him the most-sought after by the media and the Filipino people alike. The management and operations of MRT3 have never been good in the eyes of the riding public in the past years. Notable for this was the fare hike that made the public rumbling for his answer. He tolerated his defence with flawless lies and knowing his priorities in the future of MRT3.

In the past, the Department of Transportation and Communication’s Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya issued Department Order No 2014-014 setting the new fares for the three mass train system in Metro Manila; MRT3, LRT-1 and LRT-2. “It’s a tough decision, but it had to be made. It’s been several years since an increase was proposed. We delayed its implementation one last time until after the Christmas season. While 2015 will see increased fares, it will also see marked improvements in our LRT and MRT services,” he said.

Moreover, the fare-hike for three mass train system, resulted different sentiments to all sectors which angered them all. These sentiments ballooned to more disappointments from train commuters who suffered most. They’re expecting for the best services because the DOTC promised for it and also the reason of fare hike. Or, this is the reason why even if fares went up, the public still does not feel any improvement but only worse cases of incidents and where’s the money?

Before, the DOTC wanted the MRT3 buyout through the 54 billion pesos of 2015 budget, but is confused on what to do about MRT3? Or worse, purposely confusing the public for some ulterior motive we can only imagine to happen?

The P54 billion DOTC wants would not buy out the original private owners as DOTC officials are publicly claiming. That large sum of money will only redeem MRT bonds now being held by GFIs. In other words, they would just move money from one government pocket to the other, something they are already doing now with the lease payments.

Secretary of DOTC Jun Abaya had so many announcements for this buyout. He even declared the greatest confidence in completing this buyout when the 2015 budget’s released. The two biggest MRT-3 investors are Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) and Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), which have majority representation in the MRTC board, including the board chairman. He placed the value of the two banks’ exposure at $619.1 million, plus a “return” of $312 million for a total of $931.1 million. He valued “non-DBP/LBP investments” at $95.8 million. His funding request also included $143 million for taxes and $2 million for legal fees.

The Senate together with some Congressmen really stopping the MRT3 buyout of the DOTC, that they wanted MRT Holdings to have means of power over the MRT3 operations and development. The Senate is effectively aborting the planned government takeover of the breakdown-prone Metro Rail Transit (MRT3). Senators are insisting on their decision to take out the P53.9-billion appropriation in the proposed P2.606-trillion 2015 national budget for the buyout plan even if the House of Representatives would insist on retaining it.

The Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya had done the impossible while maintaining his stand for the future of MRT3-EDSA. He answered the Senate probed with flair in denying and giving reasons for his ulterior vested interests. It’s being his ways of denying the true colors of MRT3 operations and management.

The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), unlike other government agencies notorious for graft and corruption, has been a “best-kept secret” as a lucrative mine or milking cow for cronies of President Pnoy. Reports coming from reliable sources claim that DOTC contracts have served as intimate deals, particularly for of certain DOTC officials.

The future of metro system as a whole is gloomy according to some analysts while its rehabilitation’s vague. The DOTC Secretary’s aiming for his buyout plan until now? Or preparing for 2016 election for Liberal Party?

Another matter for DOTC’s the failed bidding that brought doubts to all Filipinos. Is it intentional to prolong the bad-services of APT-Global maintenance provider?

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MRT3 Story Is A Corruption With-A-Twists? #ExpertWriter

As one of the leader of Pnoy Administration and a DOTC Secretary, Mr. Emilio Abaya should have the thorough knowledge of all the Transportation businesses in the Philippines. Thus, MRT3 train Operations and Management (O&M) is one of its components that should be given total focus because of its complexity in any facets of the system.

The management of MRT3 ‘s tarnished with negativity wherein the Ombudsman will investigate alleged involvement of Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya with officials accused of graft charges for alleged anomalous maintenance contract of Metro Rail Transit (MRT) with a local company.

Former MRT General Manager Al Vitangcol, who resigned last May, was also named in the charge sheet. He and five others faced separate charges of violating the Government Procurement Reform Act. Criminal and administrative charges have been filed against Abaya and 15 others. The contract with PH Trams-CB&T was allegedly awarded without public bidding.

The negative approached played by Al Vitangcol gave way to a more damaged consequences of MRT3 operations and management. The series of train system breakdowns and accidents proved that the decision made by the DOTC head was far from solving the present crisis.

