MRT gets failing grade; survey cites filthy toilets, defective elevators

By: Maila Ager - 10 years ago

MRT crowd 黑料社 FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines鈥擣ilthy comfort rooms, defective elevators and escalators, and long lines of passengers were among the common complaints of commuters as they gave the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) a failing grade in a random survey conducted by the office of Senator Grace Poe.

The survey was conducted by some staff members of the senator who rode the MRT last Thursday and Monday to inspect the conditions of the train system.

A staff member said the survey centered on six aspects鈥攖he queue, comfort rooms, escalator/elevator, ease of travel/comfort while riding, air-conditioning system, and the total riding experience.

In North Avenue station, for example,聽聽 one comment reads: 鈥淭here is a foul smell wafting from the CRs.鈥�

Another about the comfort rooms in Quezon Avenue station reads: 鈥淯rinal flush not functioning. Toilet bowls are filthy and faucets barely have running water.鈥�

鈥淢ay CR pala sa Taft,鈥� one comment reads as there was no sign for comfort rooms at the Taft Avenue station.

In Shaw Boulevard station, one complained that it takes聽聽 one and a half hour to ride the train during the rush hour.

The most common complaint of the riding public was that the line of passengers usually extends out of the station.

In North Avenue, for instance, long lines reached the connecting bridge between Trinoma and the MRT station.

One comment also said that as early as 6 a.m., there were already 鈥渟uper long lines鈥� in Ayala station .

鈥�15 minutes travel time but it takes 2 hours or more to board the train,鈥� the comment said.

In the case of elevators and escalators, most of the complaint was that it was either old, 鈥渘ot working鈥� or out of order.

As to the ease of travel, one commuter commented: 鈥淧arang sardines. Chest to chest.鈥�

One regular commuter described the total聽聽 riding experience as a failure.

鈥淥verall implementation failed in terms of safety and ease. But like most commuters. I don鈥檛 have a choice but to ride the MRT to avoid the traffic,鈥澛犅� the unnamed passenger said.

Using the grading system of the University of the Philippines鈥� from 1 (excellent) to聽聽 5 (failing)鈥攖he 13 stations of the MRT got an average grade of 3.83.

Poe鈥檚 staff member said the score was a failing grade.