By Vanne Elaine Terrazola Senator Grace Poe has suggested the designation of business-class coaches in the Metropolitan Rail Transit (MRT-3) to ease the traffic congestion in EDSA. Sen. Grace Poe
(Senate of the Philippines / MANILA BULLETIN) Poe raised the proposal during the Senate finance subcommittee's deliberation of the Department of Transportation's (DOTR) proposed 2020 budget Thursday while she was asking transport officials for updates on the rehabilitation of the MRT-3. "Meron ding suggestion. May isang nagsabi sa atin -- ewan ko if this is something that you would consider. Habang ginagawa niyo ang Dalian trains, baka daw few or specific coaches that are designated as business coach (There was a suggestion. Someone told me -- I don't know if this is something you would consider. While you are working on the Dalian trains, maybe you can consider a few, or specific coaches that are designated as business coach)," Poe, who chairs the Senate committee on public services, told DOTr officials. "This person suggested to me that you can charge maybe 300 percent more per passenger, sabihin natin (let's say) P200 or P300 per passenger ang sasakay doon (for those who will ride the business-class coach), may (there is a) guaranteed space and designated line," she added. She later said the proposal was suggested by a "concerned citizen". Poe said he initially thought that having a business-class section in the MRT-3 would be "discriminatory", but later realized that "some people are paying more for better services." She particularly referred to private car owners. Enticing private car owners to use the MRT will in effect decongest EDSA. Poe said this will also raise additional funds for the DOTr that it can use for its programs. "Ito 'yong mga taong (These are the people who) can afford to pay the amount the ones that probably drive private vehicles. So if we say there are 300 passengers every five mins, kunwari (if) trains are working smoothly, in a rush hour, it's something -- I don't know if this is something you will consider," said the senator. "'Yong extra kikitain nito babalik din naman sa (will revert to) DOTr to improve the services," she added. Reacting to Poe's suggestion, DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade said they will look into it since the agency has already included travel classes in its plans to construct rail systems in Clark, Pampanga, Bicol and Mindanao. "'Di na one class, na puro regular (It will no longer be one-class, regular rail system). May (There will be) ordinary, business, first-class, at saka (and) express," Tugade said. But Tugade said they would still have to wait for the MRT-3 rehabilitation to finish so that they can determine if the number of train coaches are enough to provide for a business class. "Pero tama po kayo (But you are right)...Pwede nating pag-aralan (We can look into it)," Tugade told Poe. In the hearing, DOTr Undersecretary for Rails TJ Batan said the rehabilitation of the MRT-3 is still ongoing. There are 15 trains, or 45 coaches, operating at present, he said. Twenty trains should be operating in the rail system. As for the Dalian trains procured by the previous administration, Tugade said only three train sets have so far been tested. Tugade admitted that they are "not yet sure" that all of the 48 Dalian coaches will be used, telling senators that the capacity of the railroad tracks should be considered. The DOTr earlier eyed the completion of the MRT-rehabilitation by July 2021.