CALOOCAN CITY, May 13 (PIA) -- Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur P. Tugade has reported the gains achieved by the railway sector under the Duterte administration as he recounted the previous sorry state of public transportation, as well as the delayed transport programs when he took over as transportation chief in 2016.
“MRT-3 [Metro Rail Transit Line-3] was compared to the horror movie ‘Train to Busan,’ and was even called ‘MRTirik’ as passengers were pestered by daily numerous breakdowns, unloading incidents, train derailment, and hours of waiting time between trains,” Tugade lamented in his report during the second session of the virtual “Sulong Pilipinas” 2021: Partners for Progress (A Pre-SONA Economic Development and Infrastructure Clusters Forum) held recently.
“Worse, kung tumirik ang tren, ang mga pasahero, no choice kundi maglakad sa riles,” he added.
The transportation chief further recounted the bad state of the transportation sector five years ago. He said before, numerous rail projects that were left hanging, various seaports and airports devastated by calamities such as Typhoon Yolanda and the Bohol earthquake, lack of progress in vital international airports, and the condition of Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) lighthouses, as well as its outdated and insufficient maritime security assets.
During the forum, which was conducted in preparation for the 6th State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Duterte, the transport chief announced that the massive MRT-3 rehabilitation will be completed by December this year.
Currently, the railway runs at 60 kilometers per hour, with waiting time between trains at just 3.5 minutes, and with an all-time high of 23 operational trains.
Tugade added that the MRT-3 is now cooler with new air conditioning units.
“Kung dati, nagrereklamo ang mga tao na sobrang init, ngayon, ang reklamo ng tao, sobrang lamig ng tren ng MRT-3,” Tugade remarked.
Further, the DOTr is now working on some long-delayed rail projects, he said.
These include the Metro Manila Subway, the country’s first underground railway system.
First conceived in 1973, actual construction only began in 2019. Parts of the massive tunnel boring machines (TBMs) have arrived for the start of the underground works within the year.
“Dumating na po ang TBM Kaunlaran at TBM Perlas ng Silangan,” Tugade said.
In addition, Tugade said that the LRT-1 Cavite Extension, which was delayed for 19 years, as well as the Manila to Clark Railway, which was planned in 1993, are undergoing full-blast construction.
The Secretary also reported that essential facilities of PNR Clark Phase 1 are scheduled for completion in the fourth quarter of 2021. The Philippine National Railways (PNR) was also able to procure new and modern trains for the first time in 50 years.
Other projects that the DOTr is now completing are the MRT-7, which is currently halfway complete, and the Mindanao Railway Project, which is now approved by the NEDA Board.
Tugade also shared that the LRT-2 East Extension is set for inauguration in June, while the Common Station will be finally partially operable by the fourth quarter of this year.
“When the Duterte administration took office in mid-2016, we were greeted with numerous long-standing issues that have tormented the country for years, and even decades. I remember fully well when we were only starting to take on the challenge five years ago,” he said.
“The Filipino people have pinned their hopes on the new administration then – with eyes intently and critically watching us on what we would do next,” Tugade said. (PIA NCR)
Source: Philippines Information Agency (pia.gov.ph)
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