Moreover, behind these problems, the relationship of MRTC and DOTC are not giving positive results to the riding public and to all Filipinos as a whole. Their movements to give total service to the public were created another series of battle between the two. Thus, the The Department of Transportation and Communications DOTC’s still aiming for a buyout to pacify the past and develop new management system. But, is it really the best solution so far?

MRTC and MRTHoldings through Bob Sobrepena, open up to the media about their side and the true status of MRT3. Thus, wanted to unify with DOTC but suggested a privatization of the operations and management of MRT3-EDSA train system.

The DOTC Secretary said about the investigation, “I have nothing to hide and no reason to fear any investigation. As always, we will cooperate fully with the investigation of the Office of the Ombudsman, just as we have with investigation undertaken by different branches and agencies of government, such as the Senate, the House of Representatives, and the National Bureau of Investigation. We remain committed to transparency and the eradication of corruption in government. Ultimately, it is the public that will benefit from the search for truth.”

He will face this investigation for sure, and Al Vitangcol should be investigated too, together with others. Records at the National Statistics Office showed that Vitangcol was related by affinity to Arturo Soriano, a representative of the PH TRAM-CB&T that negotiated the contract. Inekon Group Chief Executive Officer Josef Jusek and Czech Ambassador Joseph Rychtar accused Vitangcol of demanding a bribe in exchange for service and maintenance contract for MRT.

Only the truth will prevail and if found guilty, they should be penalized accordingly.

Another angle for this investigation is the eradication of public officials who are doing public contracts while lifting their vested interest at hand. In the past, majority of them were developing strategies to increase their wealth, adding to their powerful influences and sticking to their hollow political ideologies.

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MRT3 Poor Maintenance Means Accidents #ExpertWriter

MRT3 train went through the metal railings at the Taft Avenue station last Wednesday, 13th of August 2014 that caused injury to at least 38 people and government authorities were eager to discover the cause of the incident.

Authorities will be investigating if the accident was caused by human error on the part of the train operators or by the mechanical failure of the train couplings. The train had stopped dead on its tracks, due supposedly to power drop at the catenary, the stick that links the electricity-powered LRVs to the cable above.

Attempts to restart the train failed. The next three-LRV train unloaded its passengers at Magallanes, and then proceeded to the rescue 50 meters away. After coupling with the stalled train, the second began to push it down the tracks towards road-level Taft. It had just left the Magallanes station. The railway from Magallanes station to Taft Avenue station has a downward slope that made the coupler to snap. Besides, the weight of the first train with passengers caused the gravity to pull like a rollercoaster. Instead of stopping it, the brake malfunctions and gave way to bumped, went through the metal railings that caused damage to the passengers and the train itself.

Is it true that they connected and locked properly? Tested it? If it’s locked, they were doing the right procedures? Is there a coupler’s mechanical failure? Or, the driver’s forgot about the downward slope?

MRT safety procedures require the operator to contain the passengers inside the train if it stalls in between stations. And, it would have been too dangerous to make passengers alight from the stalled train before another train could push it to the nearest station.

The poor maintenance of the MRT3 which is managed by DOTC headed by Jun Abaya wanted to elevate its services. But, he should exert more efforts in developing the train systems for the consumption of the riding public. His statement, “Riding is a personal decision. I won't go of my way to convince people to ride the MRT," makes him a hypocrite, not a leader of DOTC. He should at least, face the consequences when worst comes to worst, because that's his responsibility to the people.

The MRT3 was built on budget and on schedule. It was fully accepted by foreign experts and the Philippine government in 2000. The trains operated with no major accidents for 12 years under Sumimoto maintenance. Sumimoto and Mitsubishi continually upgraded maintenance procedures. All major accidents happened only in the last 2 years under the PHTRAMS-Vitangcol-linked maintenance groups.

Because of this negative image of MRT due to Vittangcol case, the contract turned into a damaging event like what happened last 13th of August 2014. It should never be a clumsy decision when it comes to finding maintenance group to take good care of all coasters. Yes, there were other problems in getting people to manage the MRT3 properly, but, the leader like the DOTC must be on guard always for the good of the riding public. The government must be aware and ready to apply their long-term solutions at once to avoid accidents in the future.

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