MRT general manager quits

MANILA, Philippines - Metro Rail Transit (MRT) general manager Roman Buenafe has resigned from his post after more than a year of dealing with technical problems bugging the rail line.

It was not clear what prompted Buenafe to resign.

In a statement posted on the MRT’s official Facebook page, Saving MRT, yesterday, the rail line said Buenafe was able to have “20 running trains on peak hours, 50 (kilometers per hour) train speed and an average daily ridership of 450,000” and set up free Wi-Fi in at least 10 stations. 

However, Riles Network convenor Sammy Malunes said Buenafe should have resigned earlier since failed to improve MRT services. 

He alleged that Buenafe was among those behind a three-year P3.8-billion MRT maintenance contract signed by the government in January.

“These are done deals. It did not go through the proper process,” Malunes said. 

In January, Buenafe admitted that MRT operations have never been normal since he was appointed in January 2015.