Villar sumama sa ‘test run’ ng PNR Train

SUMAMA si Sen. Cynthia Villar sa Philippine National Railways (PNR) officials na nagsagawa kahapon ng trial run ng commuter line mula Tutuban hanggang Sta. Rosa, Laguna station.

Bilang chair ng Senate Committee on Government Corporations and Public Enterprises at principal sponsor ng batas na nagpalawig sa corporate life ng PNR sa panibagong 50 taon, umaasa si Villar na matutupad ng PNR ang pangakong mas mabuti at ligtas na serbisyo sa sandaling maging fully operational ang commuter line.

“I want to personally see for myself the improvements made on the tracks and facilities to ensure the safety of the riding public,” ani Villar.

Inamin din niya na ang pagkasira at delay sa resumption ng PNR train operations ay nagdulot ng safety concerns kaya nais niyang malaman ang mga ginawa nitong hakbang upang hindi na maulit ang mga bagay na ito.

“We are one with the PNR in prioritizing the safety of about 70,000 commuters who ride the 60 trips that the train provides on a daily basis. Before the resumption of the trips, we have to have an assurance that passengers will be safe and that mechanisms are in place to ensure structural integrity of the tracks, bridges, and station facilities,” ani Villar.

Nagsagawa ang PNR ng test run ng kanilang commuter line mula Manila hanggang Laguna pagkalipas ng isang buwan na wala silang operasyon.

Sinuspinde ng PNR ang kanilang mga biyahe kasunod ng pagkasira ng dalawang coaches noong April 29 sa Magallanes, Makati City, na 80 pasahero ang nagkaroon ng minor injuries.

“Availing the services of a recognized train derailment expert to help them identify the cause of derailment and the need for repairs and improvement,” ani Villar.

Inihayag niya na ayon sa experts, ang pagnanakaw at vandalism ng railway clips, angle bars, at railway bolts ang naging sanhi ng derailment noong April 29.

Nanawagan siya sa PNR officials na humingi ng tulong ng local government officials para pangalagaan ang tracks.

Pinuri rin niya ang pasya ni PNR General Manager Joseph Allan Dilay na magsagawa ng “thorough and system-wide inspection” ng kasalukuyang kondisyon ng 56-km railway and track infrastructure.”

“It cannot be denied that the PNR train service has deteriorated through the years, but it remains to be the cheapest mode of transportation that our people in the lowest-income can afford. I believe PNR trains can still improve so it can serve more Filipinos in the different parts of the country,” dagdag ni Villar.

(NIÑO ACLAN)