Gov't urged to take control of MRT

MANILA, Philippines - A consumer group on Tuesday urged the government to take control of the Metro Rail Transit to be able to effectively address the problems hounding the train system. Elvira Medina, president of the  National Center for Consumer Protection, said the 48 new coaches to be acquired by the MRT Corporation is just a band aid solution to the present problems that are heavily affecting the train riders.

The MRT management earlier said that the new coaches for the trains will be acquired by 2015. "Maraming bagon na hindi umaandar at hindi nagagamit kasi hindi binibilan ng parts ng nagmamay-ari," Medina said in a radio interview.

Medina said it is high time for the government to review its build-operate-transfer scheme for vital utilities.

She said that the service given to commuters by the Light Rail Transit Authority, which is government-owned and -managed,  is relatively efficient compared to the MRT Corp.

"May mga pagkukulang din pero mas madaling rendahan," Medina said.

She also said that Congress should form a task force that would investigate the inefficiency of the MRT service.

Medina also proposed that the government should review the policy of privation of critical public utilities in the country.