The Metro Rail Transit (MRT) is offering free rides to commuters today, June 17, as compensation for the technical issue that affected passengers earlier this morning.
The MRT management said free rides will be available all day on June 17, as ordered by Transportation Secretary Banoy Lopez.
“Nauunawaan namin ang kahalagahan ng ligtas, maayos at maaasahang transportasyon sa inyong pang-araw-araw na biyahe,” it said in a statement.
“Tinitiyak namin na isinasagawa ang lahat ng kinakailangang hakbang upang maiwasan ang kahalintulad na insidente at higit pang mapabuti ang kalidad ng aming serbisyo,” the train management added.
Reports said train passengers were forced to walk along the tracks after an MRT train stopped before reaching Guadalupe Station around 5:30 a.m. today.
The disruption occurred between the Buendia and Guadalupe MRT stations.
A commuter shared they had been on the train for nearly 40 minutes before passengers were instructed to walk along the tracks, a journey that took about 15 minutes before they reached the nearest station.
Sumitomo Corporation, the MRT’s maintenance provider, and its technical partner, TES Philippines Inc., issued an apology following the incident.
The companies said they are investigating the incident to determine the necessary measures to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
Lopez has ordered the MRT management to issue a show cause order to Sumitomo and its consultants responsible for overseeing the maintenance and rehabilitation of the MRT.
He also directed Sumitomo to shoulder the cost of free rides provided to passengers that day.
The MRT is the busiest rapid transit line in Metro Manila, running along EDSA, the major thoroughfare connecting major cities like Makati, Quezon and Mandaluyong.
