PHILIPPINES MRT

The Metro Rail Transit was launched on December 15, 1999. Since then, annually, it's initial ridership had increased from an intended number of 450,000 to 650,000 at present to accommodate the large amout of passengers trying to evade the hustle and bustle of Manila traffic congestion especially at EDSA on a daily basis.

Handling a large amout of passenger entails a lot of responsibility. Not only by the operators of the MRT but also for the maintenance staff of this publicly favored mode of transportation. Many problems had arisen and it was an issue of importance placed by the media on air since it concerns a large
number of people riding the MRT. For one, on August 13, 2014 atleast 38 passengers were hurt when a train overshot tracks at Taft Avenue on the corner of EDSA and Taft Avenue in Pasay City. The reason behind this was reportedly about the overcapacity of the train, an issue owned up by the operators telling that overcrowding is evidently present after pronouncing that in general, the train is safe for everyday riding.

Operated by the Metro Rail Transit Corporation in cooperation with the Department of Transportation and Communication, the MRT continued to operate as it is until General Manager AJ Vitangcol III was sacked on May 26, 2014 by Transportation and Communication Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya and was replaced by LRTA administrator Honorito Chaneco as officer-in-charge after Vitangcol was allegedly accused by the Ambassador of Czech Republic of extortion and for awarding an anomalous deal to an uncle in law for which he was filed for Graft in court. Pleading that the Maintenace Contract wasn't put up to bidding.

The budget entrusted to the operators entails a huge percentage in the annual budget of the Aquino Administration. It was specifically alloted to address concerns and continue to innovate the trains as many of their plans are currently in action. One of which is the Capacity Expansion Project which aims to add more trains for the years to come to expand it's daily ridership capacity and reach its goal ranging from 500,000-600,000 and not overcrowd trains. Another one is the Automatic Fare Collection System that at present is characterized by the Beep cards. And lastly, the North Extention Traffic Operations from MRTC to LRTA. Infrastructures are currently built so as to make this goal happen. This wouldn't be possible if the operators and the government work hand in hand to continuously innovate and develop this transportation system catering to many.

In the foreseeable future, the Metro Rail Transit seeks to be as competent as train stations over seas such as the ones in Japan. And for that to happen, as citizens utilizing the MRT we should do our part as well to improve MRT in different aspects collectively.