After a video of leaking airconditioning units inside the Metro Rail Transit went viral, the management explained that the repairs and rehabilitation of the trains through a general overhaul were due in 2016.
“General overhaul is due every eight years, meaning the ACU’s were supposed to be replaced as part of the system’s second general overhaul due to have been completed in 2016,” the MRT management stated.
It said that the ACU were last replaced in 2008 during the first overhaul.
Facebook user Giselle Visitacion Tolosa posted a video of a leaking ceiling which caused passengers to use umbrellas inside the train coach allotted for women, children and persons with disability.
Tolosa said in a post from Philippine Star that she recorded this incident when she rode the train at the Boni Avenue Station at around 4 in the afternoon on August 7.
Ooh gulat kayo noh, kala niyo nasa Wild River kayo noh. LolMore payong, more fun !!! #OnlyInThePhilippines
Posted by Giselle Visitacion Tolosa on Tuesday, August 7, 2018
MRT-3 immediately apologized for the inconvenience, which was brought about by an outdated ACU.
Non-operational aircon units were also reported by concerned commuters on MRT’s official Facebook account.
“Ang problema sa air conditioning ay kasama sa mga target solusyunan sa nakatakdang rehabilitation at maintenance katuwang ang ating Japanese service provider. Salamat po sa pang-unawa,” the DOTr MRT-3 posted.
The Department of Transportation terminated the system’s maintenance provider in November 2017.
Much-needed repair and maintenance
The DOTr will reportedly acquire the official development assistance from Japan, through the Japan International Cooperation Agency in fixing the troublesome MRT trains.
“The DoTr apparently banks on the track record of Japan in railways construction and management, as well as its favorable government-backed financial package,” Federico D. Pascual wrote in an opinion piece last June 14.
Amid the complaints, some people defended the agency saying that at least the trains are running unlike before.
