By Patrizia Paola C. Marcelo

TRANSPORTATION Undersecretary for Railways Cesar B. Chavez resigned on Thursday, in the wake of issues and several mishaps involving the controversial Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3)

In his resignation letter dated Nov. 23 and addressed to President Rodrigo R. Duterte, Mr. Chavez said his “irrevocable resignation” was “effective immediately.”

“I hope the President understands that in the light of recent events involving the MRT3 System, simple sense of delicadeza which I have adhered to throughout my professional life gives me no choice but to resign from my said position,” Mr. Chavez wrote in his letter.

“It is also may (sic) intent and hope that my resignation provides opportunity for the appointment of person better qualified to perform the duties and responsibilities of the subject office.”

FREQUENT MALFUNCTIONING
Mr. Chavez was appointed last March, replacing Noel Eli B. Kintanar who resigned in November last year.

During his brief time as undersecretary, Mr. Chavez recommended the termination of the government’s contract with MRT-3 maintenance provider Busan Universal Rail, Inc. (BURI), saying the Filipino-South Korean joint venture was to blame for the train system’s frequent malfunctioning. The DoTr terminated the said contract earlier this month.

As of Thursday, Presidential Spokesperson Harry L. Roque, Jr., said regarding a meeting reportedly sought by BURI: “We find no reason to have the requested meeting. We have already canceled the contract with BURI and the government decided to meanwhile take over the maintenance of MRT.”

Just last week, a passenger at Ayala Station fell between two cars of a passing train, her arm severed in that accident, although it was since reattached after surgery.

Days after that incident, the third car of a northbound train that had just left Ayala Station was detached, forcing its passengers to get off the vehicle and walk the tracks leading to Buendia Station.

Mr. Chavez’s resignation also follows on the heels of calls for the resignation of his superior, Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade.

Mr. Tugade’s defenders in Malacañang have cited the problems he has assumed from the previous administration of Benigno S.C. Aquino III, although Mr. Tugade has already served more than a year in the Department of Transportation (DoTr).

Mr. Tugade denied asking Mr. Chavez to resign, saying he was “surprised by the sudden turn of events.”

“For the record, and contrary to the insinuations of others, I did not cause or ask Usec. Cesar Chavez to resign. He has my full trust and confidence. We have been doing plans and strategies together, up and until yesterday. Even by texts as I was on sickbay. That is why I am surprised by the sudden turn of events,” Mr. Tugade told reporters in a text message.

REPLACEMENT
Senator Grace Poe, chair of the Senate committee on public services, said she “admired” Mr. Chavez’s sense of delicadeza and called for the Senate’s evaluation of the actions and leadership of the DoTr.

“I admire his sense of delicadeza although I doubt that is the only reason that prompted him to resign. He seemed to be one of the DoTr officials who was determined to fully address all the issues plaguing the MRT…However, it is time to evaluate the actions and leadership of the DoTr as a whole in connection with how issues hounding the MRT have been addressed. These issues should be properly and expeditiously resolved despite the Usec. Chavez’s resignation and especially considering the commuting horrors our people have to go through everyday,” Ms. Poe said in a statement.

She added: “We hope that in finding a replacement, Secretary Tugade will carefully look into the qualifications, capability, competence and commitment of the person because the task at hand is complex and has critical impact on the lives of our commuting public. We need to have somebody who will hit the ground running as we cannot afford a mere politically connected OJT.”

For his part, Akbayan Representative Tom Villarin said Mr. Chavez’s resignation was expected, given the “blame game” done by the current government regarding the MRT.

Also on Thursday, Bayan Muna Representatives Neri J. Colmenares and Carlos Isagani T. Zarate, together with two other petitioners, asked the Supreme Court (SC) to annul a directive from two years ago to raise train fares.

The motion noted in part that the MRT-3, in particular, “continues to experience technical problems that endanger the safety of the riding public. News about its malfunctions has now become so common, and complaints from the public have been increasing.”

“The worsening condition of our rail system in spite of the implementation of the fare hikes only proves the correctness and validity of Petitioners grounds for their opposition to the 2015 LRT/MRT fare hikes, as embodied in the Department Order No. 2014-014 of then DoTC,” the petitioners said. — with Andrea Louise E. San Juan

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