Press Release
September 4, 2014

DOTC surrended P4.5B MRT funding to DAP--Nancy
...money for additional MRT car purchase could have improved services

Alarmed by the continuous breakdown in the operations of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) system, Senator Nancy Binay questioned a P4.5 billion appropriation meant to fund additional cars given up by the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) and funneled to the controversial Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP).

The lady senator expressed dismay at the move of the DOTC as it betrays a lack of concern for the welfare and safety of ordinary citizens who ride the MRT everyday.

"In 2012, the DOTC surrendered P4.5 billion allocated for purchasing additional cars for the MRT to the DAP. And as it seems, ito rin ang perang napunta para sa impeachment ni former Chief Justice Renato Corona. Sa ngayon, dilat at tirik ang mga mata ng mga commuters ng MRT dahil biglang naging bula ang pera na sana ay nagamit para ayusin ang serbisyo ng MRT," Binay explained.

In documents detailing DAP funds submitted by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to the lady senator, it showed a P4.5 billion allocation for the MRT for the purchase of additional cars surrendered by the DOTC to the DBM for use as DAP.

The Supreme Court has earlier declared as unconstitutional certain provisions of DAP.

Binay believes if the problem then was that there is a pending case on the MRT, all Transportation Secretary Joseph Abaya had to do was to ask permission from Budget Secretary Florencio Abad for the P4.5 billion funding to be used to improve the train system's facilities if it could not be used to purchase additional cars.

"The funding should definitely not have gone to DAP. Ang nakakalungkot po, ngayon nararamdaman ng ating mga kababayan ang mga problemang dulot ng hindi pagtuloy sa improvements sa MRT. Unang-una na po yung pagsadsad ng MRT nitong nakaraang buwan. Gaano karami pang pasahero ang kailangang masaktan rito?" asked Binay.

"Napakaraming aberya po ang hinaharap ng mga pasahero ng MRT. Yung mahahabang pila bago pa man makakuha ng ticket, yung sabi nga na hindi na mala-sardinas kung 'di mala-corned beef na ang siksikan sa loob ng tren. Tapos malalaman po natin na may nagawa na pala sana ang DOTC kung ginastos lamang nila sa MRT yung P4.5 billion," the senator said.

The funding could have been used to fund some of the items in the DOTC's P6.8 billion wish list for its rehabilitation projects that the agency presented to the Senate Committee on Public Services like the procurement of cars, general overhauling of the train, and the upgrade of ancillary systems (platform edge doors, signaling system upgrade, rail steel replacement, communication system, traction motors replacement, overhead catenary system, security fence and noise barrier, consulting services, upgrade of conveyance facilities, North Avenue footbridge, weather protection cladding, public wifi, passenger information system, and passenger hand straps).

"Isipin ninyo na lamang po ang mga bagay na maaaring mapondohan ng P4.5 billion na ito. Yun pong mga sirang hand straps, pagpapagawa ng elevator at escalator, yung pag-maintain sa kalinisan ng mga banyo, pagdagdag ng ticket booths para hindi mahaba lagi ang pila, at yung iba pang mga parte ng serbisyo ng MRT na pwede sanang maayos sa tulong ng pondong ito, sana ay nagawa na, hindi yung ngayon kung kailan tayo nahaharap sa mas malaking aberya, saka lang tayo aaksyon," Binay said.

"Ang tanong ko po, common sense would dictate that we prioritize the immediate needs of the passengers, bakit hindi ito ginawa? Sa halip na pakinabangan ng mga pasahero, bakit kay Secretary Abad pa napunta?" asked Binay.

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