DOTC: Rush escalators for Metrostar stations

For good patronage of Metrostar Express, the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) asked the Metro Rail Transit Corporation (MRTC) to speed up the construction of escalators in the rail system's stations.

Mario Miranda, DOTC project manager, said that escalators should be installed soon. Aside from high fares and inaccessibility of Metrostar terminals, the many steps of its staircases have been complained of by many commuters.

Although Metrostar stations have elevators, they can be used only by senior citizens, pregnant women and those with disabilities.

Miranda noted he was hoping that MRTC, builder of Metrostar, could put up the escalators much earlier than the targeted middle of this year.

Patronage of Metrostar jumped up by more than 100 percent after the DOTC brought down its fares to a minimum of P12 and a maximum of P20 Tuesday.

Before the fare adjustment, the passenger volume of Metrostar was only 25,000 daily. This is way below the 400,000 passengers that DOTC and MRTC, builder of Metrostar, had targeted.

Miranda added that they expect the volume to increase in the coming days as there are still many people who do not know about the new fare structure. "There are still a large number of people who are not aware of our new rates. We expect the volume to increase as more people become aware of our new rates," he maintained.

The new fares will be in effect only until June when Metrostar is set to be fully operational up to Taft Avenue station in Pasay City.

The DOTC remains hopeful it can meet its target passenger volume even when the original fares are restored.

The department is anchoring its hope on the big work force in the areas of Ayala Avenue, Magallanes and Taft Avenue where three Metrostar stations are being constructed.