Undersecretary for Railways resigns over MRT woes
The resignation of Chavez came on the heels of the detachment of a coach from the train and the incident where a passenger severed her arm at Ayala Station in Makati last week.
MANILA, Philippines — Transportation Undersecretary for Railways Cesar Chavez announced Thursday morning that he has tendered his irrevocable resignation from his post over the sorry condition of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3.
His resignation comes after a coach detached from a train last week and an accident that severed the arm of a passenger who fell onto the tracks.
The woman, whose arm has been reattached, was not pushed and had received prompt medical assistance.
“I hope the President understands that in the light of recent events involving the MRT 3 system, simple sense of delicadeza (propriety), which I have adhered to throughout my professional life gives me no choice but to resign from my said position,” Chavez wrote in a letter to President Rodrigo Duterte.
Transportation Usec Cesar Chavez's resignation is effective immediately. Photo of letter released to media. | @kristinepatag pic.twitter.com/mVaynN3DIe
— Philstar.com (@PhilstarNews) November 23, 2017
He said that his move to step down was a personal decision.
He said he hopes his resignation will lead to the appointment of someone “better qualified to perform the duties and responsibilities” of the office.
“I am honored and privileged to have been given the trust and confidence for the subject position and I hope that problems plaguing the MRT system be resolved properly and with dispatch,” Chavez said.
Sen. JV Ejercito expressed his sadness over the resignation, saying Chavez “is one of the more passionate DOTr officials especially on railway projects.”
On Monday, Transport Secretary Arthur Tugade rejected calls for his resignation, saying no one but the chief executive can ask him to do so.
DOTr has received the ire of the public for the decoupling incident, as well as the technical glitches that hound the MTR-3 almost every day.
MRT-3, the busiest train line of three in Metro Manila, ferries half a million commuters daily.
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