Palace to MRT 3 commuters: We're doing our best

LONG LINES. Malacañang says the long lines at the MRT 3 will continue until new coaches are acquired. Rappler file photo by Leanne Jazul

Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda says that only long-term solutions can end the suffering of MRT 3 commuters

MANILA, Philippines – The government is addressing the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT 3) problem through immediate and long-term solutions, Malacañang said on Friday, April 4.

Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in a news briefing: “(The) short-term interventions are there only to wait until the long-term intervention sets in. So, that is the situation. We also want to make sure that we can maintain the integrity of the platforms of the MRT. And if the lines are long, we sincerely apologize to our fellow citizens about this difficulty. We are in the process now of acquiring the coaches."

He said that the government is aware of the difficulties of commuters, who continue to form long queues at major MRT 3 stations morning and night despite the threat of sudden system malfunctions that have caused temporary shutdowns of the train line.

“We understand the difficulty. But there’s a long-term and a short-term intervention. The long-term intervention is that we are now acquiring the coaches. That’s the only way that we can alleviate the difficulties that we are encountering in the MRT,” Lacierda said.

The Palace official said only short-term interventions that the government can do at present is to provide comfort to MRT users by making sure that the trains are dispatched as scheduled.

Malacañang earlier said that it expected the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) to act on the complaints of the commuters, and that President Aquino was not deaf and blind to their woes. – Rappler.com