Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon defended his decision to remove MRT-3 General Manager Oscar Bongon, citing the poor response of management following an escalator malfunction at Taft Station that left over 10 passengers injured.

In an interview on DZBB radio on Wednesday, Dizon emphasized that while the accident itself was concerning, it was the MRT-3 management’s delayed action that prompted him to act.

“The incident happened on a Saturday morning, but I only found out about it on Monday night when the video went viral,” Dizon said. “When I called the management early Tuesday morning, the escalator was still not fixed. They told me they were still analyzing the problem. That’s what frustrated me — critical facilities like this should be addressed immediately.”

Dizon stressed that without his intervention, the issue could have remained unresolved for an extended period.

“If I hadn’t called and ordered them to act, nothing would have been done,” he said. “We need to change the mindset in government service. Issues like this should be addressed right away, not days later.”

He revealed that after he personally contacted the Japanese maintenance provider Sumitomo, the repairs were completed in under 10 hours.

“They told me they could fix it quickly if they had been informed earlier. This should not have been delayed,” Dizon added.

Changes in MRT-3 operations

Dizon also announced upcoming improvements to the MRT-3 system, including longer operating hours and additional trains.

“By next week, we will extend operating hours by an extra hour at night, and we’re hoping to add at least one more train,” he said, adding that formal announcements will be made on Monday.

Furthermore, the Department of Transportation (DoTr) will conduct inspections of all existing railway lines, including LRT-1, LRT-2, MRT-7, and even the Philippine National Railways (PNR), to assess their condition and determine operational timelines.

Traffic woes ahead with EDSA Rehab

Addressing concerns about traffic congestion, Dizon acknowledged that major rehabilitation of EDSA will worsen traffic conditions but assured the public that measures will be taken to minimize disruptions.

“The EDSA rehab is not just patchwork — it’s a full rehabilitation. We won’t be able to prevent heavier traffic, but we’ll do everything we can to mitigate the impact,” he said.

Dizon also mentioned improvements to the EDSA Carousel bus system, including recalibrating timers to ensure that buses depart every 45 seconds and deploying enforcers to enforce compliance among drivers.

“We apologize in advance for the inconvenience, but this rehabilitation is necessary,” he said.